Ragdoll cats are the most intelligent breed of cat around; they are eager to please their owners and can be easily trained as a result. As with any animal, Ragdolls respond to training best when reinforced with rewards. This reward can be in the form of verbal praise or a treat. One example of positive reinforcement is lavishing your cat with praise when they use the scratching post instead of your Italian leather sofa.
Ragdoll cats do not shed in excess as they do not have an undercoat like the Persian cat breed. Ragdolls have soft, rabbit like coats that do not mat. You should still brush your Ragdoll cat on a regular basis to remove less fur as this will reduce the frequency of hairballs. Grooming is an important part of spending quality time with your pet. You should try and groom your Ragdoll on a weekly basis as part of the time you spend together.
One of the most important aspects of Ragdoll cat ownership is to keep your cat indoors at all times. Ragdolls are not outdoor cats and must be kept indoors exclusively. Ragdoll cats are trusting by nature and will often not defend themselves when provoked. Cats that are kept indoors also live longer and have fewer health problems than cats that are allowed to roam free.
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{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
I was reading up on ragdolls and their grooming. I noticed that it said they shed very little and do not mat…..
mine sheds and MATS!! Badly and he doesnt let me groom him or brush them out….he bites me and scratches me. I got him from an owner that passed away but his sister said he is a purebreed ragdoll….she never found the papers on him to send to me though. I can send you a picture if you would like to see him.
Our ragdoll used to have mats under his legs which I couldn’t brush out and had to cut out. He has learned the word “brush” and rolls over to get brushed several times a day and no more matting. Your cat is aggressive for some reason and you should become the “cat whisperer” to him. ie: lie on the floor and meow to him and have a treat for him when he comes. Play with him with a toy or piece of yarn. He’ll learn to trust you and when you hold him and say “brush” and begin to lightly brush him especially around his face, he’ll learn to love it.
Good luck!
/Nancy
We also adopted a Ragdoll. She cleans herself all of the time-pratically all day long.The one spot she can not get is under her front legs which is matted. She is not a very trusting sole and we have only had her for one month. Her previous owner said that she loved to be brushed. May be so with him, but not with us. One look at the brush and she is under the bed. So to the groomer she goes. And shed, oh baby she sheds like crazy. The only good thing about the shedding is her hair matches our carpet!!
Both of my ragdolls shed like crazy too and it’s making me crazy….any suggestions on what to do. I am already brushing them everyday, but it doesn’t seem to help much. Could it be their diet? HELP!
They do shed. But to minimize the shedding, I use a metal flea comb, held almost horizontally to the skin, and it pulls up all the loose hair painlessly, and it leaves the coat soft and shiny. I do Diva every couple of weeks, and though she says “nooooo ” for the first bit, she manages to tolerate the rest of the time, because she knows she gets a treat at the end of it. She does the same for clipping her nails. She really lives up to her name LOL.
My ragdoll, Prince Harry, does shed; but, compared to other cats, does not shed as much. He is not terribly fond of grooming, but he will allow it. However, I do not brush. He prefers a very large-toothed metal comb. It removes the loose fur very easily and I am also able to tease out any tangles or mats or knots that he may get. I find that twice a week is about right for Prince Harry.
I agree with Nancy, the more praise and the more you brush your Ragdoll the easier it will get. I have been brushing my Ragdoll since he was a kitten. He now loves getting brushed. I try and brush him with the furminator brush at least once a week. He loves to wrestle with his big sister and tends to get mats under his neck line area.