Do Ragdoll Cats Need Baths? Expert Guidance on Grooming & Health

When asking, “Do Ragdoll Cats Need Bath?” It comes down to the fact that cats are animals, not humans who shower on a regular basis, so it is more natural for them to remain un-bathed. Cats who are healthy, on a proper diet, and in the right environment should not need baths.

Baths for Ragdolls

Personally, as a Ragdoll cat owner for over 30 years – and having 5 Ragdoll cats in that time, I have never seen the need to bathe them unless they are unwell – have diarrhea, etc.  And if that’s happening, of course, you want to clean them up – but also want to know what is happening medically that’s causing that. When people put dry shampoo or wipes on their cats or bathe them and don’t rinse them entirely – you’re asking your Ragdoll cats to lick shampoo off their coat.  Ew. Remember anything you put on their skin/fur will most likely end up on their tongue, so something like a waterless shampoo or conditioner can be so unpleasant and unnatural for a cat.

For a Sick Ragdoll

However, there are exceptions to every rule, and sometimes a bath might be helpful if a kitty is sick or got something on their fur that shouldn’t be there – just make sure you rinse all of the shampoo out of their fur. Here are a few cases where you might bathe your cat:

• Old and ungroomed – If a cat is getting older or sick and stops grooming themselves like a cat naturally does, you might bathe them occasionally to keep their coat from getting too oily.
• Sick – Even the most diehard fan of keeping cats natural would probably not want a kitty with diarrhea running around their house.
• Contact with chemicals – For your cat’s health, it might be a good idea to bathe a cat if they have come into contact with chemicals – for example, chlorine from a pool, a snowglobe, or a household cleaner they might have accidentally been exposed to. Although if you are unsure of the strength of the chemical, contact your vet first to see if they need further treatment.

Bath products that are safe for cats:

• HyLyt Shampoo
• Earthbath Oatmeal & Aloe Pet Grooming Shampoo and Conditioner 
• Earthbath  2-in-1 Conditioning Cat Shampoo

In general, cats really do not need baths, and always remember how unnatural it is for them to have a foreign substance on their fur.

When my Rags turned 19, he went for a swim – and in order to get the chlorine off his coat, we bathed him afterwards. Here’s a quick video to show how we did it:

Grooming Tools for Cats that our Readers Love: 

1. The Safari Cat Shedding Comb
2. EquiGroomer Grooming Tool
3. JW Pet GripSoft Soft Slicker Brush
4. JW Pet Shedding Blade

What are your experiences with bathing cats? What tips do you have for a cat who is old and has stopped grooming themselves or who has diarrhea? What safe cat shampoos or alternatives would you recommend?