Ragdoll Cat Forums

We wanted a nice place for Purrcy to hang out in our family room, so we bought a Kitty Ball. It's pretty cool, made of spun bamboo with nice cushion in it. In three weeks, Percy has been in it twice. Both times, I had to wait until he was zonkered-out asleep, and I picked him up and deposited him inside. Time number two was when I took the picture below (those are fake poinsettias)

Other than that, he completely ignores it. If I put him in it when he is cognizant, even if he is tired, he will immediately jump out. I've tried many times. If I hold a kitty treat in it, he will jump in, eat the snack, and jump out. If I sweep the feather-on-a-stick toy inside, he will jump in and play, but when the fun stops, he jumps out. I even spritzed some catnip extract on the cushion to entice him. No go.

I was about to eBay it before we decided to get Annie. Maybe she will like it(?) Any suggestions on getting him to like it?

Cats will vary their sleeping areas over time. Mine have 7 or 8 places on the main floor alone that they alternate sleeping in. I'd keep it. Chances are he will use it in the future.

Looks pretty cozy to me and wouldn't mind curling up in it myself! Where does Purrcy usually nap or any special blanket or something he lays on? Look at where he does nap and then "think like a cat", and try to duplicate that in the ball. For example, can he see you when resting, does he like something around his body such as a blanket vs just a cushion? I would give it time, as sleeping areas seem to change weekly depending on their fancy at the time.
Personally, I wouldn't use it for play, but that's just me...a place for play and a place for resting.

He sleeps anywhere but the kitty ball! During the day or evening, he will be walking down the hall and have a narcolepsy attack, flop down on the floor with a thud and go to sleep. He likes his kitty tube (fabric covered monster slinky). He likes to sleep under our bed. Tile, hardwood, or carpet, he doesn't seem to care. It will be intersting to see what changes when little sister Annie gets here tomorrow. If he tells her the kitty ball sucks, I hope he also tells her sleeping the grand piano also sucks!!!

We have learned with our 3 that they pick their sleeping spots so we put a blanket down to make it as comfortable as we can. One likes a cat carrier, another a shelf in our walk-in closet and the 3rd grrr likes MY spot on the couch. We did purchase a cat bed once and ended up giving it to a neighbor who had a small dog.

Cats will be cats....! Maybe Annie will love it, or Purrcy might decide in a few weeks that he actually does love it! You never know, but give him a bit more time and see.
He's such a gorgeous cutie-pie, I just love him!

Put catnip on the cushion. Just a little.

Funny you mention this thread, because I have a kitty bed we got for Solo that he ignored. Don't ask me why we kept it over the years, but we did. Now that Kronos is here, he has adopted that bed and we are happy we kept it!

I agree with those who advise a "wait and see" approach. I refurbished our late Beau's cat basket and put it in Binx's safe room when he came home with us. He ignored it and I eventually put it on top of a small chest in our bathroom to get it out of the way. Weeks after he'd had access to the whole house, I'd find him in the cat bed napping. Quite a leap for him to reach it. I think he liked it when it was up off the floor and away from other activity centers. Probably also thought he was getting away with something climbing up on top of furniture! They can be contrary and fickle little creatures :-)

Narcolepsy attack while walking - love it! So true.

Alroy sleeps pretty much where ever he likes - really depends on the weather as well.

He likes his blanket on the couch and his 'donut' bed on my bed at night winter. In summer it's pretty much get as much body area on a cool surface as possible!

Most other times, its wherever he happens to fall when he gets sleepy.

If Annie takes a fancy to the kitty ball chance are Purcy will too