Whether you realize it or not, Ragdoll kittens are very in tune with your everyday movements and behaviors. From an early age, they know who feeds them, brushes them, cleans their litter box, comforts them, and has an overall gentle approach when handling them. Known as puppy dog cats, they will follow their owners from room to room, so it is important to begin training your kitten into good habits as is developmentally appropriate. This will vary by home and Ragdoll, but consider the following as you prepare for your kitten.

Early Kitten Development (Birth to Around 3 Months): Familiar Sounds, Affection and Love

Understand how Ragdolls think.

Ragdolls have an extremely trusting nature. It is important to cultivate this quality (read this article for six tips on raising an affectionate cat), as it is a highly endearing trait of the breed. They also love to play hard and often, though they are not known to extract their claws as much. They will playfully bite and many love to give kisses. They enjoy stretching out in your arms or in different sleeping positions. They love human companionship and will follow you from room to room. They trill to lovingly communicate and typically enjoy other pets. They were bred for some amazing characteristics, so you are in for a real treat as you begin to train your cat!

Use gentle, loving voices.

During this stage of development, it is important to find times to regularly play with and love on your kitten. Be sure to use reassuring, loving voices with your kitty as it will deepen the bond you are building. Remember that they are babies and super innocent in their behaviors at this stage of life. This is also a great time to regularly carry them around your house to introduce them to new things while listening to your reassuring voice.

Pre-determine safe, kitten-friendly resting places.

During down times, decide upon a contained, visible area to secure your kitten. It is important that this calm and inviting area have a litter box, a small bed or cat tree, a few toys, food and water. Consider the type of area you choose, as they will quickly learn to climb the rungs to reach their favorite family members. Ensure that plants or other hazards such as stairwells with slats, unsafe toys or fragile home decor are removed or blocked lest they chew or climb on them. At night, your kitten will likely want to sleep with you, so ensure food, water and a litter box are nearby. Before you know it, your kitten will outgrow this protected area and freely roam through your home.

Remember they are naturally curious.

Much like a baby, kittens are increasingly curious about their surroundings. They will explore pretty much everything they encounter, so it is important to always know where they are and provide a safe area for them to learn and explore. As they develop their climbing and jumping skills, you can expect to see them exploring everything, so it is critical to safeguard your home. This includes protecting them from unsafe corners, slats on a stairwell, access to outdoor areas, and dangerous places where something could fall on them or cut them. If any of these potential hazards exist, discuss and brainstorm ahead of time with your family on how you will safeguard these areas prior to your kitten's arrival. Remember that kittens will quickly become cats that can jump and climb, so make short- and long-term plans for kitten/cat safety as you gradually open the funnel to more freedom. In preparation for more kitten training as they get older and can jump to higher places, you will also want to pre-determine boundaries. For example, will you only allow them on soft surfaces but not countertops or tables?

Familiarize them with everyday life.

Sights and Sounds

Carefully observe your kitten's habits and interests, as each Ragdoll is unique and will demonstrate an affinity towards certain things. As newborn kittens, they were acclimated to a variety of household sounds, but they will now be familiarizing themselves with the sounds of your home. A contained area can be a great way to subtly introduce new sounds (vacuums, children, running water, other pets, etc.). Each day, spend time carrying them around your house while introducing AND gently reassuring them as they adjust to unfamiliar things. All introductions with new pets and small children should be supervised, and young children should not carry small pets on stairs.

Litter Training

Cats and kittens are naturally inclined to cover their waste and tend to instinctively understand the litter box. It should be safe, clean, and accessible at all times. When you first arrive home, put your kitten in their box and run your fingers through the litter or gently run their paws through the box. Allow them time to acclimate to their new setting by placing them in a playpen or a designated, visible area that contains their food, water, toys, bed and litter box. Limit space (do not place bedding or towels near the litter box as they may use them for a substitute) and praise them. As you begin playing with them in other rooms, periodically place them back in their litter box to reduce accidents by reminding them to use it. You might also consider putting out several boxes in every room they are free to roam (they are naturally drawn to corners) while they are acclimating to your home. If they have an accident, be sure to clean up the space well leaving no scent behind and consider putting them back in the familiar space you initially introduced them to until you know they are successfully using their litter box again. Lastly, remember they have the same goal as you: a clean environment, so be sure to clean their litter box daily and it will incentivize them to use it.

Food and Diet

As your kitten transitions to its new home, it is not uncommon for them to stop eating or drinking for a couple of days. It is important to feed them a variety of flavors and textures in order to expand their finicky palate. When transitioning to a new food, it is important to gradually do so by mixing the old and new foods together. For more information on diet, visit the Nutrition section under Kitten Care.

Hygiene

Regular maintenance and care of your Ragdoll's fur, nails and ears are important! Start brushing your cat at an early age so that they become accustomed to this routine. Check their bodies daily to ensure they are comfortable and clean. For more information on brushing and cleaning your cat, visit the Bath Time section under Kitten Care.

Play

Instinctive to a cat is their desire to bite, stalk, pounce, hunt and play. It is important to recognize these behaviors are ingrained in your cat and thus it is important to find regular times throughout the day to play with them. Use toys they can chase, and not your hands. For more information, visit the Play Time section under Kitten Care. Additionally, this YouTube video provides six helpful tips for stopping your kitten from playfully biting you.