Understanding Ragdoll Cat Prices: From Affordable Pets to Show-Quality Breeds

The Ragdoll cat price range can vary greatly. Usually it starts around $1200 for a pet ragdoll and can go all the way up to over $5,000 for a show or breeder quality Ragdoll. A long time ago (or it seems like it), I wrote a blog post about the buying a Ragdoll cat.  The Ragdoll cat price does vary quite a bit depending on the potential show and breeder quality of the cat in question. I thought it would be fun to show the prices of the Ragdoll cats my family has purchased:

1. Rags, purchased in 1989 with his brother Cosby – $350/ea
2. Caymus and Murphy, purchased in 2004 – $600/ea (reduced by $50 each because my parents were buying 2)
3. Charlie and Trigg, purchased in 2009 – $800/each (reduced by $50 each because I was buying 2)

Here is a break down of the prices of Ragdoll kittens that I have found (please leave comments below to let me know if prices are much higher than these):

  To see an explanation of what each quality means, please visit Buying a Ragdoll cat. Keep in mind that average prices for Ragdoll cats differ from one breeder to another and also depending on the kitten’s parents.If you want to buy a Ragdoll kitten, then the first thing you have to think about is why you are buying it for – as a pet, to take to cat shows, to breed, or to breed and take to cat shows. This is the main stepping stone because it also tells you where to buy your Ragdoll kitten from.Some breeders only sell show-quality, which increases the price, while others only sell pet quality Ragdoll kittens, which are purebred Ragdoll cats but have some breed characteristic defects that disqualify them from shows. Pet quality cats cost less than show quality, making them the most affordable Ragdoll kittens.If you want to purchase a breeder quality Ragdoll cat, then you should be prepared to spend more than you would on a pet or show quality kitten. Breeder quality cats come with a certificate that attests that they are free from genetic diseases and that they are authorized to breed purebred Ragdolls. Pet and show quality, on the other hand, are sold neutered/spayed.Show/breeder quality are the most expensive because they present the characteristic features of the breed perfectly, so they are fit to be shown in official cat shows. They also have a reproductive certificate, which increases their price even further. Why are these Ragdoll cats so expensive? Because not only are they show-worthy, but they can breed show-worthy kittens.  Aside from the quality of the Ragdoll cat, another major factor that impacts the price is the color/pattern. While blue and seal point Ragdolls are the most common variety, red and lilac Ragdolls are rare, which also makes them more expensive. Please note that each color/pattern may come at a different price.The final price for a Ragdoll cat also depends on the breeder and the medical procedures they have performed on the kittens before selling them, such as veterinary checkups and spaying/neutering (for non-breed-quality kittens). In some states, the breeders have to complete the full course of vaccination before they can sell the cats.The cost of these procedures will be included in the overall purchase price the breeders set for the Ragdoll kittens, so make sure you inquire about them. The more of these the breeder performs, the less you will have to take your new kitty to the vet.If you are looking to buy two or more Ragdoll kittens, ask the breeder for a discount because this is common practice. Any breeder is happy to have the kittens stay together, so they will be pleased to sell you more kittens.  

Buying A Ragdoll Cat – Other Considerations

While compiling the research for this post, we reached out to several reputable Ragdoll cat breeders to come up with the price ranges above.  Many of them offered further insight that was interesting enough to share on this post.  In other words, it’s important to find a Ragdoll cat breeder you like and then ask further questions than just price – because not all prices are created equal:

• Prices vary greatly from the different areas of the US. I believe they tend to be highest on the east coast, especially near the large cities. I would say there is more of a varying degree also between the type of breeder you are buying from now. Where those who show and have been around a while are charging more than smaller breeders who do not show but still have registered kittens. I would say that rock bottom minimum is likely $850-$900 but that likely doesn’t include early spay/neuter which all reputable breeders do now in 2021.
• While I hate to begin a conversation with prices, most buyers think they’re going to get a quality, well bred Ragdoll for under $1000…sigh
• None of us breed minks, sepia, green eyed or yellow eyed Ragdoll…they’re not in breed standards, can’t be shown in CFA or TICA, can’t even be registered as Ragdoll in CFA.
• I am sure you are aware of this, but adopters should be aware of the type of breeder they are dealing with.  It’s not just as simple as price.  There are so many “backyard” breeders out there. Do they test their breeder cats?  Do they feed quality food? Are the cats loved, treated as family members, given proper medical attention, and live in the house? Are the kittens raised with love, healthy and well socialized, etc.
• My kittens have had their first set of booster shots, dewormed, altered and micro chipped when they leave me at 14 weeks old.  They also leave here with a substantial kitten kit of holistic hard food, canned food, two types of freeze dried turkey/chicken treats, bag of litter, assorted toys and a hand made bed. 
• Sometimes it’s more than the price of the kitten – they can come with shots, health guarantees, spaying or neutering, TICA or CFA registration
• Breeders who responsibility spay and neuter – when kittens have already been spayed or neutered (all reputable breeders require this and it is usually quite expensive plus then you have to deal with the after care-keeping the kitten quiet and confined, not allowing them to jump, hoping they don’t rip their stitches, get an infection, or get a hernia, and of course there is always the slight risk they might not make it through the surgery)

Ragdoll Cat Price vs. Ragdoll Cat Cost

When you decide to buy a Ragdoll kitten, you have to consider the price you are going to pay to the breeder, but also the cost of caring for your Ragdoll cat. Raggies are more expensive than many other breeds, so you might be focused on the initial investment. But keep in mind that there is also a long-term investment that you have to be ready to make in your Ragdoll cat.The cost of caring for a Ragdoll cat is higher than that of caring for a regular cat. Ragdolls are large size cats, which means that they need more food and specialized accessories like grooming tools for cats with long coats, cat beds, cat scratchers, and cat towers for large-sized cats, which are more expensive. Aside from these, you should also consider the cost of veterinary bills for vaccinations, regular checkups, and, if needed, for special interventions.The initial price of the Ragdoll cat is only the beginning of the investment. The total cost includes the long-term cost of caring for your Ragdoll cat. Since this is such a popular topic, I went ahead and asked our Facebook community – How much did you pay for your Ragdoll kitten/cat?  What year was it?  Are you a breeder – do these prices pretty much match your ranges?

Really though – the question about Ragdoll Cat Price should ALSO include the total cost of a cat in 1 year’s time. A kitten can be quite expensive because of vaccinations and what not.  A cat can still be expensive because of food, litter, vet bills, etc.  Do you have an idea of what you budget for your kitty every year?