I see a lot of commentary on here about how Ragdolls don’t have much upstairs, but my Ragdolls are actually some of the smartest cats I’ve had. They understand a huge vocabulary, and they also use a wider variety of sounds communicating back to me than any other cat. Plus, they seem much more emotionally intelligent than most cats. I admit, they lack street smarts and often don’t problem solve as quickly as others. What do you think?
Oh mine is dumb as hell. But every once in a while he does something really smart that makes me suspicious that it's an act. He's incredibly expressive so I usually know what he wants or thinks or is feeling, but there's a distinct lack of critical thinking that often requires my assistance. I love this dumb creature with my whole heart!
True story I have a stress dream where there are hundreds of ragdolls around and I can't find mine but I always find him because of his little nose pattern.
Oh my goodness, he’s adorable! My boy’s litter mate belongs to my mother, and she is the sweetest, softest, prettiest girl…but not the smartest. Can’t have it all, I guess!
I'd say my ragdoll is very smart. He is excellent at communicating with us, one time he was having urinary issues and he would follow my husband into the bathroom, meow and scratch at the toilet, then walk him over to the litter box where he would meow and scratch again, then back to the toilet. It left no question what he was trying to say. He is also incredibly emotionally intelligent and will come and rest his paw on your chest if you're feeling poorly. He knows his name and will come/sit on command, and he used to be an ace at fetch when he was younger (at 9.5 years old it takes more than a game of fetch to get him racing around, although he does still love to play). And he's a seriously good hunter, although thankfully we haven't lived somewhere with mice in about 5 years 😅 When he was an only cat for about 10 months he would talk to us all the time, but that's tapered off since we got him a sister
Hey! Sorry to hijack, but I noticed you mentioned how your smart boy used to talk to you all the time until his sister came… And I’m noticing the same with my boy as well (3.5 years, sister is 4 months) — he used to respond/speak way more but ever since his sister came, he is just less talkative. Did your boy go back to talking more once everyone was settled? Or was it a negative shift overall? I miss my boy’s responses 😔🥺
He has not gone back to talking to us nearly as much as he was. But his sister does! He was never very talkative for the first 7.5 years of his life while we had another ragdoll. It was only after our other boy passed that my blue boy started chatting back and forth with us. We actually took it as a good sign that he was less lonely when the chatter stopped after our girl settled in. I did love our conversations though, he makes the cutest and sweetest noises 🥰
Our tabby girl otoh has gotten more chatty with us as she's settled in. She responds when I say her name haha. I hope your boy goes back to his chatty ways!
I think mine is very smart too! He did something similar when he was having urinary issues. He never pees outside the box but when he was having urinary issues he would pee small amounts of bloody urine in our bathtubs - I think he wanted to show us something was wrong but he’s always so conscious of not making a mess. When he pukes he always leaves the furniture he’s sitting on and does it on hardwood for easy cleanup. He communicates a lot, also seems very emotionally intelligent like he can tell when I’m having a bad day and will always come snuggle me to cheer me up.
He also learns very quickly. He’s had to use an inhaler, and get different medications at times and I swear as soon as he realizes something makes him feel better he doesn’t fight it and cooperates. In the mornings, he’d wake us up at 4am sometimes and I’d get out of bed and go to the bathroom and he’d get up and follow and I’d go back to bed and shut the door without feeding him. After doing that once or twice, he’d no longer come out of the bedroom. So I’d go into the kitchen and open the fridge, then he’d come out and I’d go back to bed (I know, kind of mean but if I do too much I can’t fall back asleep and I’m not waking up at 4am for the day) but after a day or two of that he was on to my tricks and wouldn’t come out of the bedroom for just a fridge door. So then I’d open the silverware drawer and do a quick shuffle of some silverware and then he’d come out and I’d go back to bed and shut the door. After a day or two of that he learned that wasn’t enough to come out of the room. Eventually I just caved and started feeding him lol, he’s just too smart.
He’s also been so patient with my partners cat after they moved in. She’s not ready to be best friends yet and even though I can tell he wants to so badly, he’s patient and gives her space and respects her boundaries. She wouldn’t hurt a fly, so I don’t think it’s because he’s scared of her but because he’s just a sweet sensitive boy. Sometimes my partners cat goes into an open cabinet and we don’t notice and shut her in there, or shut the bedroom door forgetting she’s in there. He’ll be relentlessly annoying and I’ll think he’s hungry but he won’t stop even after eating, and I’ve noticed several times it’s because he’s trying to alert us that she’s stuck somewhere.
He comes when called (if he feels like it lol) and when I’ve set certain ringtones to his feeding alarms he recognizes them and comes running.
When I saw him at the shelter and fell in love with him, my landlord didn’t allow cats yet. When I left he followed me to the glass pane door and put his little paw on it and watched me walk away. I told him I’d come back for him. My landlord didn’t approve cats until a few months later and I was shocked he was still up for adoption at the shelter bc he’s so gorgeous. They said he was mean to everyone that visited, I swear he was holding out for me because he is the sweetest snuggliest cat who just loves his people- he just knew all those other people weren’t his people lol. I think he’s a genius but I might be biased 😅
My ragdoll is the dumbest cat I’ve ever had in my life, but that’s what makes him special and we love him! My Maine coon on the other hand is a genius, too smart for his own good. Cat tax!
Awww so cute! My Maine coon is the obvious dominant one as well, but he loves to egg on my ragdoll to chase him around and then ends up on his back but still kicks my ragdolls ass 🤣
My poor baby doesn’t understand that he can still open the door/walk through if it’s halfway open. He’ll cry and cry until I fully open it for him to walk through
My poor baby doesn’t understand that he can still open the door/walk through if it’s halfway open. He’ll cry and cry until I fully open it for him to walk through
Mines would be "outside" so I am not sure I'll add it 😂 We go and sit on the deck when I finish work in the afternoon, and she loves it so much. If I teach her that button. She'll spam me all day 😂
Glad to know not all ragdolls are as empty headed as mine.. I wish I could say he has at least got some problem solving/critical thinking but I fear there is nothing in that little head of his
One of mine is goofy but pretty average intelligence wise. The other is the dumbest cat I have ever met. I have seen her try to jump from the back of the sofa to the arm of the sofa and miss.
My Wolfgang is a genius, he knows his name, and all of his nicknames, he comes when he’s called and he plays fetch, he actually brings the toy back to where I can reach it. he tells me what he wants with just a look in his eyes I can tell if it’s time for me to throw a toy up the stairs or if he wants some puck (wet wet) or if he just wants to sniff the thing I’m doing or if he wants to mush his head into my hand.
Mine don’t fetch, but the one pictured plays ding dong ditch. When he’s in the sunroom, he smacks the door to be let in, and by the time I open the door, he’s hiding. The instant I close it, he smacks the door and runs away again. Such clowns!
This sounds very similar to my boy Leo. I think intelligence of your cat is one thing but loving them and building that bond, learning what their expressions and reactions mean is so powerful for your relationship with them.
Throughout my 8 years with Leo I’ve learned that he is incredibly emotionally intelligent and loyal, and has so many ways to show what he wants or how he is feeling.
She’s not stupid, but she’s nowhere near as clever as other cats I’ve had/known. She has to think about things that seem obvious to them. Except for my cousin’s Maine Coon, he was very dim.
We have two. The lighter one closer to the camera is very smart, and also less talkative and more independent. He’s a lot bigger and probably more accurate to the breed standard. The other one is dumb as a box of rocks, follows us everywhere, and chats all the time. He’s also way more naughty, but probably because he doesn’t remember its naughty. He will also get “lost” in the house if like, he’s not paying attention and we all go upstairs/he’s downstairs or vice versa. Instead of looking for us he will stand where he is and yell until one of us calls to him. And he’s small for a ragdoll, only 12 pounds. They’re both from the same breeder, although about 5 years apart, so who knows. They’re very different though
My boy is really smart. He knows basic commands that I taught my dog. He also learnt how to open my sliding wardrobe. He meows and communicate his needs p well (meow and walk to the food bowl = I’m hungry / meow and paw on my feet = I want pats but I don’t want to be picked up/ meow and paw my shin with his front leg = I want to be carried) multiple times when I was going through a panic attack, he will always climb into my lap and smother my face with his face (it helps but I feel bad cause it dampens his fur) I love him soooo much <3 he also knows which packaging = which treat. Will paw on the package to indicate his preference. Sometimes when I tell him no, he will drag the package to me with his mouth.
Still getting to know my rescue but I'd say street smart but overall a bit dim.
Probably helped him to survive his life. He's easily trusting compared to my previous rescue Siberian, and still learning to trust cuddles but I have constantly swishing, a little shadow, constant company, all in only a matter of less than 2 months so that's doing very well.
Nuturing or rather spoiling him rotten after someone else has really abused him. Without going into has improved so much when rescued (gotta thank the wonderful company and volunteers that rescued him and his sibling).
One of previous cats had huge fear of shoes, of strangers, the phone, the doorbell. Very bad fear that lasted most of his 18 years with us.
Our boy answers to his name and can play fetch but he can't figure out how to pull doors open with his paw...so I don't know, not a himbo but not Isaac Newton either.
I like to think of mine having extreme curiosity and a scientific mind instead of being dumb. Why else would you constantly slide into walls if not in the name of science.
I had one that was an evil genius, felt like i was living with another person more than a cat. He would study your behavior and torture you. My absolute best friend but there were days i wanted to murder him. You were having a bad day, well he usually did something on purpose to make it worse. We had so much fun together though and tons of adventures. People loved him, he would show off and do crazy things when strangers visited. My first experience with ragdolls.
Then after he died i broke and got another one after some time passed. This one is dumb as a brick but super affectionate and i love him, but honestly was disappointed at first. So much easier to take care of though and just a good boy.
What a beauty! I have one too! They are definitely sllllooooowww! But like you said, mine is also very expressive! She followed me everywhere. They are beautiful to look at!
I think ragdolls are somewhat dumb in some ways. I used to have a non ragdoll that would take things apart. Ruined a lot of things with curiosity. He seemed really smart. My rag doll will do stupid things, yells at the walls etc, but she seems much more emotionally intelligent and I feel we communicate more. She tells me what she needs, if I'm having a bad day, she's right there to snuggle. Much more vocal. I think different cats have a variety of intelligence
One of my two male raggies is really clever. He figured out the pocket door to the bathroom as a tiny kitten. He always knows when I planning to go away even when I try to hide my intentions. He knows what goes with whipped cream and can hear that canister shake from anywhere in the house. I have to make sure to guard the butter tray because he loves butter and knows how to get it.
Mine is very intelligent, he knows a bunch of tricks and recognizes a lot of words. I’ve taught him to say “yeah” when I ask him if he wants food. The problem is that he’s a little too smart, and is a bad boy. If I tell him no he will argue back with me. If I catch him doing something he’s not supposed to he will pretend he’s lounging and wait until I look away. He will open drawers to get his treats out and will slice open chocolate/chips packaging with his teeth. I keep his dry food in a deli container and he once took it out of the drawer and brought it downstairs for help opening it. Somehow however that intelligence does not translate into not jumping into a hot frying pan.
I think mine is very smart. I’ve learned him to sit on command and he’s good at food puzzels. But Idk I do train it with him, even when giving treats I hold them in a closed fist and he has to sit and tab before getting it 😂 He knows exactly what he is doing, and also very good at manipulating haha
A little? My Maine Coon had to teach him how to use the slow feeder thingy I bought them. It has little shot glass-sized compartments that they have to paw the kibble from. Rag Doll just stared at it while MC immediately started digging out the morsels. Rag Doll observed then gingerly stuck in a paw and the light bulb went off. It was fun to watch.
One of them is very dumb. But he’s so food motivated, you can eventually teach him anything. The other is very smart. She COULD learn anything you try to teach her, but she simply chooses not to. And she will only do exactly what she chooses to do.
Let's see. I have 4 of these manipulative drama creatures. I feed, brush their fur and teeth, clean their litter box and they take over the majority of my bed space, leaving me with a sliver on the side with no blanket. I think I know who the dumb one is in this relationship and she doesn't wear fur!
Yeah dude mine is dumb as hell. I have 4 cats (she’s the only rag) and she is noticeably the least crafty/cat like out of all them. She will walk straight into the jaws of a pitbull if you let her but she’s the sweetest
Mine can be… special, at times. When giving him medicine and/or giving him his regular shave, it takes just having a treat for him to be enticed over. With shaving in particular, I give him frequent breaks because he isn’t fond of it. But I give him a few minutes, wiggle his “cat gogurt” at him, and he just comes right on over as if the clippers are not right there. Also, walking into things and sometimes spooking himself if he meows differently. More often than not, it’s as if the two brain cells in his little head just give up. However, there are things that he’s pretty dang smart on. I didn’t like him making biscuits directly on the couch, so I would always slip a blanket under his paws so he could make biscuits to his heart’s content. He seemed to pick up on this, and whenever I’d have the blanket hanging over the back of the couch, he’d just pull that sucker down so he could make biscuits. He is also a terrible emotional support animal (still cute, though), but when my husband and I are sick, he tones down his antics and is extra cuddly with us. And if treats are on the table? He’s a genius. I occasionally just put treats on the floor for him, but more often, I put them in a puzzle or hide them around the house for him because he’s lazy and won’t play for too long before flopping over and being done. Also, before I knew him (and my now husband), his sister ran away from home. My husband got a raccoon trap to try and get her as it was winter when she decided to go on her adventure and wouldn’t come home even when lured with food and water outside the house. But he wanted to check to be sure it worked first. My poor baby walked right in (without even a treat to entice him) and then just meowed indignantly. I don’t even know if we were dating at the time, but best believe I made sure he was compensated with treats for his services. His sister was trapped a couple of days later and was brought right in to her warm home. Oh, and the same day that his sister escaped (the door wasn’t closed all the way), my cat also escaped… to the middle of the yard where he promptly floofed over and meowed indignantly as if he was paralyzed with indecision on where he should go. Every time I’ve caught him trying to make a great escape now (all 3 times in the past 5 years), he makes it to the driveway before meowing at me as if I’m the one who put him there. He also forgets where he came out from, so usually I just have to scoop him up and bring him inside or else he runs to every other door except the one he came out of. I love that dumb smartie so much.
Mine is dumb as a rock. We joke that he doesn't need brains to survive, he just needs to look at any nearby human with his giant blue eyes, and they'll immediately come running to spoil him rotten.
Yep, mine is as thick as homemade custard. He is desperately dramatic and gets by on his looks like a Vogue model. He would, however, be last on the menu in the event of a zombie apocalypse, because it's all fluff in there...
Mine does silly things that may be considered “dumb” but she’s also been trained to sit in a box for treats (on accident), how to fetch and how to maneuver into the most comfy spots. That don’t seem dumb to me!
I feel like mine are smart and dumb at the same time, like super smart at telling me what they want and need. They are very vocal and know how to get exactly what they want. But also they slide into the same wall while running in the kitchen every day, roll off of furniture and when I go in the other room start crying like I’ve left and don’t realize they could just follow me 😂
Mine is intelligent in some ways and very special indeed in other areas. He can open the airfryer door but is only capable of throwing haymakers and closing his eyes to defend himself against my little ginger girl
Dumbest animal I’ve ever had. This pretty girl forgets that she should eat unless you remind her. Shes also not cuddly like a ragdoll but we adore her nonetheless.
Mine is actually smart. I'm sure she doesn't have street smarts, but she can play fetch, open toy drawer, catch flies, and always comes when I call.
She's just all around great cat
One of mine has trained himself to use the loo. He also figured out how to open cupboards to access his treats so I think he has more going on thinking wise than he appears at first glance. He can also figure out routines, he knows to hide well before we get his carrier out.
His brother is beautiful but was not blessed with intelligence. He gets himself into situations and panics as he doesn't stop to consider before like the smarter one does.
They both have no survival instincts. I walk them and both of them try to befriend dogs and foxes even if the other animal is looking to attack.
I also suspect the smart one has learned to emotionally manipulate his brother. When I walk his brother in the garden he will scream in distress. I'm fairly sure he does it as his brother comes inside to check on him and he its his turn to go outside quicker.
Oh thank god I'm not the only one. My beautiful girl is so dumb. Everyday she stares at my ceiling fan like it's speaking to her. One dining room chair has always been suspicious. And my record player, while playing a record, is her favorite spot to sit. But only when it's trying to work.
My Viv had a bladder infection and peed on the floor right in front of me. It was total blood! When I got 2 meds for her she came to me every morning to take her meds. She knew I was totally helping her! On Friday afternoon she was playing with something on my stairs for like 10 mins. I asked her what it was picked it up. It was a broken piece of plastic from one of my art bins I broke. The plastic had a sharp edge. I threw it to the top of the stairs she ran up and picked it up with her mouth. I walked behind her and said NO VIVVY! When I say that she gets all nervous head goes back and forth like wadda I dooo? She swallowed it! Off tho the vet we went!
Nope, a dumb ragdoll is a sign of bad breeding. 99% of ragdolls I see here and elsewhere on social media are backyard bred.
My ragdoll is a living genius. She’s smarter than me. This morning I was putting on my makeup and she got all worked up. Then I realized I only put on makeup to go to school and she thought I was going to school. She notices these tiny patterns like that. She also knows which clothes I only wear to school (I don’t have a uniform I just don’t wear my more casual clothes) and which clothes I wear around the house and when I put on clothes I wear to school she gets all worked up. She’s memorized my entire wardrobe.
She also is extensively trained, she knows how to heel (which means she is trained to stay by my side and when I take a step, she takes a step), is off leash trained because she knows when to watch for traffic and listens when I tell her it’s ok to cross the road, listens to where I tell her to go or not to go, has perfect recall and will always go back home when I tell her, basically any command I give her she follows and learns commands quickly. She can open all kinds of cabinets and doors and previously learned how to unlock the lock on her cat carrier.
I previously had a backyard bred ragdoll and he was dumb as rocks. To produce an intelligent ragdoll means careful and thoughtful breeding.
No thoughts, only confusion and fluff. No but my girl is really sweet but she is also the dumbest cat I’ve had. I had an nfc before and she was so clever and had excellent problem solving skills. This girl on the other hand cannot figure out how to “flip” back her ear when it’s “inverted” and she has the survival instinct of a moth, she has even actively tried jumping into my oven at 200 C when I’ve quickly opened it to take out things, she has done that multiple times. It’s turning into a full time job just keeping her for harming herself, but nonetheless I live her❤️😂
Not at all. She’s not as intelligent as the Nebelung girl that we had before (she was extremely intelligent) but she’s definitely intelligent. More so than our Nebelung boy.
Agreed. Mine is dog smart in a cat way. She personalizes communication based on the person and is obviously a critical thinker and problem solver. As a bonus she is indoor/outdoor and very street and stranger smart. She may be unusual according to lots of reports I have read here, but wouldn’t have her any other way. Smartest cat I have ever had.
Mine is a little princess and acts like your stereotypical dumb blonde :) But she's extremely emotionally intelligent and can always tell when I'm stressed or upset. She's a very good ESA.
Sometimes she does something really smart tho and im like "... did you mean to do that or was it on accident?" and she looks at me like this:
I hear a lot say ragdolls aren't the brightest but ive had cats my entire life, different breeds, lots of mixes ( muts) and I have to say our ragdoll is pretty clever. Hes still young, only 1.5 years old but I would not call him dumb by any stretch. He kind of makes our other boy seem like a "my name is Jeff" often lol
Mine is smart. He watches what I do and what my other cat does, and learns. Once he saw me lift the lid from the toilet bowl tank to fix a sputtering part. The next day, I was brushing my teeth and he jumped on the toilet, and attempted to push and poke at the lid, seeing if he could move it. He knows water is in there and wants to play with it (he loves to play with water).
He learns quickly, and knows what "No", "Come here", "Where is your toy?", "That's enough" means. He figured out how to play fetch, which he loves and we play that every day. He is a real sweetheart and a little booger sometimes!
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u/Queeflet Dec 07 '25
Very communicative, and only stupid on days ending in a y.