Ragdolls are a large and lovable breed of cat that is known for their blue eyes, silky coat and friendly and calm temperament. These gentle cats are often referred to as the “dog of the feline world.” A Ragdoll’s affectionate personality may make them appear to be more intelligent than some other cat breeds, but do ragdolls have remarkable cognitive abilities?
According to an article by The Discerning Cat, the Top 5 most intelligent Cat breeds are the Abyssinian, Siamese, Scottish Fold, Persian and Cornish Rex. But are Ragdolls intelligent cats?
While they may not appear in the top 5, or even the top 10 list of intelligent cat breeds, Ragdolls tend to be very smart, with an intelligence level that may fall between a dog and a typical domestic cat. They are best when it comes to communication, the ability to adapt, and the ability to be trained. However, when it comes to their survival and hunting instincts compared to other cat breeds, their intelligence isn’t as strong. That’s why they’re usually indoor cats only.
A Ragdoll’s level of intelligence is evident in its social skills and ability to communicate with humans. These fluffy felines are so intelligent that they will greet you at the door when you come home and display their affection by being close to you at all times. Unfortunately, this may also mean accompanying you to the bathroom.
A Ragdoll responds well to voice commands. For example, one of my Ragdolls, Choo-Choo, responded to the phrase ‘Choo-Choo Fly’ whenever he heard that he would come running into the room and search for the fly to catch.
A Ragdoll cat will tell you when it’s hungry and thirsty by “talking” to you. They instinctively know their feeding schedule and will go to their food bowls at set times of the day.
A Ragdoll may learn how to manipulate you into meeting their demands by exhibiting undesirable behavior. For example, my Ragdoll Ocean often decides he would like his prawns at 4 am. When his constant meowing doesn’t rouse us, he will start pawing the bedroom blinds or jumping up on the side table containing an expensive antique clock. All behavior which he knows will have us jump out of bed in an instant!
A Ragdoll’s intelligence does not come from breeding alone. It also depends on how much you interact with your Ragdoll Kitten and teach them new things. You can still teach your Ragdoll cat some tricks, and it will enjoy learning and playing with you! They learn quickly and enjoy playing games, such as fetch or hide-and-seek. There are several games you can play with your Ragdoll to increase their intelligence:
- Build your cat an obstacle course.
- Teach it to look for food.
- Purchase interactive toys for it to play with
- Use cardboard boxes and paper for playtime games.
