Grooming a Ragamuffin's adult coat at 18 months

Ragamuffins are right in the middle of one of the trickiest coat transitions — at 18 months that kitten fluff is giving way to the thick, plush adult coat they're known for, and the tools that worked fine up to now often just aren't up to the job anymore. Cats are particular about being groomed, and the right tool makes the difference between one that tolerates it and one that bolts — coat type plays a big role in what's actually useful here. To point you in the right direction: how long is the coat looking now — still fairly loose or already getting that dense, cottony feel? How does your cat handle grooming sessions generally? And is the main concern keeping on top of tangles, managing shedding, or just general maintenance?

That's a really common spot for Ragamuffins — behind the ears and under the armpits are where the first mats tend to sneak in as the adult coat comes through. The fact she's tolerant is great, because you do need to be getting in there regularly now. What tool are you currently using? Just so I know whether we're replacing something or adding to what you have.

That's exactly the problem — slicker brushes are great for finishing and removing loose surface hair, but on a Ragamuffin's developing coat they just glide over the top without doing anything useful underneath. What you need at this stage is a long-pin brush that actually penetrates the density without dragging. My recommendation is the Chris Christensen Big G Slicker Brush — the long, flexible pins get through a Ragamuffin's coat properly, separating strands before tangles have a chance to set, and the cushioned base means it doesn't yank when it hits a snag. It's significantly better engineered than standard pet brushes and groomers use it on exactly this coat type. For the areas already forming tangles — behind the ears especially — I'd pair it with a metal greyhound comb for working those out gently before you brush. But the Big G is the one to get first. It'll change how manageable her coat feels within a few sessions.

Kittens can often get away with once a week or even less — the coat is fine and doesn't mat easily. At 18 months, as that adult Ragamuffin coat fills in, you really want to be aiming for three or four times a week. It sounds like a lot but short sessions — five to ten minutes — done frequently are far better than longer sessions less often. The more regularly you brush, the less you'll ever encounter serious tangles, which means sessions stay quick and she stays cooperative. Once the coat is fully established around age two to three, some owners do manage on every other day, but right now while it's transitioning, more frequent is better.

Perfect combination. Start with the comb on any areas that already feel a bit clumped — work from the tips toward the root in small sections rather than dragging through from root to tip — then follow with the Big G all over. Keep sessions short while she's adjusting to the new tools and she'll stay on side. You're catching this at the right time — a bit of routine now saves a lot of mat-removal stress later.