Cat combs for grooming

Good day to all!

Let's talk about scallops? But not about these “tools” for caring for one’s appearance, which Nature has already endowed all the little ones with:

the main one is the grater tongue;
sometimes claws help out;
those walking in the yard “by themselves” have kisul - “improvised means” in the form of tree trunks - to rub sideways and even grass - to lie on the back, i.e. easily throwing off the shedding tufts.

But domestic cats are “on their own” only during walks! And, since they live with us under the same roof, the point of hygiene in the “rules of life” for them is much more strict than for their yard, unfortunately homeless, brothers. In this matter, the owner comes to the aid of his furry cleanie.

Why are they?

Cat combs for combing fur were invented by man to keep a pet’s coat impeccably clean, beautiful and in order. And if a cat is taught from childhood to the procedure of combing (and also washing his eyes and cleaning his ears) with affection and play, then he will really love this care. And it will even ask itself!

But if you don’t teach it, then don’t be surprised... by such a reaction:

This “brush” will “comb” anyone’s hair

Is it necessary to brush cats?

Hairless breeds aside, using a cat comb is an absolute must. Last but not least, this concerns cleanliness in the house. An unkempt cat will definitely mark all pieces of furniture with a fluffy blanket, and will completely change its favorite place to match the color of its fur.

However, first and foremost, the need to brush your cat lies in the area of responsibility for its health. The cleanliness of furry beauties is a long-known fact. Cats clean things up all the time. By carefully licking their fur, they remove dead hair, which goes straight into the stomach and clumps there. Their formation threatens intestinal obstruction and digestive problems. But this is the general picture for all cats, and there are also long-haired breeds.

If you do not comb out the luxurious Persian in a timely manner, not a trace of beauty will remain, because in the end you will have to cut off tangles of stray hair and undercoat.

The cat brush also has other functions. For example, massage. The health and beauty of the coat depends on the blood supply to the skin and hair follicles. Careful brushing ensures the growth of new, healthy fur and a lot of pleasure for the cat. Will she once again refuse to communicate with her owner?

In some cases, when other hygiene procedures are not available, a special comb is useful for combing out fleas and dried dirt.

For show pets, having a variety of combs is not discussed at all. Without them, the cat's exterior will not be in the best shape.

How to train?

Very simple! For this:

pre-bathe the kitten with shampoo (without conditioner), once it’s dry, sit it side by side - preferably on a litter, and while combing, communicate in a quiet and gentle voice - let it be pleasant;
increase the time of toileting behind a fur coat gradually, avoiding the moment when the procedure ceases to be “a thrill”, so that he does not want to subsequently “beautify” with the help of the owner;
choose the same time for care, forming an addiction to the daily routine; For those with a short coat, once a day is enough, and for those with a long coat, twice.

Any damage or inflammation of the skin is a contraindication for the procedure!

Rules of application

Before using a cat brush, you must first calm the animal. The ideal option is to teach combing from an early age, then the adult pet will be completely calm about the procedure. In order for the process not to cause negativity, you need to stroke and caress the animal, and after completion you can treat it with a treat.

When combing, you need to move the brush slowly to collect the maximum amount of dead hair without damaging healthy ones. If the teeth get tangled in the fur, you need to immediately carefully remove the comb, preventing the cat from twitching. If this happens, she is able to remember her unpleasant sensations for a long time and in the future it will become difficult to comb her.

The pressure on the powder brush should be minimal to avoid damage to the skin. It’s better to start from the neck and back, gradually moving to the sides. Almost any animal will allow the procedure to be carried out at this stage without any problems. To comb out the undercoat on the chest, belly and hind legs, you will have to resort to tricks and persuasion. The tail is the most difficult area; cats often do not allow you to touch this area. In this situation, you will have to call upon all your dexterity and skill to help, making efforts not to spoil your relationship with the animal.

If your cat has many areas of matted hair, a mat trimmer may be needed. This will avoid pain for the animal and speed up the combing process. Those with fine hair should not be scratched without using special products to make it easier to care for.

Types of scratchers and how to choose

We choose depending on:

intended for: combing wool, undercoat, tangles or fleas; trimmer; grooming; massage; for thinning and shortening;
fur lengths for: fluffy long-haired, smooth-haired, wire-haired or short-haired species;
breeds for: British, Scottish and medium breeds;
devices: with rotating or sharpened or very frequent teeth; glove; mitten; comb-rake; metal;
from the manufacturer: for example, Keller, Artero.

Prices

Caring for an animal is not the cheapest thing. In addition, it is worth considering the quality of the tool - the lower the cost, the worse the quality. Therefore, you should not choose the cheapest product. The cost of an average powder coat varies between 300-600 rubles. The Furminator, the price of which is noticeably higher, can be purchased for 1000 rubles.

However, you only have to pay for the tools once, but a satisfied, healthy, well-groomed and beautiful animal will please you for a long time without any special expenses.

Briefly about the main types

COMB - with teeth of different heights and frequencies (must have blunt tips!) - available for any length; needed for untangling matted wool and tangles; and the flea comb has very frequent teeth.

A comb with rotating teeth is more effective than a simple one. But don't use it for

very long fur, because hairs can get wrapped up and be pulled out by the roots!

Slicker (slicker) is a “cruel” tool that tears out the undercoat! It is only used to raise the pile on the “pants”, “collar” and tail. Not for tangles and not for combing! But only for healthy and first combed wool with a sparse comb, and no more than twice a week during molting and once after it ends, and daily - it’s impossible!

The length of the teeth is more frequent and longer, the thicker the undercoat and the longer the guard hair. Not for short-haired people!

FURMINATOR is a favorite of cats and... a “jack of all trades”, because it combines: a simple comb, a comb for trimming (for manually removing undercoat), and a slicker brush; Available for different lengths of pile.

Operating principle: the fluff clings to the notches on the comb teeth and is brought out, while the guard hair does not cling and remains in place.

The undercoat is formed from 2-3 additional downy hairs growing from the same follicle as the guard hair. During molting, they die and fall out, and new ones grow in their place. The Furminator extracts dead and no longer needed fur “perfectly”!

MASSAGE - for smooth-haired species; combing out “pants” and “collar”, carefully unraveling tangles, helping with styling “hair” (Cornish Rex curls) and light massage (beneficial for skin health). The bristles can be: natural, plastic, metal (tips - only with protective droplets!). It’s more convenient not with a handle, but one that fits on your hand.

MITTEN or GLOVE - made of soft rubber or silicone; excellent removal of excess fluff; A massage session is similar to... caressing and stroking the owner

COLLUN CUTTER - only for combing (from top to bottom) in the area of the mat.

Carrying

1st place: Teremok SSP-3 41x21.5x25 cm

Folding cat carrier Teremok SSP-3 41x21.5x25 cm

A convenient and practical carrying bag is designed for dogs and cats. The solid base of the bag with a reinforced bottom prevents the animal from sagging, ensuring comfortable transportation. Thanks to the moderately long handles, the carrier is comfortable to carry on the shoulder, and a small open pocket for small items will fit the necessary items. For easy storage, the bag unfolds to become flat. The carrier is easy to care for: the lining on the bottom is removable, and the thick fabric washes well.

The carrier is triangular in shape and is suitable for transporting medium and small sized animals. Its parameters: 21.50 x 25 x 41 cm. Main materials used in production: plastic, nylon, textiles. Design features: removable bottom, foldable, with pocket, with shoulder strap, with head hole.

Price – 949 rubles

User rating: 4.6

Maximum load – 7 kg

Material – plastic, nylon, textile

For short-haired representatives

Plush and thick wool, for example, the British shed heavily, for care you need:

metal comb with frequent thick teeth;
at the end of the procedure, use a natural brush (or rubber mitten).

For Scots:

comb-comb;
a brush with sparsely spaced bristles.

Bengal, toyger, ocicat should be combed 2-3 times a week, in the “arsenal”:

metal comb with densely spaced thick teeth;
then the mitten;
At the end, wipe with a piece of suede for shine.

And here the powder is harmful!

Toy rating

To entertain their furry pets, owners buy various cat toys.

The most popular models are:

mice and other rodents;
fish;
insects

Glowing toys are slightly less popular:

laser pointers;
rods.

And further…

But what should your animal do if he can never, ever go for a walk?..

And you... replace his tree trunks and grass - natural “self-groomers” - with homemade or purchased models:

Read about them in our article “There are different types of scratchers for cats.” Good luck to everyone!

Accessories

Necessary accessories for the daily life of the animal.

GPS collar for cats

If your pet loves to go for walks, then a GPS tracker in the form of a collar will be simply irreplaceable for you. This collar makes it easy to track an animal, including in densely populated areas. The device is a locator that attaches to a collar and gives you full control over your cat's location in real time.

The dimensions of this device are: 70 mm x 37 mm x 20 mm. The tracker is very easy to use: to find out where the cat is, just call the number of the SIM card inserted into the device. After some time, the device will notify you in a response SMS message about the location of the animal with an accuracy of 5 meters, and will also attach a link to Google Maps. The device will not work without a SIM card. Charging is carried out via a USB cable.

GPS collar for cats

pros

ease of use;
effective monitoring of the animal's location;
waterproof.

Minuses

not detected.

Flea and tick collar for cats

The purpose of this special collar is to protect the animal from parasites - fleas and ticks. It measures 35 centimeters, but has a clasp that allows you to adjust its length. The polymer product is impregnated with two active substances: imidacloprid at a dose of 1.25 g and flumethrin at a dose of 0.56 g.

The Doctor Zoo collar works for 7 to 8 months and protects the animal from the development of flea larvae for another 10 weeks. Before applying the product, it is recommended to remove all parasites that were already present on the animal.

The collar can be used on kittens over 10 weeks of age, provided, however, that the animal is not hypersensitive to the active ingredients or any of the excipients.

Flea and tick collar for cats

pros

long-term protective and preventive effect;
quality of materials and good workmanship;
waterproof;
no strong odors of insecticides.

Minuses

not detected.

Protective pad for furniture and cats

Do your cats like to tear up furniture? No problem, this problem is solved by a convenient PVC cover. This self-adhesive pad can be easily attached to any surface using a special pin. The size of each pad is about 30x40 centimeters.

Protective pad for furniture and cats

pros

effective protection against scratches;
8 pads included.

Minuses

not detected.

Furminators

One of the most popular tools for combing cat hair is the furminator.

We invite you to familiarize yourself with Mini pigs: keeping them at home

Small rake with frequently set teeth - this is what this miracle tool looks like.

Furminators for cats are divided into two types: classic and deluxe. They differ in design and width of the ridges.

For small kittens, a 3.2 cm wide comb is suitable.

For small cats whose weight does not exceed 5 kg, a comb width of 4 and a half cm is sufficient.

The most popular width of the comb, which can be used not only in caring for a cat, but also for a small dog, is 6.8 cm.

Regardless of the width of the comb, furminators come with short and long teeth, which allows you to use them when caring for a cat of almost any breed. The only exceptions are those breeds whose coat is devoid of undercoat or has a specific shape: Devon Rex and Cornish Rex, Burmans, Singaporeans, Orientals, Turkish Angoras and some others.

If there are scratches or wounds on the animal’s body, as well as in the case of any skin disease, the furminator should not be used!

Anyone who has ever used a furminator notes that the cat’s hair loss has been significantly reduced, and its appearance becomes much better due to the fact that the fatty lubricant is distributed more evenly. Furminators are used by professional groomers, but nothing prevents you from mastering this tool yourself and providing your striped “Murka in a jacket” with the same care as an overseas beauty worth more than one thousand dollars.