Regular grooming of your kitty isn’t just about helping you vacuum less often – it’s a MUST-HAVE habit to help keep your cat healthy. Indeed, regular brushing reduces the amount of hair your cat ingests daily and decreases the formation of hairballs in its stomach. Besides, this habit helps strengthen your bond with your kitten; and what cat parent doesn’t want that kind of relationship with their furry companion?
That being said, you will need some great tools to help make these grooming sessions more enjoyable for you and your cat. Check out our reviews of the best cat grooming tools; these reviews will help you familiarize yourself with the options and hopefully find the right one for you and your pet.
A Quick Look at Our Favorites in 2023
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Best Overall |
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Hepper Cat Brush |
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Budget Buy |
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HARTZ Small Slicker Brush for Cats |
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Resco Wrap Comb for Small Pets |
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Hertzko Self Cleaning Slicker Brush |
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FURminator deShedding Edge Cat Brush |
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The 11 Best Cat Grooming Tools
1. Hepper Cat Grooming Brush – Best Overall
Uses: | Removes loose hair and undercoat |
Recommended for: | All types of hair |
Whether you’ve got a plush long-haired cat or a scrappy shorthair, the Hepper Cat Brush can handle it. We found the Hepper Brush to be the best overall brush for cats of all coats. It has a wire-style brush head with flexible metal needles that bend up to 60 degrees. These flexible needles make it more comfortable for your cats than most wire brushes, and they carry the added bonus of making brushing faster and easier for you, too. The brush is completely water-safe, so you can wash a damp kitty or rinse it off when it gets dirty. It also has a button that removes fur from the bristles when pressed.
Wire brushes are ideal for many coat types, but they do need to be used with care. Too much pressure can cause pain for cats. You can run the brush along the inside of your arm to get an idea of how much pressure you need—enough to keep the brush moving through fur, but not so much that it’s painful. However, for cats with very sensitive skin, no metal brush will be comfortable.
At Pet Keen, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!
2. HARTZ, Groomer’s Best Small Slicker Brush for Cats – Budget Buy
Uses: | Removes tangles and mats |
Recommended for: | Cats and kitten with short hair |
This small slicker brush (a type of pin brush) has dozens of fine metal teeth and is flexible enough to move comfortably along your cat’s body. Without any fancy features, this basic grooming brush does a great job of removing dead, loose hair in the topcoat and undercoat and can even get rid of mats. However, it doesn’t have a self-cleaning mechanism, so pulling out the fur involves using your fingers to grasp between the teeth, which can be an inconvenience for some people. But despite that, this cat grooming tool is our pick for a budget buy.
3. Resco Wrap Comb for Dogs, Cats & Small Pets
Uses: | Removes stubborn knots and tangles in thick coats |
Recommended for: | All types of hair prone to mats |
This dematting comb is another good choice because it works wonders for cats with thick, fluffy coats. If you have a cat who is prone to develop mats or tangles and you’re ready to splurge on a fantastic tool, the Resco Wrap Comb will do the trick. It will reach the knots, gently pull them apart and smooth them out. However, keep in mind that this detangling comb is not the best option for cats who do not develop mats, as this comb is not intended to remove loose hair and debris.
4. Hertzko Self Cleaning Slicker Brush
Uses: | Removes tangles, loose hair, and dirt |
Recommended for: | Long-haired cats |
The Hertzko Self Cleaning Slicker Brush is a perfect grooming tool for long-haired cats. You will have no problem removing all the dead hairs often hidden under their dense fur. Plus, the self-cleaning button makes your life easier – no need to use your fingers to remove all the hair and other grooming residues! However, this brush is unsuitable for short-haired cats, as the sharp teeth could scratch their sensitive skin.
5. FURminator deShedding Edge Cat Brush
Uses: | Removes loose hair and undercoat |
Recommended for: | All types of hair |
Furminator is an American brand that was born from the original idea of a professional groomer. The Furminator deShedding Edge is another great grooming tool, because it’s an innovative cat brush that improves the well-being of animals that shed large amounts of hair during molting. Plus, it’s highly recommended by vets.
This cat brush features a row of tight stainless-steel teeth designed to remove hair that has fallen out during shedding. The rounded edges are slightly longer than the teeth so that the latter does not directly touch the skin. Besides, the Furminator has a push button that makes it easy to clean the brush. You should use this brush once or twice a week for optimal effectiveness.
6. Mars Boar Bristle Cat Hair Brush
Uses: | Gently removes dead hair |
Recommended for: | Short-haired cats |
Unlike the previous brush, the Mars Boar Bristle Cat Hair Brush will do wonders for short-haired cats. This light, ergonomic, and super easy to use tool will allow you to gently brush your kitten without them wanting to tear your eyes out. But seriously, this brush is perfect for gently removing the top layer of hair from your kitty’s fur while giving him a gentle massage.
7. Frisco Cat Curry Brush
Uses: | Massaging and removing loose hair |
Recommended for: | Short-haired cats |
With its short, thick, and flexible rubber nubs, this curry brush is ideal for massaging and stimulating the circulation and distribution of natural oils and removing dirt, loose hairs, and debris. This cat brush is one of the best for grooming short-haired pets and young cats. However, it is not suitable for disentangling a dense coat.
8. Pet Grooming Glove
Uses: | Removes dirt, loose hair, and debris |
Recommended for: | Cats that don’t like to be brushed |
Ideal for kittens, sensitive pets, and shorthair or hairless cats, the brushing glove is lined with soft rubber teeth that allow you to brush and massage your little feline easily. This tool also allows you to take your cat in your hands and mimic the petting, which can help strengthen your bond with him. However, this type of accessory is not designed to untangle knots.
9. KONG Cat Zoom Groom Brush
Uses: | Deshedding and massage grooming tool |
Recommended for: | Sensitive cats |
The KONG Zoom Groom is a small rubber brush that gently removes hair from your cat’s coat. The spaced rubber teeth are flexible, making it a soft brush suitable for even the most sensitive kittens. It is, therefore, a massage brush that gently stimulates the skin without irritating it. While the Zoom Groom is a good tool for providing a gentle massage and removing unwanted hair, it is not perfect. Indeed, it does not remove all the hairs and tends to make the fur fly. However, it can remove a lot of dead hair, but it will likely let it spread on your cat and furniture.
10. Hertzko Long and Short Teeth Comb
Uses: | Removes molting hair |
Recommended for: | Cats that don’t have mats and knots |
The Hertzko Long and Short Teeth Comb is perfect for grooming a cat’s coat and undercoat simultaneously. The staggered teeth capture the loose undercoat fur, which often remains hidden under the topcoat. The stainless metal teeth are shorter near the handle than at the tip, making this comb easy to handle. Your cat’s long hairs will be soft and untangled with a wide-toothed metal comb, which you will gently run all over the place to remove any tangles. The combs with small teeth are somewhat reserved for cats with short hair. It helps prevent hairballs and tangles and reduces the presence of hair on the floor and clothing. On the other hand, it is useless against the already formed knots because it can hurt your pet.
11. Safari Flea Comb for Cats
The teeth of the Safari Flea Comb are very close to each other, which ensures that fleas and eggs will be effectively removed from your cat’s fur. The good news is that flea combs can also be used on all cats. However, when you use a flea comb as a natural treatment, first immerse the comb in a bowl of water mixed with a bit of anti-flea shampoo. This will prevent fleas from escaping and re-infesting your cat. This will prevent fleas from escaping and re-infesting your cat. However, remember always to seek the advice of your veterinarian if in doubt.
Buyer’s Guide: Finding the Best Grooming Tools for Your Cat
To remove your cat’s dead hair, you will need a specially designed brush. There are several models on the market today. Some are more innovative than others; therefore, it is important to be informed about the best way to use these grooming tools. Here are some tips to help you find the right tools for your needs:
1. Define Your Cat’s Coat Type
Before grooming your cat, you will need to define your pet’s hair type. Only then will you be able to choose the right brush for its maintenance. Slicker brushes, for example, can be suitable for all kinds of coats. In addition, certain types of brushes have been specially designed for use on both cats and dogs.
2. Proceed Gently
Keep in mind that your cat’s skin is just as delicate as yours. If you pull too hard to untangle your pet’s hair, it could hurt him and prevent him from enjoying his grooming session. Your furry companion will then tend to be agitated, which will make your task all the more difficult. We, therefore, recommend that you always proceed as gently as possible.
3. Choose the Right Brush for Each Action
For each manipulation to be performed correctly, you will need to use the right accessory. To untie knots, for example, use a simple comb. During this action, keep the hair at the base to not pull too much on your pet’s skin. For more sensitive areas like the head or stomach, use a smaller brush and ideally triangular shape.
4. Untangle Stubborn Knots
Long hairs are the most prone to this problem. Rest assured, however, because there are specific models of brushes specially adapted to the treatment of this type of coat. If some parts are still difficult to smooth, use a small pair of scissors.
5. Maintain the Brush
After each use of your brush, it is imperative to clean it. This is to ensure hygiene. To do this, all you need to do is remove the hairs that are attached to it. Then wash your item under running water, and you’re good to go.
Bonus: Make Grooming Your Cat a Pleasurable Experience (for Both of You)
If brushing your cat is a nightmare, buying the best brush on the market won’t magically solve the problem. To help make grooming more enjoyable and to be able to reap the benefits of your purchase, follow these three tips:
Final Thoughts
Now that you know all the benefits of regular grooming of your kitten, you can see that having a brush specially designed for your cat’s coat type is very important. This ensures that they will be clean, healthy, and beautiful; your clothes and furniture will also thank you!
So, for the best overall cat grooming tool, the Hepper Cat Brush will do wonders for your kitten. If you’d rather try a more economical option first, you can’t go wrong with the HARTZ, the groomer’s best little smooth cat brush. And if you’re up for splurging (and have more than one pet that could benefit from this amazing tool), go with Resco Wrap Comb for Dogs, Cats, and Small Pets.
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Featured Image Credit: Cerrotalavan, Shutterstock