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8 Best Brushes for Ragdoll Cats – 2024 Reviews & Top Picks

Written by: Ed Malaker

Last Updated on March 5, 2024 by Catster Editorial Team

brushing a ragdoll cat

8 Best Brushes for Ragdoll Cats – 2024 Reviews & Top Picks

brushing a ragdoll cat

Ragdoll cats are large and fluffy felines. Their semi-long fur is a big hit with children and adults, but it can be challenging to maintain if you don’t have a good brush. However, it can be difficult to find the best one for your pet with so many brands available. We’ve chosen eight brands with detailed reviews so you can see their differences.

We’ll give you the pros and cons we experienced with each brand and tell you how it worked for our pet to help you make an informed purchase.

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A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024

Image Product Details
Best Overall
Winner
Hepper Cat Brush Hepper Cat Brush
  • One click hair removal for easy cleanup
  • Waterproof for keeping clean
  • 60 degree needle bend to reduce discomfort when combing
  • Budget Buy
    Second place
    JW Pet Gripsoft Cat Slicker Brush JW Pet Gripsoft Cat Slicker Brush
  • Soft grip
  • Plenty of pins
  • Rounded head
  • Third place
    Safari Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush Safari Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush
  • Nubs on bristles
  • Wide size
  • Durable
  • HERTZKO Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush HERTZKO Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush
  • Removes tangles and mats
  • Spreads oils
  • Easy to clean
  • Safari Complete Cat Brush Safari Complete Cat Brush
  • Soft bristles
  • Helps distribute oils
  • Durable
  • The 8 Best Brushes for Ragdoll Cats

    1. Hepper Brush for Ragdoll Cats – Best Overall

    Material: Stainless steel needles, ABS plastic
    Type: Slicker brush

    Brushing your Ragdoll cat is a necessity, but it is no easy task, as cats generally don’t like it when we come towards them with anything but our hands. But we’ve found that this Hepper Cat Brush is the best overall tool for Ragdolls. Not only does it come in three cute colors, but it also avoids inflicting the discomfort that often comes with being brushed.

    The bristles bend at a 60-degree angle. Bending in this way allows the needles to glide through your cat’s fur without all the poking, prodding, and pulling that sometimes occurs with other cat brushes. Plus, the Hepper brush is waterproof, and any hair that is collected can be removed easily with just the push of a button.

    The only downside is that this brush may cost a bit more than other brushes, but it’s a small price to pay, considering its convenience and comfort for your cat.

    At Catster, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!

    Pros
    • Waterproof
    • Bristles bend at 60 degrees
    • Hair is removed with the touch of a button
    Cons
    • It may cost more than other brushes

    2. JW Pet Gripsoft Cat Slicker Brush – Budget Buy

    JW Pet Gripsoft Cat Slicker Brush

    Material: Metal
    Type: Slicker brush

    The JW Pet Gripsoft Cat Slicker Brush is our pick for the best brush for Ragdoll cats for the money. It has a soft-grip handle that makes it easy to manage while you’re brushing your cat, and there are plenty of pins for grabbing the fur and spreading the oils throughout the coat. The rounded head makes it easier to get into tight spots than a square one so that you can do a more complete job.

    The downside to the JW Pet Gripsoft is that there are no nubs at the end of the steel bristles, and it can take time to learn how to use it without angering your cat.

    Pros
    • Soft grip
    • Plenty of pins
    • Rounded head
    Cons
    • No nubs at the end of the bristles

    3. Safari Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush

    Safari Soft Slicker Brush w:Stainless Steel Pins

    Material: Metal
    Type: Slicker brush

    The Safari Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush is another excellent brush for a Ragdoll cat. It has a soft grip covering the handle, so it’s comfortable to use, even if you have multiple cats. It’s quite wide, so you’ll finish your task in no time, and there are small nubs on the ends of the bristles, so it won’t harm your pet’s skin as you use it.

    We found it extremely durable and held up well even after months of use. The only thing we didn’t like about the Safari Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush was that the bristles were thin and flimsy and couldn’t always get through the knots and tangles like we would have liked.

    Pros
    • Nubs on bristles
    • Wide size
    • Durable
    • Soft grip
    Cons
    • Flimsy bristles

    4. HERTZKO Self-Cleaning Slicker Dematting Brush

    Hertzko Self-Cleaning Dog & Cat Slicker Brush

    Material: Plastic
    Type: Slicker brush

    The HERTZKO Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush for Cats is our pack for the best brush for Ragdoll kittens. The plastic head has retractable pins, which makes it easy to clean as the hair falls off into the trash when you’re finished. The pins do an excellent job removing tangles and mats from your cat’s fur, and they spread the oil throughout, making for a shinier, healthier coat.

    We enjoyed using the HERTZKO, but some of our cats didn’t like that there were no protective nubs on the bristles. Another problem is that you need to hold the button the entire time to keep the bristles from retracting, which can be a pain if you have arthritis or several cats to groom.

    Pros
    • Removes tangles and mats
    • Spreads oils
    • Easy to clean
    Cons
    • Some cats don’t like it
    • Need to hold the button down

    5. Safari Complete Cat Brush

    Safari Complete Cat Brush

    Material: Plastic
    Type: Pin

    The Safari Complete Cat Brush is a great brush for the Ragdoll cat. It’s a bristle-style brush with plenty of soft bristles with little round nubs on the end that will protect your pet’s skin as you use it. The brushing action will not only remove fur, but it will also help evenly distribute the oils in the coat to keep it soft and shiny.

    The only downside we experienced while using the Safari Complete cat brush is that it’s a little small and can take a little longer to brush the cat than with some of the other brands on this list.

    Pros
    • Soft bristles
    • Helps distribute oils
    • Durable
    Cons
    • Small

    6. Hartz Groomer’s Best Grooming Tools

    Groomer's Best Small Combo Brush for Cats and Small Dogs

    Material: Plastic
    Type: Pin and bristle

    The Hartz Groomer’s Best Grooming Tools is a fantastic grooming tool with two sides for more versatility. One side features steel pins that effectively remove tangles and knots, while the other features bristles similar to a standard hairbrush. These bristles can spread the oils more effectively throughout the fur and are great for straightening the top hair. We found this brush extremely durable, and it held up well after multiple uses.

    The downside to the Hartz Groomer’s brush is that the hairbrush side isn’t very effective at removing loose fur, though it may spread oils. The pin side does a good job eliminating tangles, but the pins are too far apart to effectively remove hair.

    Pros
    • Two-sided
    • Ergonomic handle
    • Durable
    Cons
    • Not very effective

    7. Hertzko Slicker Brush

    HERTZKO Slicker Brush for Dogs and Cats

    Material: Steel
    Type: Slicker Brush

    The Hertzko Slicker Brush is the second model on this list by the HERTZKO brand, so you know it will be good. It has a soft-grip handle that’s comfortable to use while grooming, and the bristle area is wide. This brush is well-built and extremely durable, and we saw no signs of wear even after multiple uses.

    The downside to the Hertzko Slicker Brush is that there are no bristle nubs, so it may take a few tries to learn to use it without scratching your cat. We also found that the hand cover started to fall off after a while.

    Pros
    • Soft grip handle
    • Wide bristle area
    • Durable
    Cons
    • No bristle nubs
    • Handle cover falls off

    8. Mars Boar Bristle Cat Hair Brush

    Mars Boar Bristle Cat Hair Brush

    Material: Wood
    Type: Bristle Brush

    The Mars Boar Bristle Cat Hair Brush is a large bristle-style brush that makes the fur look presentable. It’s great for straightening out messy-looking fur that often occurs with the ragdoll, and most cats are more tolerant of this style of brush. It helps spread the oils to keep the coat soft and shiny.

    The downside to this brush is that it doesn’t remove tangles, nor is it very effective at picking up loose fur.

    Pros
    • Soft bristles
    • Large size
    • Spreads oils
    Cons
    • Doesn’t detangle
    • It doesn’t remove much fur

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    Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Brush For Ragdoll Cats

    Cat Brush Type

    When choosing a brush to use on a Ragdoll cat, the type you choose will have a huge impact on the result.

    Pin Brushes

    Pin brushes are a style of brush that uses long metal pins to dig in, grab, and remove fur from your pet’s coat. Pin brushes are also effective at eliminating tangles and knots that sometimes occur in the semi-long fur of the Ragdoll cat breed.

    Many brands have pins with soft round nubs at the end, which make it more comfortable for your cat as you drag the comb through the fur. However, the nubs can make it more challenging to remove tangles and knots.

    Slicker Brushes

    Slicker brushes are similar to pin brushes in that they have many tiny metal pins protruding from the head of the brush. However, slicker brushes have shorter pins placed much closer together. The pins are thinner and are excellent for getting out tangles and knots.

    Slicker brushes also do a fine job of removing loose fur and are a great tool during spring and fall shedding seasons. The downside to the slicker brush is that there are usually no nubs at the end of the pins, so they can be harsh on your cat’s skin, especially if you’re inexperienced using them.

    HERTZKO Slicker Brush up close

    Bristle Brushes

    Bristle brushes look like common hairbrushes and are the least useful of the three types listed here. They usually have densely placed plastic bristles that are excellent for straightening hair and removing loose hair due to shedding.

    The bristle brush also spreads oils throughout the coat to help keep it shiny and soft. However, they don’t go very deep into the fur to remove hair from the undercoat, and they are ineffective at removing tangles and knots.

    Mars Boar Bristle Cat Hair Brush up close

    What Kind of Brush Should Be Best for a Ragdoll?

    We highly recommend purchasing a pin or slicker brush for your Ragdoll cat since the hair is fairly long, and you need something to remove tangles and knots. The Ragdoll breed has thick, dense fur, and these brushes will help remove the undercut during shedding season.

    Pin brushes can be a great way to get your cat used to the slicker brush, and they can also help remove bigger knots and tangles that you need to break apart manually. Some people prefer the straight, neat look over the natural appearance, and if that is the case for you, you will only achieve your goal with a standard bristle brush. If your cat is overweight or has a medical condition preventing them from grooming, the bristle brush can help spread the oils through the coat to keep it healthy.

     

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    Summary

    When choosing your next brush for a Ragdoll cat, we highly recommend our pick as the best overall. The Hepper Cat Brush has 60-degree stainless steel needles for maximum comfort, and then once it’s over, one click and all the hair is collected. No mess, and certainly no stress. Another smart choice is the JW Pet Gripsoft Cat Slicker Brush as our budget buy pick. This slicker brush performed fantastically at removing dirt and tangles while remaining easy on the wallet.

    We hope you have enjoyed reading these reviews and found a few brands you would like to try out. If we have helped answer your questions, please share this guide to the best brushes for a ragdoll cat on Facebook and Twitter.


    Featured Image Credit: VeronArt16, Shutterstock

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