Ragdoll kitten and zoomies

Moonwatcher1234 · 2023-11-27T22:22:43+00:00

Hello, Does anyone have advice on how to handle zoomies in a Ragdoll kitten? We are all slightly terrified by the transformation into an ankle biting ball of fluff that comes over our kitten in the evenings and kind of take to our rooms and close the door. Is there another way and when do they grow out if it?!

Runninghappy · 27/11/2023 22:36

My ragdoll is almost 2 now and still does this. He goes from loving and docile to biting ankles and pouncing once a day and I’m actually scared of him! The rest of the time he’s an angel and perfect cat! I have a wand toy with a feather on the end and I always now make sure I have one handy so that I can use it straight away. It generally does work. It’s as if him biting and pouncing is his way of asking to play - I guess like he would with his litter mates.

PebbleDashAtOne · 27/11/2023 22:45

Pay the cat tax please and thank you.

Octavia64 · 27/11/2023 22:49

He wants to play. Best solution is either get another kitten (they play with each other) or buy lots of toys and play with him.

The problem with having more than one kitten is they chase each other all over the house and then land at high speed on you!

Original poster

Moonwatcher1234 · 27/11/2023 22:49

Runninghappy · 27/11/2023 22:36

My ragdoll is almost 2 now and still does this. He goes from loving and docile to biting ankles and pouncing once a day and I’m actually scared of him! The rest of the time he’s an angel and perfect cat! I have a wand toy with a feather on the end and I always now make sure I have one handy so that I can use it straight away. It generally does work. It’s as if him biting and pouncing is his way of asking to play - I guess like he would with his litter mates.

Thanks - I was hoping he would grow out of it! Any tips on how to approach it with kids? I don’t want them to be scared of him

OP posts:

Original poster

Moonwatcher1234 · 27/11/2023 22:52

PebbleDashAtOne · 27/11/2023 22:45

Pay the cat tax please and thank you.

Ha - he is still v new and I haven’t managed to get a good one of his face yet. Will try again tomorrow but if it helps, he’s a tabby seal. Googled pics of them as adults and they look v incongruous - like your common or garden tabby face transplanted onto a magnificent Ragdoll body.

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margotrose · 28/11/2023 06:44

Yep - this is why they recommend two kittens

I'd love to say they grow out of it but my living room turns into a wrestling ring every night and my oldest cat is nine now!

He really needs a lot of play at that age and if you don't have any other cats who are willing to play with him then it needs to come from you.

Ostryga · 28/11/2023 06:46

Yes this is always why you get two! So they do their mad five minutes with each other rather than you.

Best thing is just to explain to your children it’s part of having a pet, they have their own wills and wants and don’t always do what you want them to because they are sentient beings. And distract him with loads of toys for him to pounce on.

Toddlerteaplease · 28/11/2023 12:08

My 11 year old Persian still gets the zoomies. And the late Magic was still at it a few days before she died.

Heronatemygoldfish · 28/11/2023 14:01

Gah - zoomies - I'd forgotten what they were like! My 10yo and 12/13yo moggy pair don't do it. The kitten (16 wk now) - oh my. I call him the ginger nut (among other things...) He's bonkers! He wall-of-deathed the room yesterday when I was on a conference call, knocked a load of stuff flying off the table then shot halfway up the curtains. (Cat tax in another thread.)

You have my sympathy and full understanding OP!

PuppyMonkey · 28/11/2023 17:32

zoomies are v entertaining imho, just keep out of the way and enjoy the spectacle. My tabby seal female is ten and looks like this.

She had the zoomies about ten minutes ago.

FloofCloud · 28/11/2023 17:37

Get the toys out too, they need some FUN! 🤩

Doyouthinktheyknow · 28/11/2023 19:15

My 6 year old ragdoll does this, it’s pure entertainment😻

It is often triggered by a poo but not always and sometimes happens as I’m drifting off to sleep which is just perfect😵‍💫

She will just charge up and down the room, out and in the catflap, through the house and back. We just sit back and watch the madness😊

Ours is an only cat as she doesn’t like other cats!

Original poster

Moonwatcher1234 · 28/11/2023 20:28

Thanks all - so it’s normal then. At the moment, I retreat to another room in fear for my ankles and fingers but that’s not right is it? Kitten can play for ages so at what point do I leave him to it going crazy?

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Potentialmadcatlady · 28/11/2023 20:30

My lot use their cat wheel when they get the zoomies… they come bombing up to it, from wherever they are in house, run on it for a few mins and job done…

Original poster

Moonwatcher1234 · 28/11/2023 20:54

Potentialmadcatlady · 28/11/2023 20:30

My lot use their cat wheel when they get the zoomies… they come bombing up to it, from wherever they are in house, run on it for a few mins and job done…

Thank you, you genius. How did I not know about this.

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Gingerkittykat · 28/11/2023 21:11

Get a Kong Kickeroo (the adult one not the useless kitten one and actively play with him with it so can bite and scratch and bunny kick.

Be stern and say no firmly every time he bites. My ragdoll was very bitey as a kitten but thankfully at 3 now only gived the occasional bite!

Potentialmadcatlady · 28/11/2023 21:36

Moonwatcher1234 · 28/11/2023 20:54

Thank you, you genius. How did I not know about this.

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Look at the cazami ones… expensive but worth the money, won’t topple and won’t squish the cats back… mine is years old and still going strong.. best investment I made for my gang… wall mounted cat furniture also worth looking at so they can go up high..
Having two kittens of similar size/age is always much less work 😉