Aggressive Ragdoll kitten

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Coeurchoco_62 Icon representing the flag French
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Hi everyone,

At the end of last year, we brought home Simon, a Ragdoll kitten. He was almost 4 months old at the time.

He settled into his new home very quickly. He seems very at ease and has plenty of toys and cardboard boxes to burn off energy and for teething; he's eating well too.

From the start, he had a tendency to nibble our fingers whenever we stroked him.

I used to give him a firm "no" while pointing my finger and would then ignore him for a bit.

However, he’s never stopped, and it’s actually getting worse and worse.

He's a very independent cat, not really the cuddly type... he never comes to sit on us or sleeps with us at night, for example. Occasionally, he’ll lie down near me while I’m reading on the sofa. I’m always delighted when he does, but if I stroke him gently for even three seconds, he flips over, grabs my hand with his paws and bites me.

Now, when I give him a firm "no" and point my finger, his ears go flat and he attacks me quite nastily...

He also goes for our feet and legs when we’re walking around the house.

We have never used our hands to play with him; we always use fishing-rod style toys.

It’s so frustrating and we just don’t understand it...

We’ve had 12 cats over the years, all adopted as kittens, and I’ve never encountered this problem before. I specifically chose to buy a Ragdoll because of their reputation for having a gentle nature and being very close to their owners.

I quickly asked the breeder for advice, but she said she didn't understand it and suggested I ignore him when he does it and wait for him to come to us.

That’s not working at all... he doesn't seem to need us for anything.

He’s five and a half months old now, and he's due to be neutered very soon.

I’m looking for any tips or pointers... we’re really at a loss with his behaviour. Thanks so much, Marianne

Translated from French
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18 answers
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    • L
    Lyzzza Icon representing the flag French
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    Hello, A Ragdoll with "tiger syndrome", blimey! That breeder doesn't deserve the title. Anyway, whenever a buyer complains, she acts all surprised and says she's never had that problem before, that you're the first... even if it's a lie. Ideally, you’d have access to the list of buyers from the last three litters... fat chance of that, though 😧. I agree with Courgette and Blue cat. Actually, this reminds me of a similar story about a pedigree kitten that was discussed at length on here. @Coeurchoco, forget about the finger: "Now when I give him a firm 'no' while pointing my finger, he flattens his ears and attacks me nastily..." A pointed finger is an invitation to a scrap. It might work with a child (and even then, I'm not so sure). You can use a spray bottle, a fly swat (to smack against the floor near him), or blow on his nose. Yes, never initiate contact; he’ll come to you more and more over time if you ignore him. The cat needs to know that you approaching him doesn't always mean you’re going to try and give him a stroke. I had a positive experience with my two "ex-feral" cats; I withheld strokes for a long time, and now they’re the ones pestering me for them... Liza
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    Blue_Cat
    Blue_cat Icon representing the flag French
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    @Coeurchoco, I’ve got some serious concerns about his first few months with the breeder... A kitten that’s been with its mum AND had daily contact with people should have definitely learned bite inhibition by the time they’re 4 months old. It’s possible this breeder separates the mums from the litters too early, or maybe they didn't bother handling the kitten enough every day. Ragdolls are usually such sweethearts—probably the least aggressive breed out there—so I really think there’s been a lack of proper socialisation in those early months. Since Ragdolls have such thick coats, it’s actually quite common for them to dislike sitting on your lap or being pressed right up against you; it just makes them too hot. My British Shorthair has a thick coat as well and, even though he’s very affectionate, he never sits on my lap either.
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    I
    Isie cat Icon representing the flag French
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    Yes, you can even get those battery-operated bugs that vibrate; the vibrations make them scuttle about. It fascinates them. But the noise they make quickly becomes unbearable @_@ I also don't think they're very safe; if they get dropped, the screw often snaps and the battery cover comes off. Otherwise, something more basic: tunnels. The ones in the shops are honestly tiny. You can find much bigger ones online with 2, 3 or even 4 exits, and sometimes all you have to do is put their toys inside to get them really excited... just because of the noise. Similarly, you can just give them a crumpled-up ball of paper or a tarpaulin, and their imagination does the rest. 🤪
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    N
    Natalino Icon representing the flag French
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    I’m making a note of those—the Kong and the battery-powered toy. It’s true that my kitten (who isn’t aggressive at all, by the way) doesn't particularly like playing with something that just sits there. She needs it to feel alive and to surprise her.

    So, I’ll get cracking…

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    I
    Isie cat Icon representing the flag French
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    Hi there! Getting him neutered should calm him down quite a bit. Maybe he didn’t get enough human interaction when he was a kitten. I reckon breeders don’t spend all day stroking them or playing with them... He has plenty of toys, but do you use them to actually interact with him? With my cat, who was a bit feral, I used a wand toy with a string on the end because he wouldn’t let anyone get near him. Over time, I gradually moved my hand further down the stick so he’d realise I was the one playing with him. I’d take the chance to stroke his back end then. (He preferred being touched on his lower back and bottom; anything higher up made him feel threatened, especially his tummy and head). He probably sees your hand reaching over him as an attempt at dominance, but his aggressive response is uncalled for. Don’t be afraid to put him in another room for a good hour when he goes for your hands so he learns there are boundaries and that you're the boss. Does he have a cat tree so he has something to climb instead of your legs? He might need an interactive toy to burn off some energy; your legs must be stimulating him and triggering his hunting instinct. Battery-operated toys do the trick—specifically those self-spinning balls with something that wiggles on the end. You can easily find them online (Amazon, Zooplus) or in the shops. I usually get my toys from Pets at Home, as I find the selection more interesting there.
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    ?
    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    Hi Marianne,

    Some cats just don't like being stroked. You shouldn't try to force it; that’s just the way he is, it’s his nature.

    Stroking is a purely human gesture and isn't necessarily appreciated by every animal.

    The more you insist, the more he'll bite you—and it'll get harder each time. He’s just saying "stop". He'll start avoiding you, keeping his distance, and he’ll trust you less... which will only make you more frustrated.

    You have to accept him for who he is and stop trying to initiate contact. Try not to see it as a source of frustration but just a matter of fact; it’s not something you can't handle. Over time, you’ll develop your own way of bonding.

    The fact that he nips at your feet or pounces on your legs when you move suggests he wants to play. He’s still young, so you need to make sure you're spending a bit more time with him, and more frequently.

    Give him a Kong every now and then to help him burn off some energy, and put it away once he’s done.

    Don’t leave all his toys lying around all the time: it’s better to offer one or two a day and rotate them regularly, keeping the rest hidden away. He’ll be much more interested in them than if they’ve been sitting there gathering dust for ages.

    Best regards,

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    C
    Coeurchoco_62 Icon representing the flag French
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    People say Ragdolls are meant to be really close to their owners, very calm and affectionate...

    It’s beyond frustrating... having a cat and not being able to give them a cuddle :(((

    We’re very respectful of cats, and our cats have always been very close to us. It’s honestly the first time I’ve come across this kind of temperament, and to have aggression as well...

    To choose a pedigree cat specifically for its personality, only to find that in the end, he’s the complete opposite of what was described...

    it’s making us really sad.

    Translated from French
    N
    Natalino Icon representing the flag French
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    It just goes to show that breed traits are only ever a general guide... (having said that, I thought the whole point of a Ragdoll was its temperament?) I’m not sure at what age they reach sexual maturity, but hormonal changes can make cats aggressive (both when they hit puberty and when a female stops being fertile, apparently). Perhaps getting him neutered would help? It might be frustrating, but I’d stop stroking him if he isn’t looking for attention. If he’s sitting next to you, it shows he enjoys your company in his own way. And I’d maybe keep a spray bottle to hand for when he attacks your feet and such. Or perhaps a loud hand-clap to give him a bit of a start?
    Translated from French

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