The Best Cat Brushes for Shedding
Is your kitty shedding copious amounts of hair with no end in sight? If you are afraid to wear black clothing or have guests sit on your couch because of cat hair, it is probably time to get a cat brush for shedding. Fortunately, there are hundreds available. It's important to select the shedding cat brush that is best for your cat's type and size. Otherwise, it could end up hurting your feline friend and delivering subpar results. Read on to find out about the general classes of cat brushes for shedding and how to select the best and safest varieties at the prices that suit your needs.
What to Look For
Grooming your cat can be an uncomfortable experience for both you and them, so the best brushes for shedding will make the process as pleasant as possible. That means they should be gentle on the skin while still being effective at removing hair; be durably and ergonomically built so that they’re easy to hold and manipulate; and be easy to clean when the grooming is done. With that in mind, one of our favorite cleaning brushes is from Hertzko, which boasts a comfortable handle and strong bristles that remove hair without scratching the skin. And for sensitive cats who recoil at the sight of traditional combs, check out the SleekEZ grooming tool, which features a unique wood design that can be used on other pets as well. For more of our favorite shedding brushes and to find one that’s right for your feline friend, read on.
Hertzko Self Cleaning Slicker Brush
Through thick and thin
Hertzko’s reliable self-cleaning brush is designed with good ergonomics and a thumb rest. The bristles retract at the push of a button so you can simply shake the shed hair off instead of going through a laborious cleaning process. It works well on all cat sizes and hair types — even thick and fine longhairs come clean. Most cats love the scratchy massage they get with this tool, and it makes for great bonding time with the pet owner.
Pros:
- Hertzko’s relatively gentle brush delivers comparable results to those of harsher brushes that compromise comfort for effectiveness — a trade-off we’re glad we don’t have to make here.
- We can’t emphasize the convenience of the retractable bristles enough. Anyone who’s had to clean metal bristles by hand knows what a hassle it can be, and this system does wonders for smoothing out the process.
Cons:
- This tool uses metal bristles, and though they’re gentler than many on the market, some cats may still be irritated by them.
SleekEZ Deshedding Grooming Tool
Sleek and speedy
The SleekEZ Grooming Tool doesn’t look like your typical hairbrush. Instead, this tool comes as a solid wooden handle with a steel comb on one end. Easy to grip in the hand, you can pull loose hair off of just about any domestic animal. Use it on your cat, your dog, and even your horse for a quick and painless way to wick off the loosies.
Pros:
- The design is intuitive to use and easy to grip, and the unique wave pattern “blade” feels more like petting than most brushes do. That combination makes for a much more enjoyable experience all around.
- The shallow waves don’t pick up the hair, so we don’t have to worry about cleaning between any bristles.
Cons:
- Since the hair is not collected by bristles, you’ll want to use this tool outside or over a ground cloth to catch it.
itPlus Cat Grooming Brush
More grooming, less struggling
This grooming brush from itPlus makes the grooming game just a bit easier. The easy-to-press button on the back of the brush head clears the bristles, so you can work quickly and efficiently to get at all that loose hair. Just working with a trash can on hand, you can easily give your cat a full groom in just minutes. With the itPlus, there’s less mess and less stress.
Pros:
- The ergonomic handle is non-slip and designed to feel like a typical hairbrush, making this a particularly user-friendly option.
- It’s an exceptionally budget-friendly pick as well, coming in at half the cost of some other options while delivering great results.
Cons:
- The brush head is a bit small, so you’ll have to clear the bristles pretty frequently. Luckily, the process is a breeze.
Pet Craft Supply Deshedding Brush Tool
Baby feline friendly
As small as they are, kittens can produce a lot of loose hair. If you’ve got a tiny kitty that needs grooming, check out this pick from Pet Craft Supply Store. Inexpensive enough to fit into any new pet owner’s budget, this brush has short bristles for a non-irritating groom. And even if those short bristles get clogged up with loose hair, you can clear them quickly with the push of a button.
Pros:
- The grip is comfortable and easily maneuvered, and the short bristles won’t hurt a little cat’s skin. With this handy grooming tool, everyone’s a winner.
- We love the travel-friendly design that includes a convenient blade cover to keep both the brush and your belongings safe. It’s a great choice for tossing into your weekend bag for a trip with your furry friend.
Cons:
- Pressing the clearing button doesn’t always fully clear the hair, so you may have to remove it using your hands.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I use a cat brush for shedding control?
The exact use of the cat shedding brush will depend on the classification of the tool and the manufacturer’s guidelines, but there are a few things that are similar to all. Never lean heavily or use pressure when brushing your cat with a shedding tool. These tools are ordinarily sharp in some way or other and can injure your cat — and cause you bodily harm if she reacts by biting. Simply glide the tool through your cat’s fur in the direction of growth, not against it. Let the natural weight of the product help to guide it.
If the brush gets caught on tangles, knots, or mats, remove it from the hair vertically and work through the area with short, light strokes without pressure. If the shedding cat brush you bought is not working as expected, you probably need to switch your class of tool. Using a slicker brush for heavy matting in a longhair will not be as efficient as a matt-breaker. Vice versa, a matt-breaker is not going to give your cat a smooth, lustrous coat. Sometimes more than one tool is needed to take care of the job and provide the results you are looking for — which is a reason not to blow your budget on a single brush.
Can’t I buy a multi-pet dog/cat brush for shedding?
You certainly can. Multi-pet brushes generally work the same on both cats and dogs. The main difference is that manufacturers have difficulty getting the size just right to use on both types of animals. Cats are more angular, and the multi-pet brushes tend to be a tad too big for them.
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