As an indoor-only cat, ragdolls hardly require bathing. Cats are naturally good at keeping themselves clean and so do ragdolls. If your ragdoll gets soiled or into something nasty, or even if their semi-long fur builds up oil over time, particularly around the base of the tail, bathing may become necessary.
To degrease your Ragdoll, you’ll need to bathe them every so often, though not too often. Once a month is usually more than enough. Ragdoll kittens and cats like all felines fend off water so it’d best to start earlier to bathe them to get accustomed to the process.
We have curated this step-by-step guide to help you figure out how to bathe your ragdoll cat with the right approach to avoid all the fuss, fights, and scratches.
Supplies You’ll Need To Bathe Your Ragdoll Cat
- Bucket, pitcher, or cup to pour over water
- Gentle cat-friendly shampoo
- Conditioner (use if desired)
- Non-skid bathmat for your bathtub or sink
- Towel to soak up the excess water
- Treats as positive reinforcement
- Hairdryer
Step-By-Step Guide To Bathing Your Ragdoll Cat
Slowly Acclimate Your Ragdoll To Water
If your ragdoll cat is used to bathing then you could let the faucet run before entering them in the tub or sink. If not, fill the tub an inch or two, and close the dripping faucet before taking your ragdoll since the water sound could stress your kitty out. Initially, they’d meow off and on and try to run, though it’s usual. Offer them lickable treats to reinforce good behavior. Over time, they’ll learn to bear the bath.
Trim The Toenails
Ragdoll breed is adorably affectionate and you barely see them agitated or growling. There’s claws are their main defense anyhow. If they try to claw out of the tub or grasp onto anything during bath time or after baths stress, trimmed claws would prevent all sorts of scratches. It’s part of their grooming routine, turns out, you should trim their nails off bi-weekly at least.
Brush Out Ragdoll First
Ragdolls have semi-longhaired coats with no undercoat which is like all long-haired cat breeds (Maine coon, Persian cat) prone to shedding. You might find fluffy furballs all over your furniture, floor, over your clothes, and you (lol!). Remove all loose hair by brushing your ragdoll. You can do it either before the bath or after the bath or you can do it twice too.
Wet Their Coat
Use a cup or pitcher to pour water over their body rather than a sprayer that might scare them away. Focus especially on their balley and tail area, cause they’re among the most vulnerable to building up of poop residue and mats though. Avoid pouring water directly over their head, face, and ears with a cup.
You can instead hold them down by head, and gently wash out these parts with your wet hand or damp cloth. It could be most difficult for some of you because ragdoll kitties are really wiggly. At the start, we advise you to grab an extra pair of hands within your family to help you out throughout the bathing process.
Apply & Lather Shampoo
Your ragdoll cat is wet and so is their fur coat. Take a small amount not a lot, very little, about a quarter-size of cat-friendly delicate shampoo is enough. Rub it between your palms to lather up, then apply it evenly all over the body except the face, ears, and eyes, obviously.
To wash their head, hold their chin with the back of your hand for support. This lets you groom their head top of hair with lukewarm water without getting it in their eyes or ears. If you have had lots of cats, you know some can totally freak out during baths. Your Ragdoll, though, is likely to be more easygoing and experience little stress.
Rinse, Rinse, Rinse
You have to get all the shampoo out, so rinse it all off with water. Any leftovers may cause itchiness and pose harm if ingested by your ragdoll kitten. If you’re using a cat-safe conditioner after shampooing to keep their coat shiny, and glossy, apply it and rinse every nook and cranny again.
Completely Dry Your Ragdoll
After the bath, your wet ragdoll cat just has to be 110% completely dry before you finish up. This is so important for their comfort and health. Dry them off by swaddling them in a large towel and gently patting and squeezing excess water from their fur. Some Ragdolls might tolerate a blow drying on low heat.
If you use one and your ragdoll is up for it, keep it on low settings and at a safe distance to speed up the process. Throughout the process, speak very sweetly to your cat and pet them as much as possible with treats to keep them calm.
Post-Bath Brushing
To maintain the coat and keep shedding out, the very last step is combing and brushing your Ragdoll’s furr. Once they’re completely dry, use a wide-toothed comb to gently detangle their fur by gliding the comb in natural direction.
Start with the sassiest areas first like the cat’s stomach and legs and then work your way to the back, head, and tail. For best results, don’t skip the tricky spots such as behind the arms and the backs of the legs. As you brush, you’ll likely notice you can see they look so much happier with their clean, fluffy fur.
Wrapping Up…
Now you know how to bathe ragdoll cat carefully with the tiniest stress. Ragdolls are laid-back and often enjoy the whole process if you’ve had the patience to get them accustomed to it. Since ragdolls aren’t outdoorsy cat breeds, they only need bathing once a month or every few months at least to maintain their gorgeous coat. Keep bath time short, avoid any pulling or tugging on their furr, and keep the treats flowing to make it a positive experience for both you and your ragdoll.
Written By: Usman Malik | Reviewed By: Ali Abbas | Fact Checked By: Aqib Zulfiqar
