Glossary

Ruff

A collar of longer fur around a cat's neck and chest, most obvious in breeds such as the Maine Coon and Norwegian Forest Cat.

Also called: mane, neck ruff, frill, cat mane

A ruff is a band of longer hair that frames a cat's neck and runs down onto the chest, rather like a lion's mane or a fur collar. It is part of the grooming description used for many longhaired and semi-longhaired breeds, among them the Maine Coon, the Norwegian Forest Cat, the Siberian and the Persian. Breed standards often call for a full ruff, and a cat whose ruff is thin may lose points in the show ring.

The ruff exists to help keep a cat warm, since it protects the throat and chest, and it makes the cat look larger when it fluffs up. Males often grow a more impressive one than females. The ruff may grow in properly only after a year or two, and it can look sparse in summer when the cat sheds.

Fur here collects food and moisture, and the soft fur under the chin and behind the ears mats easily. Comb it gently at least a few times a week, using a wide-toothed comb. If a cat resists being touched on the neck or chest, or the skin below the ruff looks red or flaky, ask your vet to check. See britches for the leg fur that often goes with it.

Last reviewed November 7, 2026

In the index now

Related terms

Britches The long, full fur on the backs of a longhaired cat's hind legs, which forms a pair of fluffy trousers. Double coat A coat made of a soft insulating undercoat beneath longer, coarser guard hairs, found in many cold-climate and semi-longhair breeds. Guard hairs The long, coarse outer hairs of a cat's coat that shed water and dirt and carry its colour and pattern. Undercoat The soft, fine, dense layer of fur closest to a cat's skin that provides most of its insulation.