Do Ragdoll Cats Scratch Furniture?

So you’re looking for a new cat?

Are you looking for a ragdoll, or looking for a cat that most likely won’t scratch your furniture?

I have owned a number of different cats.  Ragdolls are the only breed of cat I have owned that has not scratched my furniture.  Not all of my ragdolls have behaved in this way.  It’s just that every other breed I have owned has scratched my furniture.  If you are looking for a cat that will most likely not scratch furniture ragdolls are the best choice. 

Introduction

Ragdoll cats are the most popular breed in the whole world.  There’s an understandable reason for this – ragdoll cats have very sweet and loving personalities. They are also very easy to care for as they easily get along with the kids and other pets within the home. However, being that scratching of furniture has always been a ‘cat thing’, some homeowners are concerned if ragdoll cats also scratch furniture.

A little about ragdoll cats…

This breed of cats is quite large, strong, and somewhat stocky in build. They have a slightly round head, small and rounded ears with a large pair of brilliant blue eyes. The cats weigh at least 10 pounds, with the male cats usually weight between 15 and 20 pounds. These cats come with tails that are slightly bushy and tend to taper at the end.

Ragdoll cats are simply adorable as they are willing to learn new things from their owners, including greeting them at the door, playing hide and seek, playing fetch, and other fun activities. These cats also love to cuddle. In fact, a ragdoll cat will follow you around the house the whole day, just to be involved in whatever activities you are engaged in. Call them ‘furry supervisors’ and you won’t be making any mistakes.

Are you looking for a cat carrier with a litter box built in?

What colours do ragdolls come in?

What is the most popular ragdoll colour? Seal Ragdolls of course…

They primarily come in Chocolate, Seal, Lilac, and Blue colours.  They also come in mitted, pointed, or beautiful bicolor patterns. As already stated above, ragdoll cats have sweet personality which sees them collapsing into your arms and relaxing the moment you pick them up, just like a ragdoll does. This is how they came to be named ragdoll cats.

I have two seal point (well maybe mitted) ragdoll cats.  Both female and in the senior range. I have Maya who is 13 this year and I have Grandma Cat who is an amazing 23 this year.

This is me with Maya, and the other picture is Maya on the left and GC on the right.

Do ragdoll cats scratch furniture?

Now we are down to the basic question, do ragdoll cats scratch furniture?

The answer is yes and no, let me explain.

The yes is that being the cats they are, the ragdoll cats are bound to get up to some scratching and if your furniture is the only thing available to scratch on, definitely they will scratch on it.

The no is that if you are able to understand their nature and their need to always sharpen their claws, you can avert having your beautiful furniture damaged by providing them with scratching posts. Unlike other cats, sturdy and tall scratching posts are more suitable for ragdoll cats. Being that they are quick learners, once they understand that the scratching post is meant for them to sharpen their claws on, they will completely leave your furniture alone.

Ragdoll cats mostly do not scratch when being carried or cuddled.  This behaviour makes them much less prone to scratching your furniture.  That’s also why it’s important to have alternatives for them and to train them.  Ragdolls are great learners. 

My experience with Ragdolls and scratching furniture

I have been a Ragdoll breeder.  I have also owned a number of ragdolls over the years before the two I have now.  They are the only breed that I have ever owned that has not scratched furniture.  As a cat owner, you can basically assume some scratching.  That’s why we get cat trees and scratching posts.

However, with other breeds, it is really hit-and-miss.  I had a tabby-style barn cat for a while named Louis and he ruined a couch.  I have scratching posts and a tree, and he basically ignored them and scratched the couch instead.

Ragdoll cats are definitely the best breed for owners concerned about scratching.

Tips for raising the perfect ragdoll cat

In order to get it right when it comes to having your furniture intact in a house with a ragdoll cat, there are a few tips that would help you keep your ragdoll cat from scratching your furniture. They are as follows:

• Get a scratching post: This is a great start to having cat-scratch-free furniture in your home. Get your ragdoll cat one or more sturdy scratching posts. Each time you notice they are about scratching the furniture, redirect them to the scratching post and over time, they will learn not to bother your furniture anymore.
  • Here are two examples from Amazon.  One traditional and one more contemporary.
    

• Get their claws covered: This is another technique that works very well.  Soft-Paws is designed to cover the cat’s nails.  They are inexpensive on Amazon.  This product is like false fingernails.  The downside of this is that you might need to take your ragdoll cat to a groomer to have the false claws put on. Your cat can wear this for up to a month and within this period, the cat must have learnt to direct its scratching to the appropriate place – scratching posts.

• Use scratch repellents: Cats do not like the smell of oranges or lemons.  While you are on the job of teaching your pet not to scratch your furniture, you can tuck in a few orange and lemon peels around or under your furniture. They will surely stay away. Citrus-scented air fresheners and diffusers also work great in repelling cat scratches.

• Cover the furniture with slipcovers: There is nothing that irritates cats like a moving scratch surface.  Putting slipcovers on their favourite spots on the furniture will help redirect them to the appropriate place for them to scratch their claws. On the other hand, you can also use non-residue double-sided tapes to cover the arms of the furniture.  The slipcovers will cause the claws to get stuck, and that will act as a deterrent for the cat. 
• Get them puzzle toys: This works great if your ragdoll cat is left all by itself while you go off to work. Cats easily get bored and might resort to scratching off furniture for entertainment. You can, however, avert this by getting your ragdoll cat multiple puzzle toys. These toys will keep your cat busy and distracted from the furniture. You can also hide a few treats beneath toys and keep it busy removing the toys in order to reach the treats.
• Reupholster your furniture with the right fabric: The right kind of fabric can make all of the difference. There are certain fabrics like wool that a cat will love to grab onto, and some cats love leather. However, if you get a fabric like a microfibre or cotton you should be ok. Check out the best furniture makers in Calgary, they have an upholstery Calgary setup that is pretty awesome.

Conclusion

Homeowners can save their furniture from their ragdoll cats by following these tips.  You just need time to train them on using the scratching posts, whenever they need it.  Some people declaw their ragdoll cats to prevent them from scratching their furniture.  This is not a good option, it will affect the health and overall well-being of your cat.

Ragdoll cats always make great members of a family.  This is especially when you have the time to train them to behave themselves always. Yes, some ragdoll cats do scratch furniture. However, with the above tips, you can keep your ragdoll cats from scratching without compromising their health and happiness.