Hepper is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more.

Ragdoll Cat Grooming (Step-by-Step Guide)

Cassidy Sutton

By Cassidy Sutton

a beautiful male bicolor Ragdoll cat on a gray background

Ragdoll cats are absolutely stunning. They have gorgeous eyes and thick, elegant fur that makes anyone take a second look.

Grooming this fur can be time consuming. Thankfully, a couple of brushes a week is all you need to get the job done. But it’s not enough to just brush your cat’s fur. You need the right tools and a helpful step-by-step guide. And that’s exactly what we’re giving you.

In this step-by-step guide, we’re diving into Ragdoll grooming. We’re not just talking about brushing fur, either. This post dives into brushing fur, cleaning ears, trimming nails, and brushing teeth.

Basically, this is your guide to a Ragdoll’s day at the spa. Let’s get started.hepper cat paw divider

Calming Your Cat Before Grooming

Before you start grooming, consider your Ragdoll’s personality. Some kitties need help calming down before grooming, and there are a few ways you can accomplish this.

First, play with your Ragdoll before grooming. This is a great way to build a relationship with your cat, have fun, and tire your kitty before the grooming begins. You can also offer your cat calming cat treats or something enticing like fresh chicken during the grooming process. Another option is to spritz Feliway in the air to relax your kitty. CBD is a good option for cats with bad anxiety and owners who want a natural option.

As you can see, there are plenty of options, but the most important thing to remember is to keep your cat calm. The environment should be free of loud distractions that would interrupt your grooming session.

ragdoll cat in pink coat with yellow crown
Image Credit: xixicatphotos, Shutterstock

What You Will Need

Here is your list of grooming supplies. We also threw in a few extra items in case you want to bathe your cat. Later in this post, we will discuss our favorite grooming products that we feel make the process much better.

  • Metal comb
  • Fur remover (lint roller)
  • Nail clippers
  • Ear cleaner or white distilled vinegar
  • Toothbrush and toothpaste
  • Cotton balls or paper towels
  • Treats
woman combing ragdoll cat
Image Credit: VeronArt16, Shutterstock

Additional supplies if you are bathing your cat include:

  • Cat Shampoo
  • Coconut oil
  • Towels
  • Bath mat
  • Scissors

hepper cat paw divider

Ragdoll Cat Grooming (Step-by-Step Guide)

This is our step-by-step guide for a full nose-to-tail cat grooming session. We’re listing each step, starting with the nails and ending with the ears. There are six steps to follow. However, skip step four if you’re not bathing your cat.

Now, let’s start grooming your Ragdoll.

Cat brushing tools
Image Credit: D_Molchan, Shutterstock

Step 1: Gather Your Supplies

Gather your supplies and lay everything out in its place. If you’re bathing your cat, run the bath water and lay out the mats and towels. Make sure to place a mat or towel inside the tub so your cat has traction.


Step 2: Clip Nails

Your cat needs to have trimmed nails for your safety. If you are nervous about clipping your cat’s nails, schedule an appointment with your vet if you haven’t already. Otherwise, grab the clippers and clip the tips. Cats don’t like their nails trimmed, so reward your cat with a treat after each paw.

trim cat nails
Image Credit: Yimmyphotography, Shutterstock

Step 3: Start Brushing

Now it’s time to brush. We’re breaking this section up into two sections for cats with mats and cats with no mats.

ragdoll cat grooming
Image Credit: Chameleon Pictures, Shutterstock

With Mats

If your cat has mats, grab the coconut oil and wire comb. Distribute the coconut oil throughout your cat’s fur using small amounts on the tips of your fingers.

Try to penetrate the skin around the mat since this is where the mat pulls on the skin. Once the oil is distributed, follow the steps below to remove the matting.

  • Start with the belly
  • Move up the back
  • Brush the hind legs
  • Brush the front legs
  • Brush the tail

Matting is painful, so don’t torture your cat by pulling on the matt to brush it. You may need to cut or shave the mats out, depending on the seriousness of the matting.

Without Mats

If your cat doesn’t have mats, just grab your comb and follow these steps:

  • Start with the belly
  • Move up the back
  • Brush the hind legs
  • Brush the front legs
  • Brush the tail

Step 4: Bath Time (Optional)

You can skip this step if you are not washing your cat, but if you are, place your cat in the tub or sink and gently saturate your cat’s fur with water. Shampoo, condition, rinse, and remove your cat from the tub.

At this point, you’ll need to dry your cat with a towel. You can go the extra mile and spritz some leave-in conditioner in your cat’s fur to prevent further matting.

There's nothing quite like a happy, clean pet. But you'll need a great shampoo to make that happen. Our Hepper Cucumber & Aloe Dry Shampoo is easy to use and gentle on your pet's skin. Plus, you'll love the fresh, clean scent and pH-balanced, pet-safe formula!

Hepper Waterless No Rinse Dry Shampoo for Dogs,...
  • Simply Brush - Waterless cat shampoo / dog shampoo means no rinsing required. Forget the bath!...
  • No Soap - This fresh-smelling dry shampoo for dogs and cats is free from soaps, glutens, dyes, DEA,...

The following video walks you through the steps of bathing a cat if you’ve never done it before.


Step 5: Clean Ears

Grab your cotton balls and Epi Otic ear cleaner. Gently rub the inside of the ear with the cotton ball, removing debris and excess wax. If you don’t have the Epi Otic ear cleaner, you can use white distilled vinegar.


Step 6: Brush Teeth

Brushing your cat’s teeth is crucial to its health. It’s also easy to do and takes no time at all. Apply a pea-sized amount of toothpaste onto the toothbrush and swipe the toothpaste along your cat’s teeth.

brushing cat's teeth
Image Credit: cynoclub, Shutterstock

hepper cat paw divider

Best Ragdoll Grooming Tools

These tools are our favorites for cat grooming. They’re easy to use and affordable. There is no need to break the bank with at-home cat grooming with these tools.

Safari Cat Shedding Comb

Ragdoll enthusiasts will praise the Safari Cat Shedding Comb forever. This simple yet effective metal comb is designed to reduce hairballs and shedding. The wooden handle looks lovely and allows a firm grip, so there’s no slipping.

You can use it on long-haired and short-haired breeds because the comb teeth are smooth with rounded tips, allowing for a gentle brush for the fur and skin. Several professional pet groomers recommend this come, and we do too.

EquiGroomer Blade

EquiGroomer Blade

The EquiGroomer Blade was initially designed for horses, but it’s now available for cats. This is a huge bonus because this blade works wonders for removing the dead undercoat deep within the top layer of fur.

The blade uses short teeth with little barbs at the end to help remove that hard-to-reach area. And we’re talking the entire dead undercoat—fur, skin, and dirt.

What’s also nice is the comb helps distribute the natural oils throughout your cat’s fur for an extra shiny coat. You won’t have to worry about the blade making direct contact with the skin, so your cat is safe if it has sensitive skin.

Lilly Brush Pet Fur Remover

Lilly Brush Pet Fur Remover

The Lilly Brush Pet Fur Remover is more for you than your cat. Cat fur will be everywhere after grooming your Ragdoll and picking it up piece by piece is not ideal. You can always use your vacuum, but if you’re looking for a small, hand-held option for furniture, try the Lilly Brush.

This brush is portable, easy to use, and fits in the palm of your hand. It’s more effective than a lint roller because it lifts those determined leftover pet hairs stuck to furniture fabric.

Epi Otic Ear Cleaner

Epi Otic Ear Cleaner

 

Cats are naturally hygienic, but they do need help with their ears. Epi Otic ear cleaner is one of the best tried and true products to help clean debris and excessive wax from pets’ ears.

This non-irritating solution also prevents bacterial infections. All the wax slides off the ear easily and doesn’t spread. It has a slight vinegar smell, but it helps immensely, and your cat looks and feels better too.

C.E.T. Enzymatic Toothpaste and Toothbrush

Bundle Virbac C.E.T. Enzymatic Poultry Flavor Dog & Cat Toothpaste

Ideally, you should brush your cat’s teeth daily, but once a week is more realistic. Still, we understand that it’s tough with a cat.

C.E.T. toothpaste has enzymes that help break down plaque when the toothpaste makes contact with the tooth. It’s much easier to clean your cat’s teeth since it’s more about getting the toothpaste onto the tooth and less about brushing.

FRISCO Nail Clippers

Frisco Nail Clippers for Cats and Small Dogs

Maybe you don’t clip your own cat’s nails. You probably take your cat in for regular nail trims if that’s the case. But it helps to have nail clippers on hand in case you need them. We highly recommend clipping nails before grooming since cats lose their patience fast.

FRISCOs Nail Clippers are cheap and get the job done. Cat nails are much easier to clip than dog nails and you’ll save yourself from a few scratches down the road.

hepper cat paw divider

Conclusion

So, there you have it. Grooming a Ragdoll can be a hassle if you want it to be. But like we said earlier, you can keep your cat’s grooming simple if you don’t have time for ear cleaning and teeth brushing.

It’s still a good idea to try and include those steps if you can. Your cat will look and feel great, and it will improve your Ragdoll’s health, too.

See also:


Featured Image Credit: madeinitaly4k, Shutterstock

Related Articles

Further Reading

Vet Articles

Latest Vet Answers

The latest veterinarians' answers to questions from our database