Furminator for cats: An indispensable gadget for home care

What is a furminator and where can you buy it?

The Furminator for cats is a comb with a special blade made of strong steel, thanks to the special design of which, during use, all dead, falling out undercoat is combed out, but the guard hairs are not damaged.

You can buy a furminator for cats both online and at your nearest pet store. There are no problems with the assortment and offers. But how to choose a device?

Numerous reviews from professional groomers and ordinary pet owners who use this gadget to care for both long-haired and short-haired cats will help you decide on the size and its model.

You can also consult a veterinarian or pet supply retailer.

Original device model

Advantages

Manufacturers of furminators advertise their products, listing the following advantages when used for combing cats:

there is no injury to the animal’s skin;
do not cause pain to the cat;
healthy guard hairs are not damaged during the combing process;
removal occurs in the right places and only dead parts of the undercoat;
using the device helps prevent the occurrence of tangles;
the animal gets used to combing painlessly and quickly;
the pet enjoys the procedure;
due to the effective removal of loose hair, the cat swallows less hair when licking;
the molting period is effectively reduced;
at the same time the skin is massaged;
The source of pollution in human housing is promptly eliminated.

We also recommend reading the article on how to comb cats.

Advantages of the Furminator

The material from which the furminator blade is made does not become scratched over time. A one-time purchase of such a gadget replaces the use of 20 ordinary scratchers with the same result. Comparing the price of one furminator and 20 combs, it is easy to see a significant difference in favor of know-how.
A special mode for removing hair makes the combing process easier. After all, you don’t need to pick out wool from this device like you would from a brush with your hands, constantly being distracted.
Safety during use is a special plus in use. The Furminator for cats is able to gently pull out the dead layer of fur without damaging or cutting off the living guard hair.
The effectiveness during use is the same for both long-haired and short-haired cats.
Professional care. The use of this type of brush for cats helps to distribute the grease evenly, which allows the cat's coat to remain shiny and smooth.
This type of brush helps speed up the shedding process in cats.

If your cat is losing hair and developing bald spots, we recommend that you read the article

Furminators for cats are popular among cat lovers all over the world. The furminator came to the CIS countries relatively recently.

Important! Veterinarians all over the world strongly recommend using this type of comb and its analogues for cleaning animal hair. Since the use of this device helps to monitor the health of cats and dogs, and also provides professional care for the animal right at home.

This fluffy can't do without brushing

Popular brands and prices for their models

Models from the brands TRIXIE and FURminator received good recommendations from cat owners.

Trixie

The Furminator from this company has good technical characteristics. The overall dimensions of the product are 7 x 15 cm. The handle is made of rubberized material and does not slip in the palm of your hand during operation. The price is in the average range of 1200 - 1500 rubles.

The device is suitable for cats of all breeds. It gently removes dead undercoat hairs without damaging the skin. During the procedure, the pet does not experience any discomfort.

But it is precisely the versatility of the furminator that is also its disadvantage. This brand does not have a line of models designed for cats of different breeds. Therefore, it is recommended to use it for combing cats with medium thick fur.

How to use a furminator correctly

FURminator

This is the most popular and high-quality professional tool with the highest price. The cost of furminators from this manufacturer starts from 3,000 rubles.

Only high-quality steel is used to make teeth. Eco-rubber with anti-slip properties is used to produce the handle. Professional groomers tend to prefer this brand.

Advantages of the device:

Versatility. FURminator offers models for grooming cats with both long hair and thick undercoat, as well as short-haired cats.
Reducing the molting period. The result is the prevention of the formation of tangles and the ingestion of large amounts of hair by pets.
The cat does not feel any discomfort. The average duration of the procedure is no more than 10 minutes.
To maintain the coat in proper condition, it is enough to use the tool once or twice a week.

Types of furminators

Like all interesting, new and popular ideas, the Furminator, or rather its original model, was subject to plagiarism. Accordingly, the prices of the products are different.

Anyone who wants to have a much-needed gadget at home should consider their capabilities when purchasing. And it’s worth remembering that cheap doesn’t always mean bad.

Furminators for cats come in two models:

Classic;
Deluxe.

Both models, classic and deluxe, are of high quality. The only difference is in the materials used for manufacturing and the ergonomics of the handle.

The classic model is much older; six of it have to be removed by hand.

The deluxe model has an injector button, with the help of which the six itself flies off the ridge.

The models also differ in the width of their ridge.

Since the furminator was originally the brainchild of a brand that produces animal care products, sometimes manufacturers of other brands use the word trimmer to name a similar gadget.

There are such device models:

For small kittens, with a comb width of 3.2 cm.
For animals weighing from three to five kilograms, with a comb width of 4.5 cm.
For breeds weighing more than five kilograms, with a comb width of 6.8 cm. This model is perfect for the largest breeds of pets.

If you are interested in checking out the list of the smallest cat breeds, we recommend reading the following article:

Furminators come in different blade widths (for big cats, for smaller breeds, for kittens)

Each type of device is designed in two forms. The first is for long-haired breeds, in which the teeth are longer than in the second model, intended for short-haired breeds.

Important! Before use, be sure to read the instructions for use on the package and carefully examine the animal.

Technique for using the furminator

The basic rules, the observance of which when using this gadget will protect the animal and the owner from unpleasant consequences, are as follows:

You need to carefully check your cat's body for wounds or various rashes. They shouldn't exist.
Feel and remove all tangles on your pet's fur. This can be done with a special webbing cutter.
Wash and dry the animal's fur. The use of such a comb on wet wool is strictly prohibited.
Comb the fur only according to its growth. Do not rush or put pressure on the instrument.
Carefully remove hair from the animal's belly, paws and near the genitals. Haste and inattention can cause harm.

You need to use the furminator carefully, moving it along the growth, and not against the grain.

Instrument care

The Furminator needs to be looked after, otherwise the pet’s fur will smell unpleasant after combing. The fact is that dirt accumulates between the teeth of the comb over time. These are compressed particles of fat, lard, dead skin, etc.

If these deposits are not removed, then over time the combing process becomes ineffective. When in contact with dirt, the hairs will begin to emit an unpleasant odor, lose their shine and become greasy.

The spaces between the teeth of the furminator comb are small. They are easy to clean by hand with a regular sewing needle. Use a sharp tip to carefully remove any accumulated dirt. After the comb is cleaned, it can be additionally wiped with alcohol or vodka for better disinfection.

How often should you use the Furminator?

Veterinarians and groomers recommend using cutting and combing tools two to three times a month, in autumn and spring. This is explained by the fact that at these times of the year shedding intensifies and it is necessary to remove fur as much as possible.

In summer, it is recommended to use scratchers no more than once every month and a half. The aggravated period of molting subsides, but the pet still needs prevention and removal of remaining fur - this will make the hottest summer days easier.

In winter, this can be a one-time preventive action at the beginning of winter. If you have a short-haired pet without obvious signs of shedding, then veterinarians do not recommend using the Furminator more than 8 times a year.

Kinds

Furminators differ from each other only in the size and length of the teeth. The choice depends on how big the cat is and how fluffy it is. The optimal device for cats is a mini tool, the width of the working surface of which does not exceed 6 cm. The medium and maximum sizes are suitable for especially large breed cats and dogs.

The length of the furminator teeth is determined by the type of cat - long-haired, medium-haired or short-haired. The shorter the pet's coat, the shorter the teeth are required.

What is the importance of using a furminator: Reviews and statistics

Cats' lives and your home comfort will improve with the addition of a brushing tool. Studies have shown that it helps:

Reduce pet hair loss by up to 94%
Improve the appearance of the coat
Do not injure living hairs in the animal’s fur, gently removing dead ones
Provide salon care for your cat at home.

Now let's talk about examples of using the device on specific breeds.

The Furminator for British cats is as necessary to maintain a beautiful appearance as the tea ceremony for the residents of the country of the same name.

The British are considered the cleanest breed of cats. They spend much more time cleaning their fur than other domestic felines. But all the same, these “plush cats” cannot do without the help of their owner.

Using a Furminator will make their life much easier and will bring a lot of pleasure, as the British simply adore these procedures.

Representative of the British Shorthair breed

Another fan of “scratching your back” are the Scots . Varieties of such combs for Scottish cats will become an indispensable assistant in combing and playing, and spending time with them will no longer burden the owners with the presence of their hair on their clothes.

Scottish Fold kitten

Device selection

Many manufacturers produce various models of furminators, differing in the set of devices and functions they perform. But their main difference is what animal they are designed for.

For long-haired cats

The peculiarity of such wool and the difficulty of caring for it is that the undercoat is usually thin and soft and the hairs that come out form clumps. During the molting period, they fly around the rooms, get into the eyes and respiratory tract of household members, irritate, often cause allergies, and settle on furniture and clothing.

In this case, the guard hair gets tangled with the remaining undercoat and falls off, forming unsightly tangles. They are always difficult to remove; you often have to cut them, which affects the appearance of the cat.

Furminators for long hair easily cope with both of these problems, because:

The teeth of the trimmer comb are long enough, they easily reach problem areas, allowing you to avoid damaging the skin and healthy hair.
The teeth are located at a greater distance from each other, which also allows you to comb the animal without damaging the fur.
There are special models that take into account the age and size of the cat. So, there is a special device for an adult cat and a small kitten of the Persian breed, which has the longest and thickest hair.
All this data is indicated in the technical specifications for the device.

What cat breeds are not suitable for the Furminator?

This comb cannot be used for some cat breeds, as they do not have undercoat. These include:

La Permian rocks;
Devon rex;
Turkish Angoras;
Peterbald and the Don Sphynx ;
Singapore cats;
Oriental;
Burmese cats;
Cornish Rex and Tiffany.

Cornish Rex, the use of a furminator is prohibited for this breed