Brushes for Long-Haired Cats

Cat skin is noticeably thinner than dog skin, and cats remember a bad grooming session for a long time. That is the whole problem with most cat brushes on the market: the pins are too short and too stiff, the cat objects once, and the coat never gets brushed again.

Where cat mats actually form

Not on the back, where owners brush. Mats form in the armpits, on the belly, in the britches behind the hind legs, and around the base of the tail. These are the spots a cat cannot easily groom itself, and they are also the spots a cat least wants you touching. Start elsewhere, get the cat settled, and work toward them.

Softer pins change the answer

Longer, softer pins flex against the skin instead of digging into it. Most cats tolerate them far better, and a good number will lean into the stroke the way they do a scratch. That single difference is usually what turns brushing from a monthly wrestling match into something the cat comes to you for.

Size and session length

Use a small head for the face, ears and legs, and a medium for the body. A large is more brush than most cats need. Keep sessions to three or four minutes and stop while the cat is still relaxed, even if you are not finished. Two short sessions a week will prevent more matting than one long fight a month, and a cat who is regularly brushed swallows less hair and brings up fewer hairballs.