Ragdolls are known for their striking fur patterns that are accentuated by their long, luscious fur. They’ve become popular pets because of their docile nature and luxurious hair. It’s hard not to fall for the soft and silky texture of their fur!
Regular brushing is a part of owning a long-haired cat. Though cats are very clean animals, you’ll need to help them maintain their fur to prevent it from becoming matted and tangled. You’ll need a fantastic brush to keep up with the grooming needs of your Ragdoll.
Here are our favorite choices for brushes!
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites of 2024
| Image | Product | Details | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Best Overall
|
|
Hepper Cat Brush |
|
Check Price |
Budget Buy
|
|
JW Gripsoft Cat Slicker Brush |
|
Check Price |
|
|
Furminator Cat Grooming Tool |
|
Check Price |
|
Safari Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush |
|
Check Price | |
|
Safari Complete Cat Brush |
|
Check Price |
The 11 Best Brushes for Ragdolls
1. Hepper Brush for Ragdoll Cats – Best Overall
| Bristles or Pins: | Pins |
| Material: | Stainless steel, plastic |
| Self-Cleaning: | Yes |
| Deshedding: | No |
This affordable Hepper Cat Brush is designed to groom your cat effectively and enjoyably. Because this brush is specifically designed to be enjoyable and not just functional, many cats seem to like it better than other top-ranking products. If your cat is always fighting with you at grooming time, this may be the brush you need.
With a one-click hair removal feature, this brush allows for easy cleanup. The needles on the brush can bend to 60-degrees, which allows it to flow across your cat’s body while grooming. In the end, this makes it easy to use and more enjoyable for your feline. The whole brush is completely waterproof, making it easy to keep clean with a quick rinse.
Plus, we also love that this brush isn’t terribly expensive despite these premium features. You’re getting a lot for your money.
At Pet Keen, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!
2. JW Pet Gripsoft Cat Slicker Brush – Budget Buy
| Bristles or Pins: | Pins |
| Material: | Metal |
| Self-Cleaning: | No |
| Deshedding: | Somewhat |
PetKeen’s budget buy choice is JW Pet’s Gripsoft Cat Slicker Brush. The metal pins will penetrate deep into the undercoat and remove dead fur. Since the pins are stiffer, they’ll also loosen some of the hairs that are ready to fall out and help you reduce the shedding that you must contend with.
However, this slicker brush may be uncomfortable for some cats. Some may even fear it. The pins don’t have a skin guard, so be careful when using them, or you might accidentally scratch your cat’s skin. The pins aren’t super long, so your cat’s skin should be safe, but you’ll want to be aware of the tips nonetheless; don’t get overzealous.
3. Furminator Long Hair Cat Deshedding Tool
| Bristles or Pins: | Pins |
| Material: | Metal |
| Self-Cleaning: | Yes |
| Deshedding: | Yes |
Another good pick is the Furminator Long Hair Cat Deshedding Tool. Furminator makes specific products for long and short-haired cats and dogs. These tools are designed with thick pins that resemble the teeth of a comb. They penetrate deep into the undercoat and remove any fur that’s trapped in the undercoat, as well as loosening coats that are about to fall out.
The Furminator also comes with a trigger ejector that self-cleans the brush by pushing the removed hair out of the pins. Pet parents can dispose of the ball of fur that gets ejected as they see fit but can rest assured that the hair is in the bin and not on their clothes.
The Furminator is more of a deshedder than a brush, but the teeth will still distribute the skin’s oils through the fur giving it a smooth sheen and soft texture. If you want to use a Furminator, it’s best to introduce your cat to it slowly. They may find it scary or uncomfortable at first.
4. Safari Self-Cleaning Cat Slicker Brush
| Bristles or Pins: | Pins |
| Material: | Metal |
| Self-Cleaning: | Yes |
| Deshedding: | Somewhat |
Safari’s Self-Cleaning Cat Slicker Brush is our choice for the best brush for Ragdoll kittens. The metal pins will distribute the skin’s oils through the fur while removing dead hair from the undercoat. If introduced to a young kitten, the kitten will have more time to acclimate to the process of being brushed and may even begin to enjoy the process.
The brush also offers a trigger push self-cleaning system similar to the Furminator. While its deshedding prowess is less impressive, it’s not absent from the product, and pet parents using this brush can expect to see less hair around their home and on their clothes.
5. Safari Complete Cat Brush
| Bristles or Pins: | Pins |
| Material: | Plastic |
| Self-Cleaning: | No |
| Deshedding: | No |
Another top choice brush for Ragdolls is Safari’s Complete Cat Brush. It’s a plastic pin brush that will groom the overcoat and spread the skin’s oils evenly through their fur. This brush will neatly groom your Ragdoll’s fur and leave it looking luscious and shiny.
This brush is a great brush for just grooming your cat. They’ll be able to tolerate the gentle plastic pins without feeling uncomfortable quickly and may even find themselves loving the free massage!
Unfortunately, this brush won’t deshed your cat. So, if you’re looking for a brush that will help remove dead fur and minimize the shedding you can see around your house, you’ll want to invest in a different brush.
6. Frisco Brush & Slicker Brush Bundle
| Bristles or Pins: | Pins |
| Material: | Plastic, metal |
| Self-Cleaning: | No |
| Deshedding: | Somewhat (Slicker Brush only) |
Frisco’s Brush and Slicker Brush Bundle offers the best of both worlds. The gentle plastic brush can be used to groom the overcoat and redistribute the skin’s oils in comfort, while the slicker brush can be used to groom the undercoat and deshed the cat.
The Slicker Brush in this set doesn’t offer the complete de-shedding package of the Furminator as the teeth aren’t as long, and the brushes aren’t self-cleaning. But they offer the most versatility of any product on this list, a compelling feature.
Cats may not tolerate the slicker brush, but the plastic pin brush is perfect for cats who are new to being groomed. It allows pet parents to slowly introduce the process of external grooming slowly and get their cats used to it before going in with the slicker brush.
7. Safari Bristle Cat Brush
| Bristles or Pins: | Bristles |
| Material: | Plastic |
| Self-Cleaning: | No |
| Deshedding: | No |
Safari’s Bristle Cat Brush is great for grooming the overcoat but doesn’t penetrate the undercoat at all. The gentle bristles will be easy for all cats to tolerate; some may even take to the process right away! The bristles will spread the skin’s oils through the coat and help keep it smooth and shiny.
However, since this brush does not penetrate the undercoat, there’s no deshedding property to the brush. It won’t even remove the dead hair that’s already on the cat unless it’s already in the overcoat. If you’re looking for a brush that will minimize the shed hair on your clothes and furniture, you’ll want to move right along from this one.
8. Hertzko Self-Cleaning Dog & Cat Slicker Brush
| Bristles or Pins: | Pins |
| Material: | Metal with plastic nubs |
| Self-Cleaning: | Yes |
| Deshedding: | Somewhat |
Hertzko’s Self-Cleaning Dog & Cat Slicker Brush is an excellent option for pet parents looking for a slicker brush that’s a bit more gentle than the average one. The brush pins are adorned with a gentle nub that prevents the pins from scratching the skin. While cats may first be fearful of the brush, the nubs should help them become accustomed to being groomed quickly.
The brush is also self-cleaning. Pet parents just have to press the ejector button and wipe the plate clean of hair after each grooming session. The brush is a bit heavier and more unwieldy than the average slicker brush which might be a turn-off for some pet parents, but it’s a solid choice for anyone looking for a gentle yet powerful slicker brush.
9. Frisco Cat & Dog Combo Brush Mini
| Bristles or Pins: | Both |
| Material: | Plastic, metal |
| Self-Cleaning: | No |
| Deshedding: | No |
Frisco’s Cat & Dog Combo Brush Mini has two sides. One side has a wide set pin brush, and the other has a bristle brush. It’s an excellent option for pet parents who want to have the chance of a bristle or pin brush. The bristles are great for redistributing the skin’s oils through the coat, and the pins can take care of light detangling.
However, neither side is appropriate for deshedding. So, pet parents looking to minimize the shedding of their cats will want to move along. The brush also doesn’t have any method of self-cleaning since both sides are used for brushing.
10. Safari Massage Cat Brush
| Bristles or Pins: | Pins |
| Material: | Plastic |
| Self-Cleaning: | No |
| Deshedding: | No |
Safari’s Massage Cat Brush is an excellent option for pet parents who have an older Ragdoll who isn’t used to being brushed yet. The pins are wide, blunted plastic intended to massage your cat’s skin gently while redistributing the skin’s oils throughout the coat. The gentle, pleasant feeling of the pins massaging their skin should get any cat purring and ready for a more abrasive brush.
However, because of the nature of the pins, they don’t provide much in the way of deshedding or even detangling. The brush isn’t meant for intensive grooming as much as it’s intended to give your cat a pleasant brushing experience.
11. Babyliss Pro Pet Bristle Paddle Pet Brush
| Bristles or Pins: | Pins |
| Material: | Plastic |
| Self-Cleaning: | No |
| Deshedding: | No |
Babyliss Pro Pet’s Bristle Paddle Pet Brush could be mistaken for a human hairbrush at first glance! The design is meant to be similar to what humans might use for their hair. After all, if you wouldn’t use it on yourself, why would you use it on your pets?
The brush has a gentle, non-abrasive pin design that allows for light detangling and coat maintenance with a soft touch. However, it’s not self-cleaning, nor does it deshed your cat. With the pins wide-set, you won’t get as much undercoat maintenance as a slicker brush.
Buyer’s Guide: Selecting the Best Ragdoll Brush
Regular brushing isn’t optional when it comes to owning a Ragdoll. Long-haired cats and dogs will generally do their best to keep clean, but it can be hard for them to keep up with the task. We can give them a helping hand when it comes to grooming by brushing out their fur regularly. Not only does brushing out their hair give it a silky feel, but it also can help us identify some health problems our cat may be facing.
Types of Brushes
There are three types of brushes you’ll generally see on the market. They each have different merits depending on the current state of your Ragdoll’s fur. Some cats may need a combination of multiple brushes, while others can get away with just one brush.
Bristle Brushes
These brushes groom the overcoat and help spread the natural oils of the skin evenly over the fur. Most cats tolerate these brushes, and some even like the feeling of being brushed with them. The biggest downside to these brushes is that they don’t penetrate to the undercoat and remove dead fur. They also don’t loosen any shedding fur to deshed your cat.
Slicker Brushes
Slicker brushes generally have metal pins instead of bristles. The pins on a slicker brush are short sit close together. They’re great for detangling fur and will help deshed to some extent by removing dead fur from the undercoat and loosening any fur that’s about to shed. They’re also good for getting light matting out of a cat’s fur. However, they can be uncomfortable for your cat and even scratch their skin. So, many cats tend to dislike them.
Pin Brushes
Pin brushes are like slicker brushes, but the pins are longer and set further apart. The pins on pin brushes can be made of metal or plastic, and some will have blunted nubs at the end of the pins to prevent the pins from scratching your cat’s skin. While pin brushes are great for detangling fur, the nubs at the end can hinder the process.
Deshedding Tools
Desheddding brushes are designed to penetrate deep into the undercoat and remove dead fur from the undercoat. They also loosen any hair that’s about to shed to help reduce the amount of fur that ends up all over your clothes and furniture. These tools aren’t usually for grooming the overcoat, but they’ll still improve the feel of the overcoat by removing the dead fur in the undercoat.
Dematting Tools
Dematting tools are meant to cut through thick mats of fur. Dematting brushes should only be used in extreme cases of matting, and most pet parents won’t see any use for these in their daily lives. These are usually used by professional groomers and animal rescues on stray animals or those whose previous owners neglected them.
What Is the Best Brush Type for Ragdolls?
We recommend that pet parents getting a Ragdoll invest in a good slicker brush or pin brush. These brushes are an excellent way to groom both the over and an undercoat of your Ragdoll and will help with deshedding them. If you’re particularly worried about the cat hair getting on your furniture or clothing, you’ll want to invest in a de-shedding tool as well. This will help minimize the amount of fur they shed.
Health Issues Related to Grooming
Regularly brushing your cat can also help identify and solve health issues that your cat may face. Alopecia, or hair loss, is often first noticed by pet parents when they brush their cats. Because dead fur in the undercoat can give the impression of a full coat, not grooming your cat can result in a delayed response to health problems.
Fleas and Ticks
Fleas and ticks are easy to find when grooming your cat. While brushing out your cat’s fur, you can search their body for fleas, flea dirt, and ticks.
Grooming and searching your cat for fleas and ticks will be especially important if your cat enjoys a romp in the great outdoors. Even if you have an enclosed catio, these pesky parasites can find their way onto your cat.
Indoor-only cats should also be checked for fleas and ticks regularly. Even if your cat doesn’t go outside, they can hitch a ride on your clothes and find your pets when you bring them inside.
Ragdoll Skin Allergies
The itching caused by skin allergies can also cause your cat to begin losing their fur. If you find bald patches while brushing out out their hair, it may be a sign that they’re allergic to something in your household.
Ragdoll Anxiety Issues
Cats with high levels of anxiety may begin to overgroom as a method of coping with their stress. Overgrooming is a similar compulsion to human obsessive-compulsive disorder, and a veterinarian can help you develop a plan to help your cat cope with their anxiety. In severe cases, a veterinarian may put a cat on medication to control its anxiety.
Ragdoll Hormonal Imbalances
Hormonal imbalances can also cause your cat to begin losing their fur. Thyroid overproduction or an increase in steroids in the cat’s system could result in alopecia. If your veterinarian suspects that a hormonal imbalance causes your cat’s hair loss, they’ll do a blood test to check your cat’s hormone levels.
Ragdoll Parasites
Parasitic infections, like scabies or ringworm, can also cause your cat to begin losing their hair. You can usually find the sores or rashes associated with these illnesses when grooming your cat. However, because they can often be transferred from cats to humans, you should make sure to wash anything that touched your cat thoroughly and get them to the veterinarian immediately. Otherwise, you run the risk of catching the parasites from your cat.
Conclusion
Coat maintenance is a crucial part of Ragdoll ownership. For pet parents who want the best overall brush for Ragdolls, try the Hepper Cat Brush. Pet parents on a budget can look to our second pick, JW Pet’s Gripsoft Cat Slicker Brush.
- Related read: Ragdoll Kittens For Sale in Indiana: Breeders List
Featured Image Credit: absolutimages, Shutterstock
