Sound health, glossy coat, and skin are the clues to a healthy Ragdoll cat. The breed has a single luxurious coat without an undercoat that demands pretty low, though regular grooming.
If you’re planning to adopt a big ragdoll cat or already have a mature one, you need to used to the fact that these floppy cats do shed a certain amount. Seeing furballs all over your home (and your clothes) is just something you’ve got to learn to live with!
Naturally, over time, their coat becomes dull and matted if not properly cared for. Today, in this guide, you’ll learn steps and tips about how to care for a ragdoll cat coat. From brushing their hair twice a week to trim longer hairs, we’ll wrap all angles of ragdoll cat coat maintenance.
Tips For Making Your Ragdoll Cat’s Coat Maintained
Boost Nutrition For Shiny Coat
Emphatically, what you’re feeding your cat has a lot to do with your ragdoll’s overall coat health. As these cats could grow 23-28 cm large with 15-20 lbs of weight, they do need heavy portions of food to ramp up their energy level.
A poor-quality diet can outcome in a dull and lackluster coat. Ragdolls particularly benefit from a diet that is high in protein and fats, low in carbs, and high in moisture. Carbs aren’t a feasible source of energy for a ragdoll since they’re obligate carnivores and can’t process them efficiently.
This surplus energy, in turn, leads to obesity and promotes kidney stone issues in your ragdoll kitty. To support both the inside and outside of your Ragdoll, and preventing hairballs, for sure, it’s advisable to focus more on wet or grain-free food (Ditch dry foods at all costs!).
These ragdoll-friendly cat foods have high protein, fats, vitamins, and moisture, all of which are beneficial for the health of their coat and skin. Besides, to polish up shining, and reduce shedding, you could try adding teeny tiny amounts of supplements (like fish oil) to their daily-based diet. However, it’s staple to seek recommendations from the right veterinarian before trying out anything new by yourself.
Get A Good Brush
Ragdolls are a semi-long-haired breed that copes very well when it comes to grooming. Although they’ve got tangle-free, fluffy fur, ragdoll cat shed, and it gets even worse during the spring and summer months. Turns out, you need the right brush to cut down on ragdoll shedding without being too harsh on your cat’s skin.
Use a slicker soft bristles brush that picks up the excess fur and distributes natural oil throughout their coat. It’s an easy way to tackle loose hair and keep their coat looking fab, though, your Ragdoll will most likely enjoy the feel of it. Aim to brush your cat a couple of times a week.
Twice is usually spot on for most Ragdolls. Try to begin brushing your ragdoll when they’re very very young. Like so, they’ll get used to it early on, and it won’t become a dreaded chore for either of you.
Trim Longer Hairs
Ragdolls take their time to fluff up! In fact, when they’re about 4 years of age, they get their full potential furr volume. Adding a bit of trimming to your Ragdoll’s grooming routine can really help manage their fluffy coat. While it’s not necessary for all cats, trimming a small amount of fur can make a big difference, especially for those with longer hair like ragdoll.
It helps not only in terms of tangle removal, and crack hidden skin issues, but also tears down all the shedding that these cats used to leave all over your clothes, floor, furniture, and condos.
You can use either grooming scissors or clippers. If you’re new to this, scissors might be easier to control. When trimming, be extra careful around sensitive areas like the ears, anus, genitals, and underbelly.
Avoid Bathing Too Often
When it comes to bathing your Ragdoll cat, fewer is possibly better. Unlike outdoor cat & dog breeds, these indoor kitties don’t need frequent baths, since they’re good in keeping their coat clean. In fact, washing them more than once a month can do more harm than good by stripping out natural oils.
If you do need to bathe your Ragdoll for some particular reason (it could be because of fleas, muddy coat, or bothersome allergens), it’s pretty straightforward. Use a cat-specific shampoo – human shampoos are way too harsh for their sensitive skin.
Wet your cat down (except the head), apply the shampoo, and gently lather up. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water to remove all dirt and soap. Make sure you get every last bit of shampoo out! Having a decent bathing routine (once a month is more than enough!) keep your ragdoll cat’s coat in top shape.
Manage Overweight & Obesity
These purebred pedigree cats have inherently large frames and with ease weigh over 15 lbs aside from being overweight. That’s how ragdoll needs higher-calorie diet than your average-sized cat. Sometimes overeating when combined with their laid-back nature could end up making them overweight. That extra fat afterward jeopardizes their mobility, health, and the coat as well.
If you notice your Ragdoll stuck up in this cycle and it losing its coat luster, it might be time for a vet visit. They can help determine if weight is the culprit and suggest a lower-calorie diet if needed.
Even though Ragdolls don’t like to roughhouse because of their docile personality. You could buy them interactive toys like fetch toys, balls, wands, and laser pointers to wear them out.
Keep An Eye On Skin Health
If you’re performing recurrent ragdoll cat grooming sessions, whether from cat’s coat care intention, skin care, or both, you’ll get an added perk of scanning skin health. Regular skin inspections can tell you a lot about how healthy your ragdoll kitty coat is. If their skin and coat hairs looks shiny and sound, that’s great. Though, if you notice flakes, bald patches, or red spots on skin, it could be a sign of an underlying skin problem that have to be addressed right away.
Don’t Stress Out Your Ragdoll
A big part of maintaining your Ragdoll’s coat is to leave less room to get too stressed out. Set up their safe space in your home since he more cheerful your Ragdoll is, the better their coat and skin health will be. These cats are super people-oriented, so being alone for more than 8 hours a day can shatter their mood.
When Ragdolls get separation anxiety, they might start acting out – curling up in a cowering position, not going limp sometimes, or even giving you the cold shoulder.
In fact, during stress, ragdolls tend to groom themselves overly and change their eating habits. You might see excessive shedding, bald patches, and dull coat appearance. If you’re a busy person who often spends a day or two away from home, ragdoll breed isn’t for you.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do you moisturize Ragdoll fur?
Ragdolls have the most adorable, fluffy coat, that can get frizzy or arid through humidity change. You can apply a small amount of coconut oil (too much can make their fur greasy) throughout their coat or especially in a flaky spot to prevent further damage.
How often should I groom my Ragdoll cat’s coat?
As one of the largest domestic cat breeds, Ragdoll’s long hair should be well-groomed from time to time. Brush their hair twice a week to pick up loose hairs, bathe them once a month, and clean their ears with a vet-approved cleaner weekly. By the time (at the age of 4) when their hairs reach out to their full furr volume potential, trim excess shaggy hair to keep them looking fabulous!
How do you prevent matted fur on a Ragdoll cat?
Ragdoll cats shed a certain amount naturally throughout the year. However, to prevent excessive shedding, especially during high-humidity seasons, you can use humidifiers or you could make your home temperature fairly consistent so year-round.
Conclusion – A Few Final Words!
Maintaining your Ragdoll’s magnificent coat needs a fairly frequent grooming routine. This includes gentle brushing, occasional bathing, and strategic trimming. By staying on top of their coat care, you can keep your Ragdoll’s fur looking its absolute best – shiny, free of tangles, and free of any issues like greasiness or dandruff. Hopefully, the guide that we’ve written with in-depth research has turned out to be helpful to you and make your feline friend’s luscious coat care that much easier.
Written By: Usman Malik | Reviewed By: Ali Abbas | Fact Checked By: Aqib Zulfiqar
