cat brush help?

5 Comments

1. kittyluv says:

   September 9, 2010 at 4:36 am

   I use a slicker brush. It holds all the loose fur and makes it easy for you to remove from the brush. Now I don’t know if you use a different brush for longhairs because mine is a shorthair.
2. Percy-and-Penny says:

   September 9, 2010 at 4:36 am

   You shouldn’t be using a brush at all on longhaired cats. Brushes break and pull out topcoat hairs and do little to remove the dead hairs of the undercoat – which are the hairs that shed most often.

   Get a good quality steel toothed comb. That will gently remove the dead hair of the undercoat and leave the top coat intact.

   Edit: do not use the Furminator or other "deshedding" tools. They’re too harsh for cat’s coats and can really destroy it and leave you with a very shabby looking cat!
3. mamatx says:

   September 9, 2010 at 4:36 am

   There are spesific brushes sold just for cats. If you are near a pet supply shop or groom shop go in and ask to see one. They are different then dog brush. Also cats shed more couple times a year. *mamatx
4. ragdollsnmaines says:

   September 9, 2010 at 4:36 am

   I bought a generic version of the Furminator from Walmart for $14.00, it’s made by a company called Bamboo. That’s the best $14.00 I’ve ever spent. The brush takes out all of the guard hairs and really desheds the cat. I have a huge and furry flame point Ragdoll. One combing and I have a mountain of hair in a pile. Hope this helps… Good luck!
5. RuneAmok cats.com says:

   September 9, 2010 at 4:36 am

   GROOMING DEVICES Apr 2, ’08 4:09 PM
   for everyone

   Note that these are not necessarily the exact items I own but they give an idea.

   For long-haired cats:

   I use a natural bristle brush just for Poppy’s enjoyment. It does nothing for removing hair. (http://www.terrificpets.com/pet_supplies/dog/grooming/100149.asp)

   I use a flea comb when I really want to get at that undercoat. (http://www.gripsoft.net/cart_product929-1-87.html?Title=GRIPSOFT%20FLEA%20COMB)

   I use an undercoat rake which doesn’t pull at all and works fairly well at removing that dead hair. It doesn’t catch the hair very well, though, so you’ll have to gather it off the cat and off the brushing surface when you’re done.
   (http://www.petco.com/product/10257/JW-Pet-Grip-Soft-Double-Row-Undercoat-Rake...)

   The Cat Comb works like the flea comb although it doesn’t pull as much and as a result isn’t as effective. But for cats who may not enjoy the flea comb this would be a good choice: http://www.gripsoft.net/cart_product930-1-87.html?Title=GRIPSOFT%20CAT%20COMB

   I also have a slicker brush: (http://www.morrco.com/slickerbrush.html)

   You might also want to consider adding some fish oil to her diet. It’s good for the skin and coat:

   Fish oil:
   Only Natural Pet Icelandic Salmon Oil (pump) (http://www.onlynaturalpet.com/products/Only-Natural-Pet-Pure-Icelandic-Salmon...)

   Good for hairballs, good for skin and coat.

   Selection: You typically won’t use human fish oils – at least not the ones in liquid form – because they have added citrus flavors to many of them. You don’t want to use cod liver oil – at least not on a very regular basis – because it has too much vitamin a. Plain old fish oil or salmon oil is best. I prefer it in liquid form as opposed to capsules for ease of dispensing. You want it to say that they’ve done everything possible to remove mercury. I prefer one with the fewest additives, especially not rosemary. Or propyllgallate.

   For ease of use, I prefer to buy it in liquid form in a squeeze bottle or pump.

   Dosage: I give a squirt every day. It’s not measured but probably comes to somewhere around 1/4 tsp.