Shedding is a natural process of an animal’s coat. But we can’t deny that’s one of the annoying parts of pet ownership.
That’s why frequent grooming is essential. Not only does it keep your home as fur-free as possible, but it also keeps your pet (and house) looking pristine. Isn’t that something we all want?
Brushing your Ragdoll may not seem like a big deal, but there’s an art to pet grooming. With Ragdolls, you must deal with long fur and possibly fur matting. This can be challenging, so we’re listing our 12 best Ragdoll cat grooming tips to make the process easy as pie.
The Top 12 Ragdoll Cat Grooming Tips
1. Gather All Your Supplies Before Grooming
Cats are ticking time bombs, so it’s nice to have everything in place when you start grooming your cat. You’ll save time, energy, and maybe a few scratches if all your supplies are ready to go, even if you’re not bathing your cat.
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2. Calm Your Cat First
Calming your cat before the storm will turn a fight into a mild struggle. Maybe you won’t need to worry about this if your Ragdoll has a gentle personality. But some kitties need some help with relaxation, so consider your cat’s personality before moving forward.
Start with a play session to get your cat moving and in a good mood. You can offer some calming cat treats in the process or your cat’s favorite treats. Try diffusing Feliway in the air to relax your Ragdoll for a calming boost.
If your cat has terrible anxiety, CBD is a natural option that doesn’t require a prescription from your vet. It’s worth trying to keep everyone safe and at peace.
3. Clip Nails (If You Can)
Trimming cat nails is scary. This is a step that many cat owners prefer to skip, which is understandable. You don’t want to hurt them, and you certainly don’t want cat scratches up and down your arms. Still, it’s a good skill to learn. Your Ragdoll needs to have trimmed nails, especially if you try bathing them. All you need is a simple set of nail trimmers and some kitty treats.
But if this makes you nervous, have your vet’s office trim your cat’s nails instead. It may stress your cat out, but it’s better than never trimming your Ragdoll’s nails.
4. Use a Non-Slip Surface in the Tub
Cats want to feel secure. It’s one of the reasons they sink their claws into everything and don’t appreciate water. Proving a non-slip surface in the tub will help if you plan to bathe your Ragdoll. It also helps the bath move faster because you’re not scrambling to calm your cat every time it slips. A thick towel or blanket will suffice if you don’t have a mat.
5. Don’t Leave the Water Running
Cats aren’t ready to jump in the tub at their own will, so you need to make the tub or sink seem like a safe space. On top of providing a non-slip surface, turn the water off so as not to spook your kitty. Ideally, you should run the bath water while getting everything else ready to go. This allows the water to cool and makes the space more relaxed and quieter.
6. Use a Wire Comb
You already know how much Ragdolls shed, and most of that fur sticks to the rest of your cat’s fur. A great way to remove all the hidden fuzz is to use a wire comb. Wire combs use metal teeth to reach deep into your Ragdoll’s coat, removing unwanted fur. These combs are highly effective and gentle on your cat’s skin.
These combs are game changers for pets with long fur. Once you remove the extra fluff, your cat’s coat looks shiny and healthy.
7. Be Careful with Mats
Speaking of mats, you’ll have to deal with some fur matting if you have a Ragdoll. Mats are tricky because you don’t want to hurt your cat by brushing them out. Brushing your Ragdoll is simple if you don’t have to work around mats. Ideally, you want to start brushing your cat’s tummy with a wire comb, working your way up to the back and the legs.
But if you have to handle mats, you may need to start at the top and work your way down. The following video shows you how to properly brush a Ragdoll from start to finish.
Applying coconut or olive oil to the mat and surrounding skin helps moisten the fur, making it easier to brush. Just remember to be gentle. You can always shave the area and let the fur grow back if it comes down to it.
8. Consider a Deshedding Brush
There are always flyaway hairs after you brush your cat. Much of the fur has loosened, so this is a perfect opportunity to use a deshedding brush.
A deshedding brush has finer teeth that penetrate the double coat, removing more hair than your standard pet brush. There are a couple of options you can try, depending on what you and your cat prefer. You can try a rubber brush, which massages your cat’s skin as you brush. Or you can go with a standard metal brush like the Furminator. This brush was made to tackle long coats and thick fur—perfect for your Ragdoll.
9. Don’t Forget the Ears
You don’t have to bathe your Ragdoll regularly, but you do need to clean its ears. It helps to at least check your cat’s ears weekly to ensure they stay fresh and free of debris.
To clean your cat’s ears, you only need some cotton balls and Epi-Otic ear cleaner. If you don’t have ear cleaner, just use white distilled vinegar.
10. Brush Your Cat’s Teeth
Brushing your cat’s teeth is vital for its health in the long run, so it helps to be in the habit of using an enzymatic toothpaste and toothbrush when you groom them. It’s also easy and can be done in 1 minute or less.
Apply a small dot of toothpaste onto the toothbrush and swipe the toothpaste along your cat’s teeth. That’s it! It is easy, and it takes no time at all. You’ll be happy that you took the time to brush your cat’s teeth as your Ragdoll ages.
11. Feed the Best Diet You Can Afford
The overall condition of your Ragdoll’s fur is a strong indicator of your cat’s health. Your cat’s fur should be shiny, soft, and smooth. The skin should be supple and free of blemishes and flakiness.
Diet is the best way to maintain this ideal coat and skin condition paired with regular grooming. A well-balanced diet rich in vitamins, minerals, high-quality protein, fat, and carbohydrates is what you should aim for.
12. Reward Your Cat
At the end of your grooming session, don’t forget to reward your Ragdoll. Grooming isn’t fun for cats, even if you’ve made the experience as stress-free as possible. Giving your cat something to look forward to is nice and will teach your cat that grooming isn’t always a bad experience.
Conclusion
It’s only a matter of time until you have to reach for the cat brush and shampoo. Even so, cat grooming doesn’t need to be complicated. Ragdolls are generally calm cats to handle. Occasionally, you’ll have to deal with mats, which can be frustrating since these take more time to deal with. But regular grooming can prevent the annoyance of dealing with knotted fur.
So, brush your Ragdoll once a week, limit the baths, and feed the best diet you can afford. We’re confident your Ragdoll will shine like a runway model.
See also: How Much Does a Ragdoll Cat Shed? The Surprising Facts
Featured Image Credit: VeronArt16, Shutterstock
