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+--- Thread: Kitten to Cat Personality (/showthread.php?tid=514)
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Kitten to Cat Personality - ChonkMom - 12-09-2020
Hi,
I am a new Ragdoll owner- I got my beautiful boy Chonk back in March of this year, he will be a year old this month. He isn't a skittish cat or anything, but very aloof. He likes to be in the same area as me- sleeping behind my computer screens as I work, sleeping on the floor next to my bed, on the opposite side of the couch, etc... but not really wanting to cuddle or seek attention from me. I've read that Ragdolls are often very affectionate and love to be held, lay in your lap, and love attention. Are Ragdoll kittens usually like this and they grow to be more affectionate and attached? Or at 1 year old, this is his personality? Don't get me wrong- I will love him either way, just new to this breed.
Thank you for any advice!
RE: Kitten to Cat Personality - Smudge's Mom - 12-09-2020
Hello and Welcome. I love your boy's name. I have found that some of the heavier built and heavily furred cats are a bit resistant to being lap cats. They totally love being in your company, will follow you all over, but find it too physically warm to sit on you. The Late Great Smudge who we lost at 16 1/2 a couple of years ago was that way. By a year old he was nearly 14 pounds and a huge fluff ball. He was my best buddy, but in all his years never once actually sat on my lap. Occasionally, if it were a bitterly cold night and DH lowered the thermostat too much, Smudge would make his way under the blanket to snuggle against my stomach. Otherwise he would make himself comfortable at the end of the bed next to my legs...made me uncomfortable because I couldn't move, but he was happy so I was happy. Chonk sounds like a very loving and friendly boy...just not a snuggler. He may change as he gets older, but if he doesn't it is not atypical.
RE: Kitten to Cat Personality - JanH - 12-09-2020
You can probably move him more to what you prefer. Do it in small steps. Feel free to bribe him with treats and interactive toys and take advantage of his sleepiness. Identify enticements from HIS point of view. What appeals to him that also entices behavior you prefer.
You mention he likes to be behind your screen. Reach out and leave your hand on him to start perhaps. You may be able to use a towel or blanket as a bed on "his" end of the couch and then move it closer to you. Have a piece of cat furniture he likes right by where you sit to read and where you can reach out to touch him - and then pick him up, give him a cuddle and put him back there. Pick him up and walk around. Many cats will stay longer if "on the move." Take him into the bed at night, even if he jumps out immediately. He may be more likely to come back in the night. Use cold weather as an ally for closer cuddles. Many cats prefer to be against you, but facing away. Perhaps they feel more in control and able to leave when they want.
In any event, move him in very small steps to be closer and then more interested in being next to you and then held. You do not need just accept what he currently prefers. Entice him to be more of what you would prefer.
RE: Kitten to Cat Personality - MUM_of_FLUFFY - 12-10-2020
Hi Chonk's Mum!!! Welcome to the forum
My experience has been that Fluffy has become more and more affectionate every year. He was a timid kitten and cried when he first came out of his carrier. I tried to comfort him by picking him up and cuddling him - but he didn't want me. He wanted his mama and his siblings. I was used to dogs who love physical affection and I realised I was guilty of over-handling Fluffy and "crowding" him. So - I stopped trying to pick him up, I stopped trying to pat him and it worked for us.
He started walking all over me (literally!!!) when I was in bed or sitting on my chair. It took every ounce of willpower I had not to pat him, but it gave Fluff the safety and security to approach me. These days he stands in my lap facing me and imperiously demands a massage. Naturally I oblige!!! However Fluffy is not what I would call a lap cat. He very rarely sits in my lap and sleeps. For the first two years of his life Fluff would never permit me to pat his belly but in the past year he rolls over and allows me to pat him on the belly. I never thought that day would come - but it did - and I was so happy...
Chonk obviously loves you and has that ragdoll bond of wanting to be near you at all times. With Fluffy that bond has deepened each year and I have a feeling the same thing will happen with you and Chonk. I'd love to hear updates of Chonk's adventures and of course we LOVE photos!!!
RE: Kitten to Cat Personality - admin - 12-10-2020
Similar experience here with Tiki. He wasn't super snuggly when I first got him at 5 months but I took advice from our great forum members and he came around rather quickly to enjoy a good lap snuggle. Over the years it has evolved and he's much more tactile k at 10 although it's on his terms always. He is my constant companion no matter where I am. He comes onto my lap when I'm settled sitting or lying down but as a very big cat it's hard for him to be on a lap or person so much as draped over one awkwardly.
I echo the sentiment about pictures being welcome! This is a tutorial as to how to post them here with a free Flickr account:
https://ragdollcatguide.ca/showthread.php?tid=10
Welcome to the forum!
RE: Kitten to Cat Personality - HelenMac - 12-10-2020
Hi and Welcome. I have two boys Shadow and Zimba both big 8kg cats. Both are very affectionate and want to be close. As a kitten Shadow would sleep under my chin and still wants too but I can't breathe. if I let him he would be their all the time. Shadow will sit on my lap on a pillow I made for him for short periods he pats my knee and I know to pick up the pillow and place on my lap then he climbs up and goes to sleep but never more than 1/2 an hour think he gets too hot. Both my boys seem to prefer sleeping stretched out.. Both are so big I think its uncomfortable for them to lay on me so prefer to lay next to me but touching me. Zimba will lay next to me with his paw touching me. Shadow sleeps in my bed at night funny boy taps my shoulder I lift up the covers and he races down to the bottom of the bed. Zimba sleeps on a tower in our room. With Zimba he was too busy as a kitten to have time to sit and has definately become more affectionate as he got older. I used to pick him up give him a quick hug then put him down again thru out the day. I kept a treat container well to be honest has their normal dry biscuits in it next to my chair and enticed him to come close and lay next to me when I was sitting down. I also would play with him to wear him out then when we finished pick him up give a quick hug and put him on the couch next to me on his favourite blanket and he would curl up and go to sleep every now and again I would reach over to give him a stroke. Now he comes up to me walking all over me to get to my face giving me smooches then I would give him some biscuits from the container and then he lies down next to me to sleep.
![[Image: 46167373471_861e353508_w.jpg]](https://live.staticflickr.com/4889/46167373471_861e353508_w.jpg)
![[Image: 35622532800_61e57ce7ba_w.jpg]](https://live.staticflickr.com/4312/35622532800_61e57ce7ba_w.jpg)
RE: Kitten to Cat Personality - Smudge's Mom - 12-10-2020
Oh my goodness, JanH's response reminded me of how much Smudge loved to be carried. He didn't like being picked up for just holding, but if I put him in human baby position over my shoulder and carried him around, he was in heaven. Each evening, I would pick him up and take him from window to window. We would say goodnight to the birds, good night to the squirrels, goodnight to the dogs and children playing on the lawns. I was his mode of transportation and he was King of the Universe..something every Ragdoll aspires to.
I know you and Chonk will have a wonderful life together.
RE: Kitten to Cat Personality - ChonkMom - 12-11-2020
Thank you all for your advice! I feel very welcome and am glad to be a part of this community
I will try to be more encouraging with attention and treats and hope that he becomes more affectionate. I do think he gets warm easily- he prefers to sleep on the cold floor as opposed to blankets or beds. He also seems to prefer to lay on uncomfortable things... If I have clutter on the couch (game controllers, kids toys, etc) he will rather lay on top of those items than something soft like the couch cushion lol. He's a silly boy. I'll keep you all updated, and I'm going to try to post pictures of him on here, hoping that it works! Thank you all again!RE: Kitten to Cat Personality - HelenMac - 12-11-2020
He's gorgeous thanks for posting his pictures. I hear you about uncomfortable places to sleep sounds exactly like Zimba.
RE: Kitten to Cat Personality - admin - 12-11-2020
He's gorgeous! Thanks for sharing him with us.