Cats are great at grooming themselves – we have three, and often find them sitting in a quiet corner giving themselves a good grooming session.
However, sometimes they need a helping hand to get out knots or debris from their fur, which is where a cat brush comes in.
Our eldest cat, Fudge has started to have a bit of weakness in his spine so he can’t bend and groom his lower back. After going to the vet to have matted hair shaved off, it was time to invest in a couple of brushes for cats.
Even if your cat isn’t having problems, regular brushing can improve muscle tone and stimulate the production of natural oils that make your cat’s fur shinier. It can also provide a great bonding experience for you and your cat!
If you’re not sure which brush for cats is best for you, here are the two we use and some others we shortlisted. We use a two brush combo – one to fine comb and another ‘mitt’ to remove shedding hair.
Covered in this Article:
Best Cat Slicker Brush
Cat Slicker Brush by Lawrence
This cat slicker brush by Lawrence is the one we use the most. It’s good quality and handmade in England.
A cleaning slicker brush such as this one has fine, short wires that are close together to make it easier to untangle really stubborn, matted coats such as those on elderly cats that struggle to groom themselves properly.
They come in different sizes. We have the medium-sized brush. It’s made of aluminum with a wooden handle so it’ll be durable and should last a long time.
The bristles are made from fine metal, so ensure that you’re brushing your cat gently to avoid damaging their skin or causing them pain.
Extra care should be taken on sensitive areas, such as the stomach and tail, though Fudge rubs his face against it when he can!
Some people use slicker brushes on pile rugs to brush out any knots and debris, so it can even be used to brush your pet’s hair out of carpets and rugs too!
It’s easy to remove the cat hair from the brush, just pick it out using your fingers as you would hair from your hairbrush.
Pros:
- Good quality – durable
- Untangles stubborn and matted coats
- Medium sized brush so covers a large area at a time
- Easy to pull fur out of
- Especially effective for long haired cats, such as a Persian
Cons:
- Some people have commented that the handle is too short
- Bristles can be spiky if care is not taken
Best Glove Brush For Shedding Short-Haired Cats
BYETOO Pet Grooming Glove Brush
This pet grooming glove by BYETOO is perfect for day-to-day grooming of short-haired cats and is another handy invention for cats that don’t like being groomed with a brush.
This is the second brush we use because it’s by far the best at removing loose, shedding hair (which otherwise ends up in the house!).
The glove has 180 soft, silicone spikes along all 5 fingers as well as the palm of the hand that allow you to remove any loose hair and built-up dirt simply by stroking your pet.
The glove is breathable so it’s comfortable if you wear it for a long period of time, and the wrist has a band around it that means you can adjust the fit no matter the size of your hand.
The glove itself is really easy to clean, as it’s silicone the cat hair will stick to it so all you have to do is peel the fur away from the silicone – and give it a wash with soapy, warm water if you think it needs it!
Many reviews have said that this glove is essential for cat owners whose cats really hate being brushed, and that they don’t know how they’ve lived without it up until now.
Pros:
- Soft, silicone spikes that remove loose hair, but are still gentle to skin
- Breathable and comfortable glove
- Adjustable wrist strap
- Easy to clean – hand wash and air dry
- Perfect for short-haired cats that don’t like being brushed
- 2 Gloves
Cons:
- Although the wrist strap is adjustable, the glove itself only has one size so may be a bit big for those with smaller hands
Best Cat Brush for All Fur Types
Laika Professional Cat Grooming Brush
This professional cat grooming brush by Laika is suitable for both long-haired and short-haired cats, so if you’re a multi-cat household, this is a good choice. We’d have bought it if the other two cats liked being brushed, but they don’t!
The handle of the brush is non-slip making it easy to hold if your cat is rather fussy when it comes to being brushed.
It has 2 types of wire bristles, one with rounded tips to ensure that your pet’s undercoat is brushed without damaging or irritating their skin, and shorter bristles to remove up to 95% of loose hair from their coat.
The different kinds of bristles also provide a better grooming experience for your pet, brushing them will feel like they’re getting a massage – and it has all the benefits of one too!
The bristles are also bent at a 60° angle to keep the hair attached to the bristles and avoid making a mess on your floor. It comes with a cleaning needle to untangle any hair that may be trapped in the brush.
One reviewer said that this is the most effective cat brush they’d ever used, and their normally fussy cat allows them to brush her with this grooming brush as it’s such a pleasant experience!
Pros:
- Ergonomically designed non-slip handle
- 2 types of wire bristles for more effective hair removal
- Bristles bent at a 60° angle to avoid any hair fallout
- No damage to your cat’s delicate skin
- Suitable for all coat types
Cons:
- Some reviewers have said that the plastic tips have snapped off whilst brushing their pet – this may happen if their coat is extremely knotted!
Best Self-Grooming Cat Brush
IMISNO Self-Grooming Brush Pack
We have one of these, but the cats have mauled it so badly (thanks to the catnip), we didn’t take a photo!
If neither you nor your cat aren’t a fan of you brushing them – why not let them brush themselves?
This pack of 4 self-grooming cat brushes by IMISNO sticks to any flat surface around your home and acts as a cat brush, without you having to do any of the work.
It comes with a small pouch of catnip that you put inside the brush to encourage your cat to rub against it and brush itself.
The brush is made of eco-friendly plastic that’s super easy to clean and hand wash, and they won’t irritate your cat’s sensitive skin.
Putting up brushes like these will encourage your cat not to rub up on your soft furnishings and leave their hair all over it. A gadget like this is also perfect for cats who perhaps don’t groom themself as well as they should due to health problems.
So many reviewers have commented how much their cat loves these! The catnip inside really encourages them to brush themselves and once they’re done you can simply hoover up the hair (or brush it – if your cat doesn’t like the hoover).
Pros:
- Easy to install, comes with adhesive and screws – you can use whichever you prefer
- Eco-friendly plastic that’s gentle on your pet’s skin
- Includes 4 brushes
- Comes with catnip
- Easy to clean
Cons:
- Adhesive strips are strong so may remove paint when you remove them – this can be avoided by using command strips!
Best Brush For Long-Haired Cats
Furminator Grooming Brush
This double-sided grooming brush by FURminator is the best in the list for longer-haired cats.
One side has durable metal bristles that work to detangle matted fur and remove any unwanted debris that may be stuck – there’s always some kind of leaf or dirt stuck in my cat’s fur!
The other side of the brush is made of boar bristles that are a lot softer and work to smooth your cat’s hair, leaving it looking shiny and soft.
The brush handle has an ergonomic, non-slip design that allows you total control over the brush and many reviewers have commented on how well made the brush is.
One reviewer said that this brush has worked to unmat the coat of their long-haired cat with just a few brushing sessions!
Pros:
- Double sided brush
- Unmatts fur
- Smooths their fur
- Ergonomically designed, non-slip handle
- Reviewers have said it’s well made and long lasting
- Works well for long-haired cats
Cons:
- Some people have said the brush head is too small to cover a large area – depends on the size of your cat!
- Can be hard to get the fur out of the boar bristle side
How Can I Brush My Cat Without Getting Scratched?
Some cats are perfectly comfortable with you brushing their fur with a metal brush, but most are not.
If your cat feels scared or intimidated, their natural reaction will be to scratch – and brushing may scare them.
Although a few scratches here and there may be unavoidable, there are a few things you can try to make brushing a more enjoyable experience for both your cat – and you.
Use a few treats – Cats aren’t as motivated by food as dogs are, but that doesn’t mean that they won’t appreciate a treat and allow you to brush them in return.
If you repeat this behaviour, rewarding them everytime they allow you to brush them then they will soon learn that brushing means they’ll get a treat and may be a lot more accepting.
I’d suggest giving them a treat that they don’t normally have (we use tuna flakes) – this way they’ll associate that specific treat with brushing.
Start as soon as possible – If you get your cat as a kitten, it’s a great time to introduce them to brushing.
Due to their size and wriggly nature, it can be hard to brush a kitten, but a few brushes every now and then will introduce them to the behaviour and means that they won’t grow up and be scared of being brushed – they’ll already know what it is.
Make sure they’re calm – You have to choose your time wisely. The best time to brush your cat is when they’re relaxed and calm, otherwise you’re just likely to wind them up.
If your cat likes to curl up on your lap in the evening, I’d suggest keeping a brush within reach for when the perfect moment arises.
Know what your cat does and doesn’t like – It’s important to know where your cat likes being touched. If they hate their tummy being rubbed, then it’s likely they won’t like it being brushed.
Be careful of their sensitive areas, such as head and tail. Make sure to brush with the fur – don’t brush backwards.
Don’t brush too hard – If you come across a knot within their fur, don’t try and yank it out. Work the bristles of the brush gently through the knot and stop if your cat doesn’t like it – it normally takes me a few times to successfully get a knot out.
Make sure to never cut a knot out of their fur, it’s very easy to slip and your cat’s skin is delicate! It could easily end up in them being hurt.
If your cat’s fur is extremely matted and you can’t get it out yourself, take them to a professional. Our vet shaved Fudge’s matted hair in a few minutes. He looked weird for a couple of weeks, but is fine now.
Is It Possible To Brush Your Cat Too Much?
The length of your cat’s hair all determines how often it’ll need brushing to avoid hairballs and reduce shedding.
Short-Haired Cats
Short-haired cats, such as a British Shorthair, should be brushed a few times a week. Brushing cats with shorter hair too often can result in skin irritation, or even bald patches.
Medium-Haired Cats
Mixed breeds tend to fall more into medium-haired. In terms of grooming, they can be brushed several times a week – or even daily if they tend to shed a lot.
Long-Haired Cats
Long-haired cats, such as a Ragdoll or Maine Coon should be brushed daily as this fur type is more likely to get matted or knotted. As mentioned earlier, if you can’t get the knots out yourself it’s best to get them professionally groomed!
I hope that this article has given you all the information that you were looking for. If you’ve got the brush, know how often to brush your cat but aren’t quite sure how to brush them, take a read of this guide by Battersea. Happy grooming!