Brushes for Ragdoll Cats

A Ragdoll coat looks deceptively easy. The topcoat is silky and it lies flat, so the surface can look immaculate while the layer underneath is already knitting together. Most Ragdoll mats are found by hand, not by eye.

The three places mats start

Behind the ears, in the armpits and in the britches at the back of the hind legs. All three are places the cat cannot groom well and places an owner tends to skip because the cat objects. Check them with your fingers every few days and you will rarely need to deal with a real mat.

Why pin length matters more than pressure

Ragdolls have little dense undercoat compared with a double-coated breed, but what they have sits close to the skin. Short pins skim the top and leave it. Longer, softer pins pass through the topcoat and lift the loose fur out, which means you can work gently rather than pressing. Cat skin is thin, so pressure is never the answer.

Short sessions beat long ones

Two or three minutes at a time, several times a week, suits a Ragdoll far better than a weekly session they have to endure. Work with the lie of the coat, finish while they are still content, and the next session will be easier. A small or medium head gives you the control to work around the face and armpits.

After a bath

Ragdolls rarely need bathing, but when one is needed, a damp coat mats faster than a dry one. Towel first and brush the coat through while it is still slightly damp. Our 4-in-1 shampoo detangles as it cleans, which makes that brush considerably shorter.