Ragdoll Care
Ragdoll grooming: preventing mats in a semi-long coat
The Ragdoll coat has little undercoat, so it mats less than a Persian — but the britches, armpits and ruff still knot quickly if you skip a fortnight.
By Marcus Vance · Updated 2026-07-30 · 6 min read
The routine
Comb twice a week for ten minutes, and daily during the spring and autumn moult. A steel greyhound comb reaches the skin; a slicker brush mostly grooms the top layer and hides forming mats.
- Steel comb, coarse and fine tooth
- Slicker brush for finishing only
- Blunt-nosed mat splitter
- Nail clippers every three to four weeks
Where mats form first
Behind the ears, in the armpits, on the britches at the back of the thighs, and at the base of the tail. Work those four areas every session even when the rest looks perfect.
Dealing with an existing mat
Never cut a mat out with scissors — cat skin tents into the mat and is cut far more often than owners expect. Split the mat with a mat splitter, work it apart from the outer edge inward with fingers and a comb, and if it is tight to the skin book a groomer for clippers.
Frequently asked questions
- Do Ragdolls need baths?
- Rarely. A bath every few months is plenty for most, and only if the coat becomes greasy at the base of the tail or the cat gets into something.