Best Cat Brushes for Shedding and How to Use Them

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Cat hair on the sofa, on your clothes and in the occasional hairball is a fact of life with a cat. Regular brushing will not stop a healthy cat from shedding, but it catches loose hair before it ends up on the floor or in your cat’s stomach. This page covers why brushing helps, how often to brush, which kind of brush suits which coat, how to brush without upsetting your cat, and our picks for the best cat brushes for shedding.

The short answer: for most cats, a gentle slicker brush is the everyday tool. A soft rubber brush suits cats that dislike metal pins. Long-haired cats also need a metal comb, and a deshedding tool helps in heavy shedding seasons if you use it briefly. Brush long-haired cats daily and short-haired cats less often, gently, and never pull at tangles.

How we wrote this: the grooming advice comes from VCA Animal Hospitals’ guide written by veterinarians and from Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, and the brush notes come from hands-on tests by Cats.com and PetsRadar and from the makers’ own product pages, all linked where they are used. We did not test these brushes ourselves, and we do not show prices or ratings. It is general care information, not veterinary advice: if your cat sheds far more than usual, has bald patches, or sore, flaky or red skin, see a vet.

Why brushing a shedding cat helps

The vets who wrote the VCA grooming guide say all cats benefit from regular brushing: it removes loose hair and dead skin cells, keeps the coat free of dirt and parasites, and spreads natural skin oils along the hair. They add that daily brushing reduces the amount of hair a cat swallows while grooming, which can mean fewer hairballs, and that it dramatically reduces the loose hair and dander floating around the home.

Hairballs come from that self-grooming habit. An article from Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine explains that the tiny backward-facing projections on a cat’s tongue send loose hair down into the stomach, that long-haired breeds such as Persians and Maine Coons are at greater risk than short-haired breeds, and that hairballs are more frequent in shedding seasons. The veterinarian quoted there recommends getting a cat used to daily brushing and combing.

How often to brush a cat that sheds

• Long, silky or curly coats: daily. VCA says these coats need daily brushing to stop tangles and mats, especially around the ears, in the armpits and along the back of the legs.
• Short coats: less often. VCA says short-haired cats may need less frequent brushing. Cats.com suggests brushing all cats around once a week, and long-haired cats more often.
• In shedding season: more often. VCA notes that cats in cooler climates, particularly those that go outdoors, may have two heavy shedding cycles a year, in late spring and late fall, when much of the undercoat comes out in clumps. Indoor cats often shed at a low level all year round.

VCA also suggests checking your cat’s coat every day for tangles under the armpits, in the groin and behind the ears. A daily look at the coat and skin also helps you spot lumps, fleas or ticks, or sore areas early.

Which brush for which coat

VCA’s guide matches the tool to the coat: stiff bristle brushes for short coats or sparse undercoats; long-toothed metal combs or brushes, especially with offset rows of teeth, for medium and long-haired cats; and special combs that pull out clumps of loose undercoat during heavy shedding. Whatever you use, VCA says to be gentle and avoid pulling on tangles, and that your veterinary team can recommend tools for your cat.

• Slicker brush. Fine wire pins that catch loose hair and light tangles. In the Cats.com FAQ, the tester calls a slicker the best brush for short-haired cats, and lists slickers, pin brushes and metal combs for long-haired cats. Self-cleaning slickers have a button that clears the hair off the pins.
• Rubber brush. Soft rubber nubs that lift hair while you stroke. Cats.com found rubber brushes and grooming gloves work well for cats that hate being brushed, because they are soft on the skin.
• Deshedding tool. A fine steel edge that pulls loose undercoat from under the topcoat. Useful in shedding season, but Cats.com warns that it can remove too much undercoat and damage the coat if overused.
• Metal comb. The tool for finding and gently working out small tangles close to the skin in long and medium coats.

Our dog and cat grooming buying guide explains each type of tool in more detail.

How to brush a cat that sheds

Our view, not a quote from the sources:

1. Start short and calm. A few strokes when your cat is relaxed, ideally where they already like being petted, such as the cheeks and back. Stop before your cat gets fed up.
2. Brush in the direction the hair grows, with light pressure. The pins should glide through the coat, not scrape the skin.
3. Go over each area only a few times. This one is from Cats.com: slickers with sharp pins can irritate the skin with heavy use, and deshedding blades can take too much undercoat.
4. Finish long coats with a comb through the armpits, belly, behind the ears and the back of the legs, the spots VCA says tangle most.
5. Reward your cat with a treat or play when you finish, so brushing becomes something good.

If you plan to bathe your cat, VCA says to brush out burrs and tangles first, because tangles can become impossible to remove after a bath. See how to bathe a cat.

Mats and when to get help

A small tangle can often be brushed or combed out gently, says VCA. For extensive tangles or mats, VCA strongly recommends professional care from a groomer or your veterinarian, and says to use clippers to remove mats, never scissors, because it is easy to cut the skin. If a mat has caused skin irritation, take your cat to your vet. Cats.com adds that matted fur is painful, especially close to the skin.

When shedding or hairballs mean a vet visit

VCA says a healthy cat does not shed excessively and has a shiny coat without dandruff or greasiness, and that a dull coat can be a sign of a health problem. An older cat with arthritis or an overweight cat may not be able to groom properly. Talk to your vet if your cat’s coat or shedding changes, or if you see bald patches or sore skin.

The vet quoted by Cornell says bringing up a hairball every week or two is not uncommon. But if your cat is lethargic and refuses to eat for more than a day or so, or keeps retching without bringing anything up, contact your veterinarian without delay: a hairball can block the intestine, and frequent hacking may instead be a sign of a breathing problem such as asthma. A brush is not a treatment for any of these.

Our picks

Safari Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush for Cats

Best everyday cat brush. A cat slicker with coated stainless steel pins and a push button that clears the hair off them, about 7 by 3.25 inches, listed for short and long hair (Coastal Pet). Cats.com named it the best overall cat brush after using it on short and long haired cats: it worked very well, the button took little effort and the pins felt softer than most slickers. The tester found the pins bend out of shape easily, once caught a finger while emptying it, and would not use it as the only brush for thick, long fur.

Best for: most cats, short or long coats, regular brushing. Skip if: your cat dislikes metal pins.

KONG Cat ZoomGroom

Best for cats that dislike brushing. A small rubber brush with soft nubs, which KONG says suits all cats and coat types and can be used dry or with shampoo in the bath (KONG). Cats.com named it the best rubber brush: gentle on sensitive skin and liked by the tester’s cats, but it does not hold the fur well and is unlikely to keep a very thick coat free of mats.

Best for: short-haired or thin-coated cats and nervous cats. Skip if: you need to keep a thick long coat tangle-free.

Hertzko Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush

Best larger slicker. A self-cleaning slicker with retractable fine wire bristles and a head about 5.8 by 3 inches (PetsRadar), made for dogs and cats. Cats.com tested it on several short and long haired cats and found it gathered hair quickly, held up after weeks of use, and even reluctant cats accepted brushing for longer. The tester noted it is large and fairly heavy, and the pins may bother cats with sensitive skin.

Best for: bigger cats, homes with a dog and a cat, owners who want a big handle. Skip if: your cat is small or has sensitive skin.

FURminator Undercoat deShedding Tool for Long Hair Cats

Best for shedding season. A curved stainless steel edge that reaches through the topcoat to remove loose undercoat, with a FURejector button, in a small size for cats under 10 lbs and a large size for cats over 10 lbs (PetSmart listing). Cats.com named it the best deshedding tool: it removes hair well and the tester’s cats liked it, but she advises using it seasonally and not for long on each area, because overuse can damage the undercoat. She also found the release button did not work well, and it costs more than most brushes.

Best for: long-haired cats in spring and fall shedding. Skip if: your cat has short hair (there is a separate short hair version) or mats.

Brushing a dog too? See our best deshedding tools for dogs.

FAQ

What is the best brush for a cat that sheds a lot?

For everyday brushing, a gentle slicker brush suits most cats. Add a metal comb for long hair, and use a deshedding tool briefly during heavy shedding seasons. VCA says your vet team can recommend a tool for your cat’s coat.

How often should I brush my cat?

VCA says cats with long, silky or curly coats need daily brushing, while short-haired cats may need it less often. Brush more often in shedding season.

Does brushing reduce hairballs?

It can help. VCA says daily brushing reduces the amount of hair a cat swallows while grooming, which can mean fewer hairballs. If your cat retches often without bringing anything up, or stops eating, see your vet.

Can you brush a cat too much?

Yes, with some tools. Cats.com says slickers with sharp pins can irritate the skin with excessive use and deshedding blades can remove too much undercoat. Go over each area only a few times.

My cat hates being brushed. What can I try?

Cats.com found grooming gloves and rubber brushes worked best for cats that are hard to groom, because they are soft on the skin. Keep sessions short and end with a treat. If your cat still will not allow it, Cornell’s article suggests a groomer or vet visit for a haircut once or twice a year, especially for long-haired cats.

Should I cut out mats with scissors?

No. VCA says to use clippers, never scissors, because it is easy to cut the skin, and to see a groomer or your vet for extensive mats.