Ragdoll Cat

　　1. Get used to human voices.

　　Timid cats find it hard to develop a sense of trust in people. If the owner lives alone and the cat is home alone during the day, skin-to-skin contact with the cat after returning home becomes especially important. Some also use recorded phone messages to talk to the cat when leaving, helping it get used to human voices.

　　2. Frequently holding and playing with it is very important.

　　Cats are originally cautious animals. They usually ignore strangers and sometimes even run away. Some people feel satisfied as long as their cat is close to them, but having people around recognize and love the cat you love is ultimately joyful. Even stray cats can enjoy closeness with humans, but there are also purebred cats raised with great care that are shy around people. This shows cats have varied personalities. Cats frequently held and played with from kittenhood tend to like being close to people.

　　3. What to do if the cat is shy of strangers?

　　It is important to have the cat interact with unfamiliar people. Short-haired cats like to be held, but long-haired cats often escape as soon as they are picked up. Because of this, try to hold the cat as much as possible from kittenhood. However, don’t hold the cat so much that it becomes annoyed—don’t force holding it. Sometimes play with the cat by tossing a ball, or tease and stroke it at the same time for skin contact. If the owner lives alone or has few family members, it’s also good to invite friends who like cats to visit often, allowing the cat to experience interactions with strangers.