Best Cat Brush for Shedding

Some cats shed a lot too, read our article about Cats That Don’t Shed to learn more. If you have a long-haired cat, you could consider shaving him… see our article on Should I Shave My Cat? for more information!

The brush is very simple to use and can be operated with a simple button press. The soft bristles gently remove dead and loose hair whilst massaging your kitty’s undercoat, so the fur is left nice and soft. It’s best used on cats with short or thinner fur.

Pet Portal’s Pro Quality Self Cleaning Slicker Brush is brilliant for short or fine haired cats and enables you to quickly and easily remove dead and loose hair off of your kitty at the touch of a button. It is very easy to remove the hair which is caught between the pins thanks to its self-cleaning ability, and bristles have rounded-tips which protect your cat’s skin from being nipped and hurt.

Thunderpaws De-Shedding Tool is a premium quality brush, but don’t be put off by the picture of a dog on the packaging… it’s suitable for cats, too! This brush guarantees satisfaction and easily removes dead and loose hair from your kitty’s fur.

Pet Republique Slicker Brush is made from flexible wire bristles which is great at helping untangle knots and prevent fur from matting up. It If used regularly, it can help reduce your cat’s shredding which means less cleaning in the long-term.

FURminator deShedding Tool for Cats is a compact brush with a solid and reliable build. It provides gentle grooming to your kitty which calms and relaxes,  and the stainless steel deShedding edge easily reaches through the topcoat to safely and easily remove hair from your kitty’s undercoat.

How often should I brush my cat?

This depends on your cat’s fur length.

Short-haired cats can be groomed a few times per week. In fact, if you wish, you can do it daily. With short-haired cats, though, it is important to be gentle as you can cause skin irritation or bald patches.

Medium-haired cats (such as the Manx) should be brushed several times per week, if not daily. It really depends on your cat’s breed here, because medium-haired is quite a vague term. Slicker brushes are great for medium-haired cats.

Long-haired cats must be brushed daily; it should be part of their daily routine. Long coats very easily develop tangles, get matted and caught up in knots which need to be removed daily. Brushes such as fine wire brushes and de-matting brushes are best for these types of cats (such as Persians and Maine-Coons). Vets recommend taking long-haired cats to the vet regularly for a professional grooming.

Types of Brushes Available

Whilst the basics of looking after your kitty’s coat and fur are basically the same regardless of breed, certain types of coat require different kinds of brushes. Choosing the best brush for your cat will help keep its fur maintained and in top condition. It is important to brush your cat often, too. Especially ones which shed a lot.

Some cats don’t like being brushed and your brushing method may cause some pain. Read our article on How to Tell if Your Cat is in Pain to learn more.

Slicker Brushes

A slicker brush is suitable for all types and is the most basic cat grooming brush you can buy. But, the brush is made from metal and you should take care not to hurt your kitty by being too forceful when using it. This is the best cat brush for shedding and basic-level use.

• Good for removing tangles and makes the fur smoother.

Moulting Combs

Very useful for long haired cats, a moulting comb is brilliant for detangling your kitty’s fur to prevent matted fur from forming. With two different pin lengths, the longer ones go through the top coat to detangle knots whilst the shorter pins gather the fur up for easy cleaning.

• Great for detangling hair and removing moulting hair.

Bristle Brushes

Bristle brushes are great for short-haired cats with sleek fur, which can be groomed with bristles alone. With soft bristles, you don’t need to worry about accidentally hurting your kitty whilst brushing and they are easy to clean. It won’t remove knots, though.

• Does a good job smoothing out hair and leaving fur tidy.

Mat breakers

Matbreakers are for long-haired cats which need to regularly have mattes of fur removed. Their long slender brushes have blades which cut through mats without touching the rest of the coat.

• Brilliant for cats with awkward fur.

Rubber-bristled brushes

Brushing a cat’s fur isn’t always the simplest of jobs; some kitties will run at the sight of a brush. If you’ve got a kitty who isn’t so brush-friendly, a rubber brush is a great alternative as the rubber bristles feel completely different on your kitty’s skin.

The rubber tips on the bristles massage the skin and help to gently remove loose hair in cats who are shedding.

• Helps distribute healthy oils across your kitty’s fur.

Pin Brushes

Pin brushes are also great at helping remove knots and tangles in fur, which stops matting from occurring. The pins easily glide through even the longest of coats, helping remove excess hairs and neaten your kitty’s coat.

• Best for use on cats with medium or long hair.

Bathing cats can also help get rid of some excess hair, if you have never done it before have a look at our article on How to Give a Cat a Bath to learn more.

Do I need to groom my cat?

Although you’re right in thinking that cats can self-groom, they aren’t able to get all of the excess hair which they need to. Just look at how much your cat sheds; shedding is all the fur that your kitty was unable to get through grooming themselves.

It may only seem like an annoyance to you, but cats lick themselves to clean and excess hair can get caught up in their stomachs and cause hairballs which can be dangerous and cause serious health problems for your cat.

Many cats can deal with hairballs and typically throw them up, but that does not mean they can’t turn into intestinal blockages and cause more serious issues. Plus, they’re not very nice to clean up and your cat probably doesn’t like throwing them up. So, proper grooming is key.

Brushing also helps to keep your cat clean. Dirt and other nasty substances can get stuck to your cat’s fur, which may build up in thick layers over time. Older cats, cats with medical conditions and cats with longer hair are more susceptible to health problems which are caused by poor grooming.

It is really down to you to help your cat stay groomed to their optimum. It keeps their long-term health in check and a well-groomed cat smells nicer and looks prettier, too!

Cat Grooming Tips

We’re not saying that grooming your kitty is easy – it’s not in most cases – but it is essential. The younger your kitty is when you start a regular grooming regime, the better. If you have a kitty who is difficult to groom, try following our guide. Many cat owners can be inpatient and try to rush their kitty through grooming; this will only make it harder and create long-term problems. Patience is key!

When you’ve got hold of your kitty and are ready to begin the grooming session, wait a little bit and help calm your cat down by petting and talking gently to them. You should avoid trying to instantly groom a stressed cat, because it just won’t work, and you may harm them!

Have your kitty’s favourite treat or snack to hand when you start the grooming session, too. If your cat begins to show signs of agitation or tries to escape, offer them treats instead. This helps calm your kitty and incentivises them to calm down.

When your kitty is calm and content, you’re ready to begin grooming them –

• Gently work the comb or brush through your kitty’s coat from head to tail. Brush in the direction your cat’s fur grows in long sweeping motions and focus on one area of the body at a time. Start with your kitty’s back and then move on to other parts such as the chest and abdomen.
• Brushing your cat’s coat against the direction it grows can be uncomfortable for your kitty.
• When you have finished with your cat’s main comb, use a bristle brush in the direction of your kitty’s head to sweep off any dead hair or skin which appears on top of your kitty’s coat after the main brushing is finished.   
• Bristle brushes are very gentle, and your kitty may even like the soft feel of the bristles rubbing against its head.
• Use a rubber-bristled brush or pad to remove any excess dead hair. Rubber-bristled brushes or pads cling to dead hair and make it easy to lift from the fur. Also, these types of brushes are very relaxing and massage your kitty’s skin, helping to stimulate blood circulation.
• If you notice any serious tangles, knots or badly matted fur, you should not try to remove these on your own if you do not know what you are doing, because you may put your cat in pain. Instead, take your kitty to a professional groomer who can remove them pain free.

Grooming time is a great opportunity for you to give your kitty a full-body check over. As you are brushing your kitty, keep your eyes open for any cuts, bumps or other wounds on your cat’s coat or skin. If you do notice any, examine them carefully. If you are ever in doubt, there is no harm in taking your kitty to the vet for a professional opinion.