The best cat brushes, according to groomers and vets

“These are some of my favorite grooming gloves for cats,” says Shannon Barrett, veterinarian and owner of Downward Paws, a blog about pet health. “They work well for long-haired cats that do not like traditional brushes” because the long rubber nodules massage your cat’s skin and remove fur at the same time, says Barrett. They’re also machine-washable. 

Type of brush: glove | Best for: skittish long-haired cats

Delomo Pet Grooming Gloves

NBC Select SEO editor Nikki Brown loves these grooming gloves because they’re affordable, easy to clean and have flexible bristles that her cat Solo can’t resist: “At the mere sight of this thing, he will run ahead of me and sprawl out on the floor with his belly up, ready to be brushed and groomed,” she says. The silicone bristles come in four colors and the gloves have an adjustable strap so you can fit them to your wrist. 

Type of brush: gloves | Best for: skittish short-haired cats

Kong Cat ZoomGroom Rubber Brush

 “Rubber brushes are perfect for sensitive kitties,” says Barrett. “This one by Kong fits comfortably in your palm, and its rubber bristles gently massage your cat’s skin while sweeping away loose fur.” Because it’s made out of rubber, it’s gentle, easy to clean and you can dampen the bristles to make the fur stick instead of flying away, according to Barrett. 

Type of brush: rubber | Best for: skittish or young cats

The best cat brush will largely depend on your cat’s fur length and specific grooming needs, according to our experts. For example, “a short-bristle, soft brush is ideal for an American shorthair, whereas long-bristled brushes can be used on Maine Coons,” says Barrett. First, narrow down the right type of brush for the job, and then consider bristle length, texture, ease of cleaning and safety. 

Cat brushes come in various designs, which are appropriate for different fur lengths, textures and grooming concerns, according to our experts. Here are the primary types of cat brushes and their uses:

• Slicker brushes: “A slicker brush has many rows of thin pins to brush the coat,” says Bissantz. They’re ideal for daily light brushing on cats with medium to long fur and they have curved, thin teeth that help quickly pick up dirt, dander and loose hair, says Barrett. 
• Pin brushes: Similar to a brush for human hair, a pin brush has fewer straight pins to brush the coat, says Bissantz. They are also generally not as effective as slicker brushes, though they’re adequate for cats with short or fine hair, according to our experts.  
• Combs: Grooming combs have a thin row of metal teeth and are ideal for removing fleas, dislodging crust around the eyes or tackling knots in hard-to-reach spots, according to our experts. 
• Rubber brushes: These handheld brushes are great for sensitive or young cats because they fit in the palm of your hand and have soft rubber bristles that gently massage the skin while collecting loose fur, says Barrett. 
• Gloves: While they’re not as effective as other brushes, gloves with built-in grooming nodes work well for cats who won’t tolerate other tools, according to our experts. 
• De-matting tools: These tools have blades that break apart mats and extreme tangles, but because they’re sharp and can cause damage to the skin and coat if you do not use them properly, you should only use them when needed and on a cat that will sit still, says Bissantz. 
• De-shedding tools: De-shedding tools are designed to remove excess fur from the coat and come in various sizes to suit different coat types and textures, according to our experts. While they aren’t as sharp or dangerous as de-matting tools, you should still exercise caution while using them — and de-shedding a cat with fur shorter than 1 inch may cause damage to the coat, says Bissantz.

In addition to the type of cat brush you choose, our experts also recommend keeping the following criteria in mind:

• Bristle length: As a general rule of thumb, the length of the bristles should match the length of your cat’s fur, according to our experts. “Too long and the bristles could scratch/damage the skin, [but] too short and it will take more effort to adequately groom the coat,” says Glass. 
• Bristle materials and texture: You should use tougher bristle materials for tougher jobs (like detangling knots and mats). Soft natural fibers are best for removing excess fur without causing irritation, while metal and rubber-tipped wire bristles are ideal for detangling knots and mats, says Barrett. You should avoid nylon bristles, which cause static electricity and increase tangles, says Osborne. 
• Ease of cleaning: “Choosing a cat brush that’s easy to clean makes the task less of a chore,” says Barrett. Wider bristles trap less dirt than finer bristles so they’re easier to clean, and some designs are dishwasher-safe or have self-cleaning buttons that make the process even easier, according to our experts. 
• Safety: “If the brush has the capability of harming you, it can also harm your cat,” says Glass. Start off gently by choosing soft-bristle brushes that fit comfortably in your hand. If you need to use potentially dangerous tools for de-shedding and de-matting, you should always follow the manufacturer’s instructions. 

At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and without undisclosed financial conflicts of interest. 

• Molly Bissantz is a professional groomer and owner of the Boise-based company Grooming by Molly. 
• Carol Osborne, DVM, is a holistic veterinarian and the founder and director of Chagrin Falls Veterinary Center & Pet Clinic. 
• Dr. Aziza Glass is a veterinarian and the owner of CAWLM Veterinary Hospital. 
• Dr. Shannon Barrett is a veterinarian with over a decade of experience and the author and owner of Downward Paws, a blog about pet health care. 

Maria Cassano is an e-commerce writer, editor and consultant who has written about and reviewed products for almost a decade. You can find her pet-related articles in publications such as Bustle, CNN, Elite Daily and Mic. For this article, she interviewed a professional groomer and three veterinarians. 

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