Which health problems are common in the Ragdoll?
Ragdolls can carry a gene for the heart disease hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Otherwise their health looks much like other pedigree cats, with gum disease, digestive upsets and extra weight the most common problems vets see.
Updated November 9, 2026
What should Ragdoll owners watch for?
Common for the breed doesn't mean your cat will have it.
- Heart disease (HCM). The heart wall thickens, often with no signs. Fast breathing at rest, breathing with the mouth open or sudden weak back legs need a vet now.
- Digestive upsets. Diarrhea and vomiting are recorded more often than in cats overall. An upset that lasts more than a day or two, or comes with weight loss, needs a vet.
- Excess weight. Common, more so in males. Measured portions and daily play help keep it off.
Which checkups do vets often suggest?
| Checkup | What it is | When |
|---|---|---|
| DNA test for HCM | A cheek swab or blood sample, done once, for the breed's known HCM gene. A clear result doesn't rule out HCM. | Once |
| Heart exam by a cardiologist | An ultrasound of the heart, the test that finds HCM. Ask your vet from what age and how often it makes sense. | From 1 year · Every year |
Your vet decides which checkups fit your pet, and when.
How do I keep a Ragdoll health record?
VetVitae, a free pet health record app for iPhone, Android and the web, shows these notes on your cat’s profile under Health, and Plan it opens the exam or test with its name filled.
For vaccines, parasites and the signs that can’t wait, see the cat care guide.
This guide is general information, not veterinary advice. Your vet knows your pet.
Sources
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, Ragdoll, Science for Animal Welfare (UFAW)
- Ragdoll Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (RD-HCM), Langford Vets
- Demography, common disorders, cause-specific mortality and life expectancy of Ragdoll cats under primary veterinary care during 2019 in the UK, O'Neill et al., Companion Animal Health and Genetics, 2025
Start a record for your pet.
Add your pet, log the last vaccine, and you're set up. Use it in your browser, on iPhone or on Android.