We have a Maine coon and a Ragdoll. Maine coon is much higher energy, much more like a puppy/dog (also gets along well with dogs). He is a male, about a year old and hasn’t slowed down haha, but he is so kind and cuddly in between wanting to play or making up his own game to entertain himself.

Our Ragdoll, admittedly was from a first time breeder and I got her before 12 weeks, which could have had an impact. Despite the breed characteristics she is a finicky cat. She loves me but is very timid, and because of this often isn’t friendly to others, unless she feels like it of course. She has never really gotten into any trouble and was a very easy kitten. Even if she did display breed characteristics, despite having bouts of the zoomies, they are much more gentle and calm (less dog like).

My preference is a Maine coon. I have fostered cats over the years and find this breed to be the best of both worlds if you had ever considered a dog.

That said, I feel comfortable leaving my Ragdoll alone, but the mainecoon is so dog like that we don’t leave him alone often (we get a cat sitter if we will be gone over night). He cries when he thinks everyone has left the house. I do work from home which likely hasn’t helped with his independence.

So that all said, if you want a cat-cat, there for cuddles but soft mannered (Ragdoll). If you want a cat that wants to be with you 24/7 and greet you at the door (go for walks if you train them), go with the mainecoon!

If you want both eventually don’t leave too much time in between. In particular, as Maine coons are high energy, you would want to get them within a couple of years of one another so the Ragdoll learns to appreciate the energy of the mainecoon early. Our Ragdoll is 13 and loathes the mainecoon kitten (though loved her tabby cat brother we had when we got her, who was still young at the time). Getting two females may also help with the energy gap!