Ragdoll Cat Forums

Hello all of you!

I found this forum via google and decided to register.

We have a very nice ragdoll, she just got one year.
She is healthy and plays a lot but I have noticed that she looses a lot of
hair. It's almost unbelievable how much she looses.

When you play with here all your clothes are full of hairs.

Ofcourse, I do understand that it's an animal and they just lose hairs.
But I think this is really a bit to much!

Do you have any tips for us? Could it effect been created by certain food?







Thank you !!!

Nickx from Belgium

Diet can matter - and weather, genetics ... . To reduce shedding into the house or on you, the best response is more grooming. You can bathe and you can brush. The Zoom Groom is a good choice, since it is gentle on the coat and does get the loose fur. When grooming, you have to learn when to stop. Cats will shed into grooming tools until they have not fur left. You have to understand when you are removing fur already lost and when you are pulling out healthy coat. So, use the Zoom Groom and combs. Those will clear the coat and also keep it full and healthy.

(02-07-2010 10:02 AM)JanH Wrote: [ -> ]Diet can matter - and weather, genetics ... . To reduce shedding into the house or on you, the best response is more grooming. You can bathe and you can brush. The Zoom Groom is a good choice, since it is gentle on the coat and does get the loose fur. When grooming, you have to learn when to stop. Cats will shed into grooming tools until they have not fur left. You have to understand when you are removing fur already lost and when you are pulling out healthy coat. So, use the Zoom Groom and combs. Those will clear the coat and also keep it full and healthy.

Do you recommend the zoom groom over the furminator?

Hi, and welcome to the forum! Your raggie is just beautiful, and I hope you stay around and share her with us. What's her name?

JanH gave you the best answer about shedding. Unfortunately, it has been put on the Internet that Ragdolls don't shed, or shed less - both are untrue. We get what we call snow drifts around this house of cat fur and I only have two.

Hi,

Thank you very much for your kind feedback.

Here name is Jensie, : ) Her father plays in a known dutch movie (K3).
So, she is also a bit of a movie star : )

I will post some more pics in the photo topic!

fun to be here! thanks

(02-07-2010 12:09 PM)nycragdoll Wrote: [ -> ]Do you recommend the zoom groom over the furminator?

Never (perhaps almost never) use the furminator. It cuts the coat and just damages it. Use dematting combs to remove each mat. If the situation is so bad that a lion cut is needed otherwise, then perhaps a furminator or like stripping knife is appropriate.

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(02-07-2010 01:28 PM)TeresaK Wrote: [ -> ]Unfortunately, it has been put on the Internet that Ragdolls don't shed, or shed less - both are untrue.

You may not have ever had a Persian. ; ) A Ragdoll coat will shed less and will matt much less. This is not to say that this is true of all Ragdolls, but some Ragdolls do not have "good" Ragdoll coats, just like they have mismarks, are not all large - and even are not all lap cats. ; ) The appropriate Ragdoll coat is only medium long and is missing awn hairs. These mean an easier care coat than some breeds.

Thanks Jan. Charlie has a beautifull coat and I have never let it mat. I do use a comb on it, but I must admit I have had that furminator thing in my hands plenty of times and almost bought it. Now I know better.

I like the furminator. It doesn't seem to cut the coat to me, rather it only seems to pull out loose undercoat type hairs. I also use a zoom groom, comb, and slicker. The zoom groom isn't effective for detangling, but is good to gather up loose hairs and it is like a massage for kitty! The comb and slicker for my cat don't get off that much hair, but I use them to keep my cat matt free. The furminator in my opinion is one of the best shed control tools as long as you don't over do it. I worked in a grooming salon for a few years and when the furminator came out we were all in heaven!

(02-07-2010 03:14 PM)Solo Wrote: [ -> ]I like the furminator. It doesn't seem to cut the coat to me

It does. It is a stripper - an old tool with a new name. You will notice that the replacement part is called a "blade." A stripper is designed to cut out the undercoat. It is a tool that can easily damage - or even destroy - the coat. It is not much different from just taking clippers to the coat.

It is just like a slicker brush (but worse), which will easily pull out the coat and damage it.

The Zoom Groom is not intended for detangling. It is to remove shed fur without pulling out the healthy fur. One uses combs as the first line of defense in detangling. The Zoom Groom is just easier to use error free than even gentle brushes, which are the alternative for the job.

Welcome to the forum! Jensie is adorable. LOVE the name! Look forward to hearing from you and Jensie in the future.