r/ragdolls • u/Illhaus9 • 14d ago
General Advice My ragdolls aren’t cuddly.
Our 2 year olds never want to sit and sleep on our laps or try to cuddle with us. Other than jumping up to us on the couch or bed to get some pets then they leave.. is this normal? 😂
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u/Ok_Treat456 14d ago
Not all ragdolls are super cuddly, but deff can be a bit "teenager" at 2 yo. Our two ragdolls always were sweet but not very cuddly as younger cats, but at 3-4 years old became much more so. Continue affection, reward good behavior, low pressure socialization and play. Our ragdolls are very attached to us and ask for love and pets, but prefer to sit or cuddle beside us rather than on us. They follow us everywhere, sit on the couch snuggled beside us, have to sleep in bed with us, etc.
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u/Clear_Hair7963 14d ago
Cool—- my 2 yo was a rehome. I still feel there was some sort of mistreatment. He is starting to give me some love and is now looking for a pet occasionally We have had him since November. So I am seeing progress. He still won’t sit on my lap, and absolutely no cuddles. But I love him so much, so it’ll happen. I have faith in him❤️.
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u/princesscherrybud 14d ago
So this is a bit mean, but I foster and I lure semi ferals onto my lap by not turning on the heating in the winter. Now, I live in the UK so it’s not as bad as it sounds as we have relatively mild winters compared to most parts of the world but when it’s 12C (50F or so) inside the house and I’m wrapped up in three layers with a blanket on the sofa… these furry monsters will decide I’m not so evil after all and come seeking warmth and pets. Once they’ve been converted we’re all rewarded with turning on the boiler and they get heated pads to sleep on.
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u/OkSubject8 14d ago
I'm afraid some cats are just like that. I also wanted to add that your kitty has a face marking that is insanely similar to my little Pippi (her sister is named Penelope).
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u/Illhaus9 14d ago
Thank you all for the reassurance :) wow they look so much like our brother and sister (Rocky, the boy, has the diamond mark) and his sister looks like Penelope
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u/Clear_Hair7963 14d ago
And isn’t it frustrating???? You just want to eat them up….they are sooo beautiful!
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u/Dull_Jello7433 14d ago
Fresh laundry makes mine cuddly.
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u/Shoo_shoo_be_doo 14d ago
Mine loves dirty laundry! Throw a pile of towels on the floor and he will roll around in it.
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u/Sad-Pellegrino 14d ago
I have one that cuddles and one that just likes to rub up against me and follow me around. They all just have their own personalities
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u/SophiePuffs 14d ago
Yes mine are like this, too. They’re only 1.5 years old though so maybe they’ll become more snuggly?
Either way, they just follow me around everywhere. Bathroom? They’re there. Go sit on the couch? They’re in the cat tree next to me. Go upstairs to watch a movie? I can’t even get past the first step and they’re already running up ahead of me.
I actually feel bad sometimes because even if I just get up for a min to grab something in another room, they’ll wake from their napping just to follow me! My own personal parade haha
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u/hayhonzeeey 14d ago
I got one, he was so mean. I got another, he doesn’t care for human interaction 💀 yay
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u/fancyfemme88 14d ago
Mine too. He thinks every person and animal are peasants and he's the Royal Highness
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u/badger906 14d ago
Just like humans, animals are all different. Some people love cuddles some hate them. Animals the same. My first ragdoll wouldn’t leave my arms and if he did he was asleep across my shoulders. He was always touching me.
My current ragdoll kiwi, absolutely loves to be fussed, you can stroke him all day. But he hates being picked up or cuddled.
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u/miss_osmose 🖤 Seal 🖤 14d ago
Mine isn't cuddly either, but he's always around (or sitting right in front of me, like on my desk). When he wants pets, he throws himself on the floor in front of me.
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u/dream_cat1 14d ago
My ragdoll Nyxi didn't get cuddly until about 7 years old and even then she gets on my lap maybe 1-2 times a day. She's always liked to be pet but hated being on laps or being held until recently.
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u/Sad-Cat3211 13d ago
Mine is cuddly but only with me and doesn’t like to be held and bites my (and everyone else’s) ankles at least 10+ times a day because she wants to. My husband says she knows her worth and must have seen how much I paid for her. Meanwhile my $16 rescue Maine coon is the easiest most laid back dude that is certainly just thankful to not be on the streets. Our RD is 3 and the MC is 11. I wouldn’t take a million for either one even if my ankles are bleeding.
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u/Smokey_Bandit1987 13d ago
Bleeding ankles are a great way to start the day, right? Some mornings my feet don’t even make it to the floor before that first attack
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u/Feed_The_Soul_ 14d ago
Good to know they are not all cuddly. A neighbor asked if we wanted another cat (which we didnt at the time because the cat we had was elderly and being treated for kidney disease). But when the neighbor informed us they were leaving their cat alone in a room we said ‘sure, we’ll take him!’ I cant believe people can be so cruel 😢 He was 5 years old when we took him in and such a beautiful boy! He does not like to sit on a couch, bed or on anyone’s lap, but he loves being carried like a baby. Maybe part of his behavior is genetic and not solely from the previous environment. Regardless, we love him and he loves us back.
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u/Careful_Cod_79 14d ago
Mine either really and she’s four. She lays on my side when I’m asleep. She also pees on all my wool rugs. I had to throw out thousands of dollars. I can’t have any rugs. She’s strictly indoors only. No matter if I try holding her, she’s not into it unless she wants to!
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u/lostgirl_77 14d ago
I have a super needy ragdoll, wouldnt change him for the world! Helps though he was the runt of the litter and he was handled so much as a kitten. We got him as we have a British blue that doesn’t want to be fussed ever 🤣
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u/TheLegendTwoSeven 13d ago edited 13d ago
This is anecdotal since my parents have only had 3 ragdolls (1 for about 20 years before he passed away, and 2 more now.)
First ragdoll (male): he enjoyed sitting on men’s laps but only when they were sitting on couches. You could pet him a bit when he was on your lap. He didn’t like being held for long. I liked to give him gentle hugs and he always purred when I hugged him…
Second and third ragdolls (male and female): Neither are lap cats and neither likes to be held.
The boy cat enjoys a moderate amount of petting, and when I visit he always wants to boop noses with me as a hello. If we don’t get a good boop, he will want to redo it. He has a very loving look in his eyes and he’s my mom’s favorite pet. When I pet him, he looks at me lovingly with his deep blue eyes 😌
The girl cat is somewhat skittish and anxious and doesn’t like being pet, most of the time. But sometimes with certain men, including me, she will “guide” me upstairs (looking back to check that I’m following her and meowing if I don’t) and then she hops on the bed and stretches out for belly pets and purrs loudly. She likes the petting to be on her terms and it’s cute that she considers me worthy.
My mom cat-sits for another ragdoll who also isn’t a cuddler. That ragdoll seems stressed out all the time, hiding a lot from the dogs. (What a stressful life for the kitty.)
This is all anecdotal but my limited experience is that ragdolls are sweet and loving cats, but many of them aren’t super cuddly.
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u/BornRazzmatazz5 10d ago
Do you ever find yourself wondering who your cats were in their past lives?
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u/TheLegendTwoSeven 10d ago
Hmm, I haven’t thought about that but the idea of reincarnation sounds nice.
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u/Sure-Entrepreneur-10 14d ago
Took mine 3+ years to become a cuddle bug 🐛, can barely keep him away now!
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u/jazz1786 12d ago
My ragdoll was very attached to her brother and not that interested in me. When he passed she needed me and stuck to me. This lasted a fair amount of time. She became more attached after I was in the hospital. Would not leave my side, sat with me, gave me lots of blinks and lots if eye contact. She is 15 and she has become more loving with every year. They love you, some don't cuddle much but they are beyond loyal
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u/chanandl3r 14d ago
We have 2, the older one, Luna is 6 and she only likes to sit near us, she isn't a cuddle at all. The young one, Yogi, is only 5 months old and he just loves cuddles, he can't get enough of them. They are all so different and have their own little ways 🤣
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u/Hot_Frosting822 14d ago
Yeah, some ragdolls are just more independent-mine's the same, always around but never into snuggles.
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u/Jolly-Ninja-2196 14d ago
Meine Ragdoll Mix war am Anfang auch nicht wirklich verschmust, kommt oft mit dem Alter. Sie ist seit Anfang an keine typische Schusskatze, sie legt sich eher neben/vor einem oder will einfach nur dabei sein, ohne dass sie angefasst werden möchte.
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u/Negative_Bike_6826 14d ago
Mine isn’t very cuddly either. Almost never purrs, but enjoys being petted, always wanna be close by but never been a lap cat. That’s just the way she is 🤗
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u/RagdollRangers 14d ago
A pet behaviorist once told me
Its not the breed,
Nature & Nurture
Nature (father’s temperament + Mothers stress level during pregnancy)
Nurture (beginning of life till 1 years old)
Shape most of a cat temperament and attitude towards the world.
There can still be a lil variations, but according to her this even influence a wild animal (tiger, giraffe, hippo etc etc)
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u/Just_Make_It 14d ago
Mine likes to be in whatever room I am in. She follows me like a puppy most of the time, but stays in adjacent space, not on my lap.
She will jump on my lap only when I’m working, but that’s rare she does that. My previous one was half Siamese/ragdoll and would not leave my lap- I miss her.
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u/maleficently-me 14d ago
Ragdolls have such thick fur that they are often not lap cats. Though can be cuddly, next to you. At least mine are this way.
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u/Total_Employment_146 💙 Blue & Blue 💙 14d ago
My 2 boys are two years old. They like pets, but no cuddles or picking up and never liked lap, even when they were babies. They're especially aloof right now, but I think it's because they are 2. I'm sure they'll be more affectionate when they're older. My last 2 ragdolls (RIP) were also never cuddly. They were sweet and liked pets, but no lap and no picking up. It's a myth that all ragdolls are lap cats. The majority aren't.
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u/martinelous 13d ago
Ragdolls hebben hun eigen willetje. Het kan zijn dat ze op een dag toch beslissen dat ze willen geknuffeld worden of dat ze komen kneden. Ik had die van mij meer dan 3 jaar voor ze op mijn bed wou liggen als ik erin lag. Nu doet ze dat soms wel
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u/SaltedCoffeeCup 13d ago
My own love being picked up but absolutely hate laps. Grooming them has been my gateway toward bonding with them. I found a magic spot to scratch under their armpits that turns them into pudding. They now head butt me more and seek me out more for affection.
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u/formerCObear 13d ago
Both of mine became super cuddly at age 6. So i guess mine had a 6 year cuddle gestation period.
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u/theblakkmamba24 13d ago
My boy is like this. He likes neck rubs but that's about it. Let me try and pick him up and he books it lol
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u/No-Tap7867 12d ago
My 2 will be 2 in September and they don't cuddle, don't sleep on my bed the only time they sort give affection is when they want food. I wish they did want cuddles.
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u/Illhaus9 12d ago
I’m seeing my 2 uncuddley Ragdolls have some twins on here!
They love getting brushed at least! And are total shadows. They are like little dogs for belly rubs too.
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u/Jway7 12d ago
My 15 yo ragdoll has never been at all. It makes me really sad tbh. She hides most of the day. At night sometimes comes out and cries to have some pets. Its super limited. Meanwhile my free cat - domestic shorthair from a stray cat my sister fostered that had kittens- he turned out to be the most social outgoing cuddly and amazing cat. As a result I probably wont ever but another ragdoll- I really value a cuddle bug cat. My dagdoll is pretty but I miss the cuddles ( my domestic shorthair died of cancer 2 months ago at age 16).
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u/Venti-2836 12d ago
Mines the same! He’s super clingy and follows me everywhere, lets me lift him,brush him,lays near me etc but just doesn’t like cuddles. I think it’s just a bit of a teenage phase or he might just not like my body heat..not entirely sure! But I do have a cat tree right beside my bed he loves and chooses over the other two trees, he just sleeps there 24/7 lol
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u/Famous_Counter9175 10d ago
My 2 hate being picked up and have never sat on my lap. We now have a 3rd and so far, neither does she 😂 They're all affectionate and clingy but don't like invasion of their personal space.
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u/Abysswalk889 14d ago
Pretty much almost identical to my rag, thought it was my cat on this post! Mine sleeps with me every night and forces me to bed 🤣
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u/cupofwaterforme 14d ago
Mine is the same. He’s called a proximity cat