Scratching is a necessary activity for your Ragdoll cat. In order to prevent this necessity from being destructive you need to provide alternative scratching materials like a post or scratching mat.
Even if your Ragdoll cat is using your expensive Italian leather sofa as a scratching post, punishing your cat accomplishes next to nothing. Cats simply do not understand punishment.
If your cat has scratched your furniture cover the area with plastic wrap or tin foil to deter the behavior. If you catch your Ragdoll in the act try squirting him or her with a water bottle or squirt gun. Follow this action with a stern “No.” Make sure you are rewarding your Ragdoll cat for positive behaviors; when you observe your Ragdoll using the scratching post shower your cat with praise.
Spraying is a different behavior done for the similar reasons. Cats spray to mark territories. This is done by both males and females. The easiest fix for a spraying problem is to neuter or spay your Ragdoll cat.
Related Articles Other People Have Read:
- Training Your Cat Part II
- Ragdoll Cat Problems
- Ragdoll Cat Scratching: Train Your Cat to Scratch the Post
- Ragdoll Cats and the Scratching Post
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
I have tried the tin foil trick and my ragdoll couldn’t care less, at first he wasn’t sure about it but after a few days he would rub against it and eventually started to chew it. This is my first ragdoll and I am in-love wtih him.
I have 3 Ragdolls and 2 of them are brothers. They are about 3 years old now and although they are neutered they have started peeing anywhere any everywhere.
they have been to the vet at great cost and had medicine and antibiotics and plug in fresheners to relax them and uncle tom cobbly and all. I am at a loss what to do. The vet said they could be stressed! These cats are the most spoilt in the world and it is the owner who is stressed!
They go in and out of the house continually and then urinate when they come in on a bag or towel or bath mat !
Help
Lynn
I read your comments with interest. When I first acquired my Ragdoll she urinated on the bed the first day we got her. I informed the breeders about this and they confirmed that she had been litter trained (the GCCF stipulates that all breeders should ensure their kittens are litter trained prior to selling them). I was told my Ragdoll kitten (about 16 weeks old at the time) would probably have been suffering from stress due to leaving her birth home and that she should be kept in one room until she was used to her new surroundings. I made sure I used the same type of litter (wooden pellets) that she had been used to and also used the same type of litter tray (a hooded version) that the breeders had used. Whenever I saw her scratching or going into any corner I would place her in the litter tray and would encourage her to dig into the clean litter with her paws. When she used the litter tray she was praised and rewarded with a cat treat. I would make a great fuss over her and now she uses the litter tray all the time. Praise and reward for the desired behaviour is very effective.