In shortThe Ragdoll relaxes in your arms to the point of hanging, hence the name. But floppiness is not an endless yes: a Ragdoll who stiffens or avoids contact is telling you something important.
A large semi-longhaired cat with blue eyes, the Ragdoll was bred for docility and a taste for contact. He follows, lies on you, accepts being carried and hates surprises. He is not much of a climber, prefers the floor and laps, and reacts badly to sudden changes. This gentleness makes him vulnerable: he defends himself little, tolerates for a long time, and his discomfort signals are subtle. A well-read Ragdoll is a cat you put down before he has to ask.
Carry him without dropping him. He relaxes in your arms. Put him down before he tenses, never abruptly or from high up.
A nest on the floor. Fewer acrobatic heights. A low bed, a blanket, near you.
No surprises. Announce yourself, avoid sudden moves, keep the schedule. He feels safe in the predictable.
As a kitten he grows slowly until 3 or 4 and stays very playful on the floor: offer games at his level. As an adult, watch weight, he is greedy and not very active, and the heart, with cardiomyopathy screening advised. As a senior, kidneys and joints. A Ragdoll who no longer comes onto laps is talking about pain first of all.
He tolerates it, which is not the same thing. Watch the ears, tail and body stiffness. Teach children to let him go as soon as he moves, and not to carry him: a Ragdoll who falls gets hurt.
Yes, the breed prefers the floor and low surfaces. A low, wide cat tree suits him better than a tower. A Ragdoll who used to climb and no longer does, however, should see a vet.
A change in tolerance to being carried in this breed often points to pain: joints, back, belly. Vet before any other hypothesis.
Mimo reads behavior. It does not replace a vet.
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