Proper Grooming Tools: Combs, Brushes, and Everything In Between

Or: How to Keep the Fur From Flying

How to Choose The Best Cat Grooming Tools

As the summer heat ramps up, globs of cat hair pop up all over my house. In the corners of a room, on my bedspread, on my sweatshirt, on the dining room chair slipcovers and all over the cat bed. While spring is often worse, shedding is a year-round problem. In fact, shedding can actually become a health issue if left unattended. Cat dander, excess fur, and saliva from self-grooming can be a culprit for feline allergies. Therefore, keeping this at bay is vital for you and your cat’s health and well being. ​

Why Do Cats Need Help With Grooming?

A lot of people wonder why cats should be brushed when they groom themselves all the time. I heard a cat groomer once say, “cats don’t groom themselves, they lick.” According to this groomer, licking and grooming are not the same. The fact is, your cat’s sandpaper tongue is not the same as a brush or comb. 

Brushing a cat is a good habit to begin early on as there are many benefits to it. Not only does it control the dander and loose dead fur, it will reduce those dreaded hairballs. While cats love to bathe themselves, ingesting all that fur is not good for their digestive tracts. 
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Brushing is also great for a cat’s skin. It can help stimulate blood flow, keep skin healthy and control dandruff. Preventing mats is also important for certain breeds since longer fur or undercoats can easily tangle and knot up. Mats can start out small and quickly grow into a big knot that can pull at the skin and cause pain and discomfort. At that point, it is best to take your cat to a groomer to have it trimmed out. 

Know Your Cat’s Preferences

Long fur or soft underbellies can hide lumps or bumps that may cause a cat pain if groomed incorrectly. Additionally, regular grooming can make sure you notice any irregularities as soon as they arise and can then contact your vet. 
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Also, an important note is that not all kitties like you to groom them so be careful at first. My arms have been a cat scratching post many times because the cat simply did not want anyone touching their lovely coat. Getting them used to being groomed can reduce any stress for your cat. 

What Tool Should I Use to Groom My Cat?

Knowing the proper brushes can make a huge difference in a brushout. Cats have all different fur types, so knowing which tool to use is important. 

• Short hair cats are best to be brushed at least once a week with a fine tooth comb then finished with a brush to really sleek their coat. 
• Longer hair cats should be brushed at least 2-3 times a week with a wider tooth comb (I prefer metal here) and focus on the belly and leg/groin area as mats tend to form very easily here. 

There are many different types of brushes and combs, including: 

• Fine Tooth Combs: These combs are best for fine hair. They come in plastic or metal. I prefer the metal Greyhound style as that is the gold standard for groomers.
• Wide Tooth Combs: These are used for thicker hair and quick tidying brush outs.
• Slicker Brush: This rectangle style head on a wooden brush handle has super fine metal tines and can remove a lot of fur. Be careful not to push down on the cat’s body as the tines can poke their tender skin. I really like this to remove the excess fur before bathing.
• Bristle Brush: The classic style brush is similar to what us humans use and the bristles can be man-made or natural. A good all-purpose brush.
• Pin Brush: Another style that we humans are familiar with! These have metal teeth with little balls on top. 
• Rubber Brush: The rubber teeth on these grip fur easily and the body is a wooden handle like a spoon.
  
• Blade on Handle Metal Comb: This is a newer style and an excellent de-shedding tool. You can remove a lot of excess fur with this and keep it under control. ​

Quick Grooming Trips

Here are some quick tips to get you started and hopefully help you avoid some arm scratching mishaps. First, start at the cat’s head and brush in the direction of their fur, working down to their tail. Daily brushing is best and can make a huge difference but even weekly or monthly brushings are better than nothing. Getting your cat used to brushing will make your cat happier and healthier. It can also keep your house cleaner and keep allergies at bay. 
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Regular trips to the cat groomer will keep your cat in tip-top shape and make a dramatic difference overall. It may be a bit of an investment of time and money but you and your cat will thank you.