Can Ragdoll Cats Be Left Alone: 7 Tips On Leaving Them Alone
As a big fan of Ragdoll cats I always get asked a similar question which can Ragdoll cats be left alone and for how long can you leave them alone.
In this post, I will be discussing if you can leave your Ragdoll alone, what you need to do if you must leave them alone at home.
Because of their loving nature, a Ragdoll will likely have a reduced tolerance for being left alone for an extended period of time.
If you are a traveler or someone who works 9 to 5 then Ragdolls are not for you, maybe you should look elsewhere. There are many pros and cons of living with a Ragdoll you should know.
So, Can Ragdoll Cats Be Left Alone?
Ragdoll cats sleep a lot throughout the day, thus these might let them spend more time away from their owners. Ragdoll cats, on the other hand, should not be left alone for more than 6 to 9 hours at a time, as they will become bored or hungry if they are left alone without food.
Ragdoll kittens must be carefully taken care of at least for around 5 to 11 months old before you can consider leaving them at home alone.
This is because you may offer all the fundamental training and orders to the kittens at this age, and they will readily adjust.
It’s not always simple to catch up with them once they’ve grown up without you.
Ragdoll cats, on the other hand, are a clever breed that is recognized for adapting to their owners’ schedules.
All you have to do now is make whatever changes you desire.
If you must leave your ragdoll alone at home for an extended period of time, you must find a means to compensate for your absence.
How long can Ragdoll cats be left alone at home?
Because Ragdoll cats sleep during the day and are most active at night and early in the morning, they may be left alone at home for at least 8 to 12 hours. They may grow lonely or restless after this time, so keep them occupied while you are at work.
Ragdoll cats have proven time and time again that they can conform to any human schedule, but these little modifications should not be used as an excuse for cruelty.
No matter how busy you are, you will always have lunch or break time, possibly after 4 to 6 hours of work; take advantage of this break or lunchtime to pay your Ragdoll a wonderful visit to preserve the bond.
During your visit, give your Ragdoll snacks and change their toys and maybe their cartoon movies.
How to train a Ragdoll cat to be left alone
Here are some basic and easy ways to train a Ragdoll cat to be alone while you are at work or otherwise occupied.
Train your Ragdoll cat to watch TV shows
Cats are naturally curious creatures that will want to investigate things on their own. You may take advantage of this.
Simply purchase a collection of cat cartoon flicks for your Ragdoll.
This is more successful, though, if you begin at the kitten stage. As a result, the earlier you start, the better.
When you have some free time, call your Ragdoll and sit with him or her, then watch the cat movies and notice how your Ragdoll reacts to each one.
Take your time and watch all of the cat movies that your Ragdoll like since you will need them in the future.
It is crucial to remember, however, that your Ragdoll will always conform to your schedule; nonetheless, you must not abuse this flexibility.
Provide your Ragdoll cat with a window view of the outside world
Ragdoll cats are prone to separation anxiety because they were selectively bred to be a human companion.
Therefore, if you must leave your Ragdoll cat alone at home, make sure you set up a window view for your Ragdoll cat.
This window view must be a clear view of what is happening around your neighborhood, such that your Ragdoll can see through the glasses.
Provide your Ragdoll cat with a companion pet
As I previously stated, Ragdoll cats are excellent at adapting to a variety of situations if given the time to do so.
If you are usually busy at work, you can obtain a second pet to keep each other company. It can’t possibly be a cat.
There are many ways to take care of a Ragdoll cat you should know.
Train your Ragdoll cat with safe and interactive toys
There are a variety of safe and fascinating toys that can keep your ragdoll occupied for hours while you are at work.
All you have to do now is go out there and purchase these toys for your ragdoll.
Make sure you buy moving toys or sensor moving toys while you’re shopping for toys, and then make sure you have enough space for your ragdoll and the moving toys.
If you want to buy toys for your ragdoll, be sure to get at least four different toys so that your ragdoll may choose which toy he or she prefers.
Select all of your ragdoll’s favorite toys and set up a territory for him, which might be a basement or a room you don’t visit frequently but where the majority of the toys are kept.
Cats are territorial creatures, and the ragdoll is no exception. So be sure to set aside some space for your ragdoll to feel at ease.
When you are not present, your Ragdoll will enter his area, play, and then sleep.
Provide more cat trees and hiding platforms
Ragdoll cats love to sleep a lot when the environment is calm and free from all forms of stress.
Provide lots of places your Ragdoll cat can climb and take an afternoon nap, either in your basement or anywhere hidden.
Stand cat trees close to a clear glass window with an outside view, this will allow your Ragdoll to have an outside view and even sleep off there.
Train your Ragdoll to follow a certain daily routine
Training your Ragdoll to follow a specific daily routine is not easy, but these will help you along the line.
Program your Ragdoll to always have something doing or stay occupied at any time of the day.
A routine like eat, play and sleep is fine.
For example, you can play a fetch game in the morning to exhaust your Ragdoll energy level before going out.
Train your Ragdoll to use the automatic treats dispenser
This is one of the best ways to keep your Ragdoll entertained while you are away for a while.
You can get automatic treats dispenser and set it to your desired time and number of treats to dispense.
Your Ragdoll will always sit and wait for a time when treats will be dispensed from the dispenser.
However, you should take your time to train your Ragdoll on how to use it.
Do Ragdoll Cats Need a Companion
Yes, Ragdoll cats require a companion since they are an extremely loving breed of cat that will most likely not do well if left alone for an extended period of time. Ragdolls are more sociable than normal cats and require more care.
It doesn’t have to be another ragdoll cat; a dog or other domesticated animal might also be a companion.
It is important to note, however, that getting a Ragdoll a companion while it is still a kitten is ideal since this will allow them to grow up together and become best friends.
If you need to find a companion for your Ragdoll as an adult, it’s important that you stay close to them or pay more attention to them and train them to be best friends.
Before leaving them alone at home, you should also provide adequate time for transition between both pets (transition time is just the period between when you receive the second pet and when they mix and become friends).
If you do not provide enough transition time, you will undoubtedly return one day to find a surprise consequence, such as one of the pets killing or injuring the other.
Are ragdolls easy to train?
Yes, Ragdolls are one of the easiest cat breeds to teach. This is because Ragdolls adapt well to their owners’ daily or weekly schedules, and most importantly, Ragdolls are very loving towards their owners, making it easy for them to listen to orders and train.
Do ragdolls sleep a lot?
Ragdolls do sleep a lot, especially while their owners aren’t home, although they are active at night and early in the morning. A healthy person can sleep for 6 to 12 hours a day on average if the environment is cool and quiet.
How to compensate your Ragdoll for leaving them alone for too long
You may make up with your Ragdoll cat in a variety of ways after leaving them at home for an extended period of time.
Here are some simple ways to compensate your Ragdoll for leaving them alone:
Take your Ragdoll for a stroll in the evening
After you’ve finished whatever you’re doing, shower, dress up, and go for an evening walk.
Ragdoll cats are friendly and entertaining to be around. So make time for your Ragdoll to mingle.
You may take your Ragdoll to a neighboring park or simply down the street to pick up a few items.
This is crucial since it will help your Ragdoll feel more at ease and connected to you.
Watch a cat movie with your Ragdoll as a compensation
When you’ve finished for the day, summon your Ragdoll and put on a cartoon movie, then sit and enjoy it with your Ragdoll.
Keep your Ragdoll near to you while you’re viewing and pay attention to his or her reaction.
However, you should provide your Ragdoll with a variety of cat cartoon movies from which to choose.
Any of the movies that get your Ragdoll more curios, should be your cat’s favorite movie. Also, give treats during this period.
Show your Ragdoll some love and give treats
Once you arrive home, treats are a way of thanking your ragdoll for being a good girl or boy.
Assume you own a ragdoll and work a 9 to 5 job, or you left your Ragdoll for 7 to 10 hours before returning home for whatever reason.
First, give your Ragdoll his or her favorite goodies, then embrace and love your Ragdoll, and thank him or her for hanging in there.
Make out time to play with your Ragdoll
After leaving your Ragdoll for several hours, you should at least show some compassion or attempt to reconnect with your Ragdoll.
Make time to play with your ragdoll when you get home from work or any other place where you have been gone for a lengthy period of time. This will assist to deepen your bond.
After a few minutes of play, cuddle your Ragdoll, pet it by massaging your hands on its head down to its tail, and make sure your Ragdoll is relaxed.
If there is no food available, go to the kitchen and prepare some for your Ragdoll; if there is food available, feed your Ragdoll and stand there while it eats.
When your ragdoll is feeding, run your hands over its head and torso to make it feel at ease.
More interesting topics about Ragdolls from the same author:
Consequences of leaving your Ragdoll cat alone for too long
Here are some common reasons why you should never form the habit of leaving your Ragdoll cat alone for too long:
- They may become unnecessarily aggressive.
- They will become depressed.
- Obesity may catch up with your Ragdoll
- You will lose the bond between and your cat
- They may start scratching your furniture
- They may refuse to use the litter boxes
- Separation anxiety will set in
- They may want to escape
- Your Ragdoll can urinate and litter your house when bored.
- They may develop unnecessary unwanted Ragdoll behaviors.
My Conclusion On The Topic Can Ragdoll Cats Be Left Alone
I hope I’ve been able to address your question can ragdoll cats be left alone?
To summarize, whether or not ragdoll cats can be left alone is entirely dependent on their training and how comfortable their surroundings are.
If you establish an ideal cat habitat and purchase treat-dispensing toys, you can be assured that your ragdoll will stay at home and wait for you.
A key conclusion is that a healthy ragdoll can sleep for more than 8 hours while on the go, which will let them spend less time active during the day.
You can also get a cat sitter to take care of your Ragdoll while you are away from home, if your workplace allows pets then take your cat along.
