Do shorthair Ragdolls exist?

No. The Ragdoll is a semi-longhaired breed, and no major registry recognises a shorthaired version. A shorthaired cat advertised as a Ragdoll is a cross or another pointed breed. A young Ragdoll kitten can look short-coated for its first few months, which is where some of the confusion comes from.

What breed looks like a shorthair Ragdoll?

The Snowshoe is the closest. It is a shorthaired pointed cat with blue eyes and white feet, often with a white inverted V on the face, so it looks like a shorthaired mitted or bicolour Ragdoll. Siamese and Thai cats are also pointed and blue-eyed, with short coats and slimmer bodies.

When does a Ragdoll kitten's coat grow long?

Gradually. Kittens have a soft, fluffy coat that can look short, especially in summer. The longer adult coat, with a ruff around the neck and fluffy back legs, comes in between about one and three years old, and many Ragdolls look leggy and short-coated as teenagers.

Do Ragdolls shed less than other long-haired cats?

Their coat is easier than most. Ragdolls have a silky coat with only a light undercoat, so they mat far less than a Persian and shed moderately, with two heavier moults a year. A comb through once or twice a week is usually enough.

Ragdoll coat

Shorthair Ragdoll Cat: Is There a Short Hair Ragdoll?

By Shannon, Regal Ragdoll Kittens, Bowral NSW. Updated 13 October 2026.

There is no shorthair Ragdoll. The Ragdoll is a semi-longhaired breed, and no major cat registry recognises a shorthaired version. A cat sold as a short hair Ragdoll is a Ragdoll cross or a different pointed breed such as a Snowshoe. The confusion is understandable, though, because Ragdoll kittens and teenagers can look surprisingly short-coated before their adult coat comes in.

Here is what a Ragdoll's coat really looks like at each age, the breeds most often mistaken for a shorthaired Ragdoll, and what to check if you see one advertised.

The Ragdoll coat at every age

Age	What the coat looks like
0 to 3 months	Soft, fluffy kitten coat that can look fairly short, especially on the legs and face
3 to 12 months	Longer on the body, but often thin and leggy, particularly in an Australian summer
1 to 3 years	The adult coat grows in: silky, with a ruff around the neck and fluffy "britches" on the back legs
3 years and over	Full semi-long coat, thicker in winter, lighter after the spring moult

So a six-month-old Ragdoll in January can genuinely look short-haired. That is a phase. Judge the coat a kitten will have by its parents, not by the kitten. Our article on Ragdoll kitten to cat growth shows how much changes in the first three years.

Breeds mistaken for a shorthair Ragdoll

Snowshoe

The closest lookalike. A Snowshoe is a shorthaired pointed cat with blue eyes and white feet, often with a white inverted V on the face. Side by side with a mitted or bicolour Ragdoll it looks like a shorthaired version, but it is a separate breed with a more active, vocal personality.

Siamese and Thai

Pointed, blue-eyed and shorthaired, with a slimmer body, longer face and a much louder voice than a Ragdoll.

Ragdoll crosses

A Ragdoll crossed with a shorthaired cat can inherit the points and blue eyes with a shorter coat. It can be a lovely pet, but it is not a Ragdoll and cannot be registered as one.

Checking a short hair Ragdoll advert

Ask to see both parents on a live video call. Two semi-longhaired Ragdoll parents do not have shorthaired kittens.
Ask which council the kitten will be registered with, and for both parents' pedigree papers.
Ask for HCM and PKD DNA results for both parents.
Expect a cross to be priced as a cross. Our guide to Ragdoll kitten prices explains what a fair pedigree price includes.

If you want less grooming

Many people search for a shorthair Ragdoll because they want the temperament without the brushing. The good news is that the Ragdoll coat is easier than it looks. It is silky with only a light undercoat, so it mats far less than a Persian's, and a steel comb through the ruff, armpits and back legs once or twice a week is enough for most cats. More on grooming and temperament is in our Ragdoll cat breed guide, and you can see the coats on this season's kittens on our Ragdoll kittens for sale page.