Ragdoll kitten behavior - Breeder's advice

axld

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Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]d like to hear some experiences from Ragdoll breeders since this is my first kitten and Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m trying to do everything in the best way possible. Unfortunately, the information about Ragdollâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s slower maturing and general kitten phases is quite hard to come by! So I call on everyone with experience to share with me.

I adopted a lovely 16 weeks male Ragdoll kitten 2 months ago, Salvatore. He his a little seal bicolour with the sweetest face. Sal was the most adorable little purr ball. He has an amazing disposition and is very sweet and gentle. He was neutered at about 21 weeks. Over the past few weeks I can see him emerging from a tiny (but big) kitten to a young male full of pride and energy. Sal is now 6 months and Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m noticing some changes and Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]d like to hear more about the following few things:

-\tSal used to sleep with me for most of the night but he recently started wandering around at night and walking us up by being very excited (the latest thing is clawing the duvet). He stops when after a while of being ignored, but is much more aloof at night than he was.

-\tHe is also much more challenging, doing things he knows are bad (you can tell from his sheepish look turning into a bold effort of confrontation), and will occasionally bite when very excited. I did choose him at the breeder because he was the most playful one, but now when he gets overexcited Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m never too sure of how to handle this. Should I just walk away and let it go with a NO when he bites? I read about holding down with the scruff, but Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]m not too comfortable with that. What would be a breederâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s opinion on that?

Also, I assume that this type of pattern is typical with most cats the period of maturing being a bit more difficult and challenging. Of course, with all the hype around Ragdolls, it sometimes it like I donâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t expect him to act like a typical cat… I wonder if this is a common pattern that breeders see with kittens: Do they usually go trough a phase where they are a bit more aloof (he stills purrs a lot and has days where he canâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]t leave my side and is generally very affectionate) and when their temper is less predictable? Any advice on how to handle the 6 to 18 months period?
 

eggytoast

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Yes, very typical of most kittens. We have an Abyssinian kitten, almost 5 months old, and he plays the same way -- jumping away, puts his teeth on your hand, can't be in the bedroom more than 5 minutes before pouncing at a "lump" under the covers.

We've never even attempted to let him in the bedroom overnight, because we wouldn't get more than 30 minutes of sleep. And yes, he does play with his teeth when he's very excited, but he hasn't tried to break the skin -- just put his teeth on us. I assume that's what your guy is doing?

Really, it's just his way of playing and he thinks you're a playmate. It's not that he's being bad, it's that you're not a cat and can't really play the same way. If he starts being rough and puts his teeth on you, stop petting him -- just leave your hand there, don't move it. If he doesn't stop, put him on the ground or move your hand away slowly. You need to signal to him that being rough with your hand isn't OK, but to do so by showing what good behavior is (being calm) rather than punishing him (which he may then interpret as a game).

Ragdolls may be big placid cats, but they're still cats
 

epona

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I have absolutely no experience with Ragdolls, but I can confirm that your kitten appears to be going through the perfectly normal 'test the boundaries' phase that most well socialised kittens experience. ie. they go from being sweet and babyish to bratty teenager


I don't really think Ragdolls are that different to other cats, yes they are known for their placid and gentle nature, but I am sure they still go through the normal phases of growing up and learning their place in the world just the same. Probably a bit less door-surfing than you see in the very active athletic breeds though
 

goldenkitty45

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Not just a Ragdoll problem - but a universal ALL cats problem here


Try giving him a snack before bed or about a 1/2 hr of hard interactive playing (like with a laser light, or feather toy, etc.). Get him to do a lot of jumping and running if you can - to wear him out so he will sleep at night.

As far as the "hardhead" he's going into the teenage stage. Charlie started that at 6 months - he's 14 months now and still hardheaded about certain things.

They say it sometimes lasts a few years, so you can look forward to his "trying" you for a good year to 18 months more
 

tallulah

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I have a two yr old ragdoll and her behaviour is no different to my two moggies she still has mad times, I agree with the others, and excercise does wear them out, my three spend loads of time chasing each other, they wear each other out.
 

marsch21

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Typical behavior for a kitten. Ragdolls can be taught fairly easy but it takes effort. If your worried about the furniture at night confining the kitten to a "safe" room during that time would be beneficial.

I do not believe in punishment or negative reinforcement. You want your cat to trust you and not have (or develop) any fear of you. A "NO" or shaking a can full of coins to make a loud noise to distract him works well. Squirt guns work wonders too.

Our cats start the night crazies at 3:am but we're used to it. He will settle down as he gets older (maybe).
 

lnbandcats

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Originally Posted by marsch21

Typical behavior for a kitten. Ragdolls can be taught fairly easy but it takes effort. If your worried about the furniture at night confining the kitten to a "safe" room during that time would be beneficial.

I do not believe in punishment or negative reinforcement. You want your cat to trust you and not have (or develop) any fear of you. A "NO" or shaking a can full of coins to make a loud noise to distract him works well. Squirt guns work wonders too.

Our cats start the night crazies at 3:am but we're used to it. He will settle down as he gets older (maybe).
I love the "maybe"! Cosmo is 7 months and constantly testing the boundaries - and he watches me the whole time! I think that I said before, that it reminds of the scene in Kramer vs Kramer when the little boy was getting ice cream and Dustin Hoffman kept saying "don't do that!" And the kid just kept looking at him and continued on...
That is Cosmo! Fortunately, he is quite bright and does know what "no" means, eventually! And yes, he is so active I can't keep up with his antics! He is good about sleeping, but is going through an independent phase, so he no longer wants me to hold him in my arms, etc.
I love my boy to pieces!
 
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