Can ragdoll cats be left alone and do ragdoll cats need a companion?
This is a question people ask a lot and today we will be giving you a simple and basic answer, so if you are here because of this question you are welcome, and let’s get down to the business of the day.
Can Ragdoll Cats Be Left Alone
Yes, Ragdoll cats can be left alone for about 7 to 12 hours after which they may get hungry, and because you left them alone without food they will look for food elsewhere.
However, Ragdoll cat sleeps a lot during the day and these might help extend the hours they spend without their owners.
First of all, everything depends on the age of your Ragdoll. If your Ragdoll is still at the kitten’s stages, then the answer is NO.
Ragdoll kittens must be well taken care of at least for about 5 to 11 months old before you can think of leaving them at home alone.
This is because is at the kitten’s stages you can give all the basic training and commands and they will easily adjust to it.
Once they grow without you, it’s not always easy to catch up with them.
That been said, Ragdoll cats are a smart breed of cat that is well known to adjust to their owner’s schedule.
All you need is to just make any adjustments you want.
However, if you must leave your ragdoll alone at home for long, then you have to find a way of making up your not being with them.
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Ways to make up with your Ragdoll cat after leaving them at home for long
1. Giving your Ragdoll treats
Treats are a way of telling a ragdoll thanks for being a good girl or boy once you get home.
Let’s say you own a ragdoll and you are a 9 to 5 worker, or for any reason you left your Ragdoll for about 7 to 10 hours before coming back home.
The first thing to do is to offer your Ragdoll his or her favorite treats, then hug and cuddle your Ragdoll tell your Ragdoll thanks for hanging on.
2. Playing with your Ragdoll
After leaving your Ragdoll for hours you should at least show some love or try to catch up with your Ragdoll from where you left.
Once you are back from work or anywhere that kept you away for long periods, consider making out time to play with your ragdoll as this will go a long way to cement the bond between both of you.
After some minutes of play, cuddle your Ragdoll, pet your Ragdoll simply by rubbing your hands on its head down to its tail, make sure your ragdoll is now relaxed.
Head to the kitchen and make some food for your Ragdoll if no food is available, but if you have food ready then feed your Ragdoll and stand there while it feeds.
When its feeding just rub your hands over its head and body to make your ragdoll feel at home and relaxed.
3. Take your Ragdoll for an evening walk
Once your done with whatever your doing take a shower and dress up and head for an evening walk.
Ragdoll cat are very fun to be with and sociable. So find time to socialize your Ragdoll.
You can take your Ragdoll to a nearby park or just down the road just to get one or two things. This is so important because it will make your Ragdoll feel better and more bonded with you.
Have you seen: Why Female Cats Run Away From Home – 7 Ultimate Reasons
4. Sit and watch a cat movie with your Ragdoll
After you are done for the day, call your Ragdoll and put a cartoon movie sit a watch the movie together with your Ragdoll.
As your watching, keep your Ragdoll close to you and watch the reaction coming from your Ragdoll closely. However, you should have many cat cartoon movies and allow your Ragdoll to make choices.
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How Long Can Ragdoll Cats Be Left Alone At Home?
Ragdoll cats can be left alone at home for at least 8 to 12 hours at most, because the sleep during the day and are active mostly at night and early morning, after this time the might get lonely or restless, and make sure to keep them busy while you are away for work.
Ragdoll cat has proven so many times that they can always adjust to any human schedule, but this easy adjustment should not push you to abuse them.
No matter how busy you are, you will always have lunch or break time maybe after 4 to 6 hours of work, use this break or lunchtime to pay your Ragdoll an amazing visit just to keep up the bonding.
Give your Ragdoll treats during your visit and may change their toys and probably change their cartoon movies to another one.
Do Ragdoll Cats Need a Companion
Yes, Ragdoll cats need a companion this is because they are a very affectionate breed of cat, that might probably not do well when left alone for long. Ragdolls are significantly more social and need more attention than regular cats.
A companion doesn’t necessarily mean another ragdoll cat, but could be a dog or other domesticated animals.
However, it is important to note that it is best to get a companion for your Ragdoll while still in the kitten’s stages, this is to allow them to grow together and become best of friends.
If you must get a companion for your Ragdoll at the adult stage, it is important you stay close or pay more attention and train them to become the best of friends.
You should also allow enough time for transition between both pets (transition time is just the time between when you get the second pet and the time they blend and become friends) before leaving them alone at home.
If you don’t allow enough transition time, definitely one day you will come back to get a surprising result, maybe one of the pets may kill or hurt the other.
How to train a Ragdoll to be alone
Here are the basic and simple ways to train a ragdoll cat to be alone while you are away for your 9 to 5 job or while you are busy somewhere.
Safe And Engaging Toys
There are lots of safe and engaging toys that can keep your ragdoll busy for hours while you are busy with your work or 9 to 5 job. All you need to do is to get these toys and introduce them to your ragdoll.
When getting toys to be sure to get moving toys or sensor moving toys, then create a good surface area for your ragdoll and the moving toys.
If you want to get toys for your ragdoll be sure to get at least four different toys, this is to give room for your ragdoll to make choices of which toy will be the favorite.
Select all the favorite toys and create a territory for your ragdoll, which could be a basement or a room you don’t often visit the place most of the toys there.
Cats are territorial animals and ragdoll is definitely one. So be sure to create some territory so that your ragdoll will feel at home.
When you are not around, your Ragdoll will simply move into his territory and play than sleeping off.
Teach Your Ragdoll to Watch Cartoon Movies
Cats are generally curious animals that will always want to check out things by themselves, You can use this to your own advantage.
Just get a series of cat cartoon movies for your ragdoll. However, this is more effective when you start it from the kittens stages. So the earlier the better.
When you are less busy call your Ragdoll and sit together then play the cat movies and see your Ragdoll reactions towards each movie.
Take your time and select all the cat movies that interest your Ragdoll because you will be needing them as time goes by.
However, it is important to note that your Ragdoll will always adjust to your schedule, but make sure you don’t use their adjustment to abuse them.
See; Why Are Cats Attracted To My house? – 7 Top Reasons
Get a Second Pet
Just like I said before, the Ragdoll cat is very good to adjust to most condition provided you give them enough transition time to adjust.
If you are always busy at work you can get a second pet to keep each other companions while you are busy. It must not be a cat.
Some breeds of dogs that gets along with a Ragdoll cat
According to The American Kennel Club the following breeds of dogs do or get along with cats.
- Beagle
- Golden Retriever
- Bichon Frise
- Shetland Sheepdog
- Labrador Retriever
- Boston Terrier
- Maltese
- Poodle
- Basset Hound
Are ragdolls easy to train?
Yes, Ragdolls are among the breeds of cat that are easy to train, this because ragdolls adjust a lot to fit into their owners’ daily or weekly schedules and most important is that ragdoll is so affectionate towards their owners which makes it easy for them to listen to commands and easy to train.
Do ragdolls sleep a lot?
Yes, ragdolls sleep a lot especially during the day when their owners are not around, but ragdolls are active at night and early morning. On average a healthy can sleep for at least 6 to 12 hours per day, provided the environment is cool and not noisy.
Conclusion
We hope, we have answered your question can ragdoll cats be left alone?.
To sum it up everything about the question can ragdoll cats be left alone fully depends on training and how comfortable you make their environment.
If you create a very suitable cat environment, get treats cat dispensing toys then be sure your ragdoll can stay at home and wait for you.
A takeaway point is that a healthy ragdoll can sleep more than 4 hours on the go and this will help reduce their active time during the day.
