Looking at your cat’s scruffy coat while browsing all the various brushes and cat grooming items and wondering which type of brush is best for long-haired cats in need of some serious grooming?
In this article, I explain the differences between the various types of cat brushes that can help keep your cats long hair free from knots, tangles, and have them looking nice and smooth.
Owning a long-haired cat comes with the need to brush them regularly. So the way I see it is that you might as well make it as easy as possible on yourself and your cat, and enjoy the grooming process.
To do this you need the right type of brush and a willing cat. If your cat doesn’t like being brushed, don’t worry I got you covered there too with some useful tips later in the article.
Which Type of Brush Is Best for Long Haired Cats?
Long Bristle Cat Brushes
Long bristle brushes are great for some long-haired cats. They are best for cats with fluffy fur that needs a sturdy brush to fluff up their coats.
They are great at removing loose fur, dander, debris, and anything else hiding inside their coats. Along with being able to work out knots and matted fur.
Some come with two types of bristles on each side which are handy for different areas of a cat. Even if you have a fine comb I recommend having a long bristle brush to tackle those knots.
Click here to see long bristle cat brushes on AmazonSlicker Cat Brushes
Slicker brushes are curved and have thin teeth. They are designed to help keep medium and long-haired coats in good shape.
Once a cat’s coat is smooth and free from knots slicker brushes are one of the best types of brush for keeping it in this condition.
If it’s shedding season you’ll pick up more loose fur with a slicker than a long bristle brush, so it’s handy to have one in your grooming toolkit.
Click here to see slicker cat brushes on AmazonFine Cat Brush/Comb
Fine-toothed combs and brushes are not just good for removing loose hair they also allow you to reach places a larger brush can’t.
Such as under the chin, their heads, the insides of their legs, and so on. They are lightweight, easy to use, and in my case gives my cat less of a target to try and play with while I’m brushing him.
Click here to see fine combs for cats on AmazonThe FURminator for Cats
I can’t talk about types of brushes for grooming cats without mentioning the FURminator. The FURminator is a really popular cat brush, I’ve seen it recommended by plenty of vets and pet care professionals, and it’s perfect for most types of coat.
Click here to see the FURminator on AmazonHow Does the FURminator Work on Cats?
The FURminator claims to reduce shedding by up to 90%. I can see how this is accurate in some cases, but regardless of the exact %, it’s going to make a huge difference to the amount of fur your cat sheds around the home.
It has lots of fine teeth on its stainless steel deShedding edge. These teeth reach through your cat’s topcoat to safely remove any loose hairs and dirt.
It’s not to be used for working out knots and clumping in their fur. But it’s excellent at bringing their coat into top condition and keeping them groomed.
How Often Do You Need to Use the FURminator?
FURminator recommends using their deShedding tool 1-2 times a week for 10-20 minutes each session.
You’ll get a feel for whether or not this is too much or too little after a few weeks and can adjust your grooming schedule accordingly as per the needs of your cat.
Does the FURminator Hurt or Cut Hair?
No! The FURminator will only hurt if you’re too rough or you get caught up in a badly knotted coat. But I know you’re not going to do either of these, so no need to worry about hurting your cat.
It doesn’t cut hair either. All the hair you see getting caught up in the teeth is the loose hair that was in your cat’s coat.
It’s always surprising how much hair it combs out too. Just imagine that most of that hair would end up around your home if you didn’t brush it out!
My Cat Doesn’t like Being Brushed – 5 Tips to Help with Difficult Cats
Some cats like being brushed, some don’t, some tolerate it, and then there are those who can leave you looking like you’ve been mauled by a tiger.
With long-haired cats, in particular, it’s something they need to get used to for the greater good. So, the easier you can make it on them the better.
Here are a few tips that can go a long way to help with cats that run away or fight you at the sight of the grooming brush:
Start Early and Keep a Routine
Starting a grooming routine with a cat while they are kittens is going to make all the difference. If it’s too late for this, start now.
Keep a routine too. Don’t start going weeks in between brushing just because their coat looks fine. The more regular they are brushed the most used to it they’ll become.
Use Quality Grooming Items
Your cat deserves nothing but the best I’m sure. That doesn’t mean you need to spend much though, even the best brushes aren’t expensive.
I reviewed some of the best brushes for long-haired cats in this post. This article highlights some of the best brushes of each type too.
Just be wary of some cheap products with poor ratings. A bad brush is going to make your cat hate being brushed if it’s painful.
Take Your Time
Grooming and brushing is something you signed up to when you adopted a long-haired cat. So embrace it, make the most of it, and use this as a way to spend quality time with your furry friend.
It’s a way to spend some quality bonding time with your cat. Once they are used to being brushed and they enjoy it, it’s a really satisfying experience seeing them enjoying themselves and walking away with a tidy, shiny coat.
