Furminator cat comb is a popular grooming tool.

Owners of almost all cat breeds are familiar with the problem of hair loss in their pets, when carpets, upholstered furniture, and even the floor are dusted with hairs. The problem is especially acute during the molting period, although owners of long-haired cats are forced to resort to frequent brushing all year round, otherwise both the animal and the apartment will look untidy.

The procedure for removing undercoat and hair is not pleasant for humans, since it is rare that a cat will sit quietly in place for a long time. Brushing also causes a lot of inconvenience for your tailed friend: accidental damage to the skin, pulling out tangled hairs, and a nervous environment.

Sometimes cats are taken to salons (or a groomer is called to your home), but there are many pitfalls here: it’s expensive (at least 500 rubles), the animal may be scared of a specialist, and for wayward purrs, the procedure is often done after anesthesia has been administered. In order not to torment themselves and their pet, many owners purchase a furminator

– a kind of comb-trimmer with a comb-shaped blade and an ergonomic rubberized handle. How to choose a furminator for a cat will be discussed further.

How does a furminator work?

Combing cats using a furminator is carried out due to the adjusted distance between the teeth of a comb sharpened in a special way. The operating principle of the furminator is to gently lift and remove unwanted hair without cutting or pulling out.

The tool does not damage the cat's outer coat (the outer coat slips through the teeth of the device, remaining intact), but it removes dead, lifeless hairs and undercoat.

It is believed that the miracle comb removes about 90% of a cat’s unwanted hair, and also reduces the duration of seasonal shedding by half (by the way, in some individuals, without careful combing, the hair can shed not even for weeks, but for months).

In addition, the use of a cat accessory promotes the uniform distribution of fatty lubricant, which protects the pet from cold and overheating, dust and parasites.

What is a furminator and why is it needed?

The Furminator was invented in 1997. It was invented by American groomers. Externally, the tool looks like a comb with a plastic handle. Its special feature is its unique blade. The teeth are located very close to each other. They have tiny serrations that catch even the finest hairs.

The operating feature of the furminator is as follows. When working, it does not tear out the guard hair, but it does an excellent job of combing out the undercoat, even if it is very short. That is why, in half an hour of work, such a tool will remove several times more undercoat compared to conventional combs or slicker brushes.

INTERESTING! You can completely rid your cat of fluff in just a few days. To do this, it is enough to comb your pet daily for 30-60 minutes.

Advantages of the Furminator

Home treatment with a furminator has a number of advantages over combing with a regular comb and even over salon procedures:

1. Animals do not swallow large amounts of fur when licking;
2. Brushing with a furminator does not cause pain to the cat;
3. The device allows you to remove hair from sensitive areas of the cat’s body (in the genital area, on the stomach, etc.);
4. The tool not only combs the pet, but also massages its body, improving blood circulation;
5. Most cats love the procedure of combing with a furminator (which cannot be said about ordinary slickers and combs);
6. A good furminator pays for itself very quickly and lasts a long time;
7. The cat device removes fur from clothes and furniture.

Contraindications

Even such an important and necessary procedure for a cat’s health may have contraindications.

You cannot use a furminator to comb animals if their fur does not have undercoat or has a special appearance, these include:

• Cornish Rex;
• Devon Rex;
• Turkish Angora;
• Burmese and Singapore cats;
• orientals.

In addition, it is prohibited to use combs and brushes with metal teeth, which can further damage the animal’s skin, which has scratches, scratches and abrasions, irritations and ulcers.

If there are tangles, they should be disassembled carefully. In particularly advanced cases, it is better to contact a groomer who will do it professionally.
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How to choose a furminator for a cat

Firstly, before purchasing a device for removing undercoat from cats, you need to weigh your pet and evaluate its dimensions. When purchasing a grooming tool, you should pay attention to the width of its blade and the size of the cat:

• Small
  – a furminator with a blade width of 4.5 cm for cats weighing less than 5 kg, as well as small dogs;
• Medium
  – a device with a blade width of 6.7 cm. It can be used to comb animals with a body weight of no more than 8-10 kg;
• Large
  – a brush for removing undercoat and dead hair with a wide blade 10 cm long. Suitable for large, heavy cats (for example, Maine Coons).

There are other sizes of furminators: X-small (3.3 cm) - for a very young cat no older than 4-6 months; X-large (12.5 cm) – for dogs weighing over 40 kg and horses.

Secondly, you should consider the length of the cat's fur. For long-haired friends, they produce tools with long teeth, denoting o (long hair) on the packaging. Owners of short-haired cats should look for furminators with short comb teeth with the inscription “Short hair” on the package.

Thirdly, you need to decide on a convenient way to remove combed wool. Furminators with an ejector (FURejector button) allow you to remove cat hairs with one click. Classic-type tools do not have such a button, so the wool will have to be removed manually.

Fourthly, it is important to pay attention to the convenience of the furminator handle. It would seem that this element is not so important, but if the handle is too short (thin, wide, etc.), the process of removing hair and undercoat will turn into an unattractive task for the cat owner.

Fifthly, those owners who simultaneously keep individuals of different breeds (for example, short-haired British cats and long-haired Persian cats) can purchase a tool with removable blades. By the way, such a furminator can also be useful for those who plan to remove hair not only from cats, but also from other pets (dogs, guinea pigs, ferrets).

How it works: how the FURminator combs out fur

The FURminator is as simple as it is effective. A specially designed metal comb gently combs the guard hairs (without damaging them), captures the dead undercoat of the animal, effectively removing them. The dog does not experience discomfort, since the FURminator does not touch the animal’s skin.

On sale you can find many “Furminators” for long-haired and short-haired dog breeds; varying degrees of quality and originality. We recommend using original FURminator brand products, which since 2021 are available in a single modification, broken down by size and length of wool.

FURminator Undercoat is a bit like a razor - the same ergonomic rubberized handle, rounded head and a specially shaped “toothed” blade made of high-quality stainless steel.

The teeth of the FURminator do not require sharpening during the entire warranty period (10 years) and are designed to comb out the undercoat without damaging the animal's guard hairs. This is achieved by different lengths of teeth on the front and back of the blade, which allows you not to tear out the hair and carefully comb out the undercoat. Also, all models of FURminators are equipped with a plastic button for instantly cleaning the tool from hair. This is especially convenient if your pet does not sit still and every second of his attention is valuable.

How to use a furminator comb

So, we found out that the furminator for cats works as a kind of trimmer, removing excess undercoat and dead fur. Now let's look at how to use this tool correctly:

1. According to the rules, before using the furminator, you should wash your pet with a special shampoo and then dry it thoroughly;
2. If the cat's coat is relatively clean, you can do without washing. Then you will need to remove all accidentally attached twigs or other objects that may get tangled in the long hair;
3. If you are going to treat a long-haired cat, you should carefully examine its coat for tangles. If there are any, they will be removed using a hair cutter (otherwise the furminator will capture hairballs, causing discomfort to the animal);
4. If there is damage to the cat’s skin (abrasions, unhealed stitches, etc.), combing will have to be postponed;
5. The owner must be calm during treatment: screams and chaotic movements can cause anxiety in the cat;
6. Before using a furminator for cats, you should think about the animal’s posture during the procedure. The best option is to lay your pet on its side. Although you can comb it while standing or sitting. The main thing is not to irritate your mustachioed comrade;
7. The process is always carried out in the direction of cat hair growth. If you act differently, you could hurt your pet. The muzzle, belly and tail are areas of special attention where you should not be too zealous.

There is no single answer regarding how often you can use a furminator for cats. During shedding, long-haired individuals can be subjected to the procedure daily. Short-haired - twice a week. In addition, it is advisable to use a furminator in late spring or early summer to save your pet from the heat. The rest of the time, the tool is used for those with long hair no more than 1-2 times a month, and for their counterparts with short “hair” even less often.

By the way, the Furminator is not a lifesaver for all cats. So, for obvious reasons, it is not worth buying an accessory for hairless cats (Don Sphynx, Peterbald, etc.). Owners of cats without undercoat (Balinese, Angora, Chantilly Tiffany) and with short, thin and rarely shedding hair (Singapore, Oriental cats) should also give preference to a regular comb. Also, the furminator is not useful for animals with a small amount of guard hair and unusual vegetation on the body (La Perm, Cornish Rex).

Advantages of Furminator and contraindications for use

These combs have many advantages:

• Effectively removes up to 99% of all undercoat.
• They do not disturb or spoil the structure of the guard hair.
• Prevents the formation of tangles.
• Reduces the number of hairballs that form in the cat's stomach.
• They help improve the appearance of your pet, since during combing the grease is evenly distributed throughout the entire coat.
• They ensure cleanliness in the house, as there is significantly less hair.

Despite all the advantages, in some cases the furminator should not be used. You should not comb animals that have fungal skin lesions, demodicosis and other damage to the skin.

This tool is not suitable for pets of some breeds. These include all Sphynxes, Ukrainian Levkoy and other hairless cats or animals with thin and short hair.

Where to buy a furminator

Owners, exhausted by the need for regular brushing with a regular comb, will probably wonder where to buy a furminator for cats? Let's consider several options:

1. At a pet store or veterinary pharmacy.
   Here you can purchase a high-quality furminator with a guarantee (usually 30 days), having received a sales and cash receipt in your hands. True, the price of goods in a pet store (or pharmacy) is almost always slightly overpriced (at least 800-900 rubles);
2. In the online store.
   There are many offers on the Internet for the sale of grooming accessories at prices ranging from 400 to 2500 rubles. In addition, virtual stores often offer discounts; the seller offers to deliver goods directly to your home. In addition to Russian online stores focused only on the sale of pet supplies, you can also search for the furminator on large foreign Internet sites, for example, you can buy it really inexpensively on Aliexpress or Amazon. But delivery from afar can be quite long, and there is no certainty that the goods will arrive undeformed;
3. In hypermarkets (like Auchan or Lenta).
   The only drawback of buying in such a place is the modest range of furminators.

Varieties

Before purchasing the best version of the device, it is worth familiarizing yourself with the characteristics of common brands.

Among the many varieties of furminators, the most popular are:

1. Furminator Ink is an original product manufactured in the USA. It has two manufacturing options: Classic and Deluxe, their differences lie in the automatic and manual collection of combed wool. This is the most expensive and reliable device, which has a shock-resistant ergonomic handle and self-sharpening teeth. Its working surface does not require replacement for a long time. The new model of the device is equipped with an automatic cleaning button for removing removed hair. The cost is 1.5–2 thousand rubles.

2. Trixie, this comb (Furminator) is produced in Germany by a German company with 40 years of experience. Gently combs thick fur without damaging the skin. There are three versions of the device for animals with different undercoat thicknesses. With this comb you can comb medium to long hair. The work surface is made of stainless steel and has a plastic handle with a rubber grip. Due to the structure of the teeth, only dead undercoat is pulled out during operation. Costs from 800 to 1400 rubles.
3. Foolee (France), such devices have a bright, unusual design, a variety of colors, and a comfortable handle with a special curve. The device is effective in operation and removes 95% of shedding hair. The Furminator is available in four sizes (from XS to XL), the choice depends on the weight of the cat. Its cost is from 1300 to 1700 rubles.
4. Hartz, this device is used for combing Scottish cats. Has metal teeth. The set includes a brush for combing. The model is equipped with a protective cap, a rubberized handle with a button for cleaning the blade from wool.
5. Hello pet, a simple and effective device. This is a modern self-cleaning device. It has a stainless steel body and a rubberized plastic handle. Produced in Taiwan. The device is made of metal. It has frequently spaced metal teeth, which allows you to gently comb out the cat's fur, skipping the guard hairs. The three models offered have different comb modifications. Reduces shedding by 90%. Recommended for cats with long hair. Excellent value for money and quality. Cost 1200-2300 rubles.

6. IPTS, one of the most popular types of trimmer combs (furminators). It is intended for British cats, has a relatively low price, and excellent quality of hair combing. It copes well with thick undercoat without causing pain to the cat. Frequently spaced teeth allow the hard guard hairs to pass through, while the soft hairs of the undercoat cling to the numerous notches located along the entire length of the comb teeth and are pulled out of the wool. The disadvantage is the fairly frequent need to change blades (at least once every two years). For expensive models they change much less frequently. Approximate cost: 1-2 thousand rubles.

There are no particular differences in the design of furminators produced by different companies. They are based on a blade with teeth and slots (patented).

Feedback from cat owners about the furminator comb

Based on numerous responses from people who bought a tool for their pets, we can safely classify the Furminator as a useful cat fur care item. The following are some reviews from grateful owners:

Review #1:
“My friend and I have been running a Scottish cattery for 5 years. Therefore, I can safely say that no slicker will remove the undercoat as well as a furminator. We comb our pets with American FURminator combs; there are no balls of wool anywhere, although the seals’ coats are very thick and they shed a lot...”

Review No. 2:
“Previously, when Barsik was molting, fur was everywhere. Particularly annoying were the red hairs that had settled on dark clothes. And it was unpleasant to see the cat’s hair on the kitchen table. The furminator helped me a lot, although I didn’t have high hopes for it. I was even surprised when I combed out a whole mountain of wool for the first time using this device...”

Review #3:

“I was forced to buy a furminator by misfortune: the cat swallowed hair to such an extent that intestinal obstruction developed. My cat, named Molly, by the way, loves it when I brush her: she purrs and caresses her. The hairs separate quickly; it takes me no more than 15 minutes to do everything…”

What is the essence of the tool?

Perhaps the most important advantage of the furminator is its durability. The blades are made of durable steel that does not become dull over time. Conventional combs will have to be changed at least once a year.

Therefore, it is better to spend a little money initially, but buy a reliable tool.

The Furminator helps make the combing process easier and faster:

The device removes about 90% of dead hair in one session.

It’s amazing how much dead undercoat the Furminator removes in one session

For my ordinary non-pedigreed cat, I used to use a simple slicker brush. The undercoat was combed out, but there was no less hair flying around the house.

It got to the point that she combed the poor animal almost twice a day. Then a friend told me about the furminator, praising its effect. I hesitated to buy for a long time, but still bought it.

She sighed calmly, in just a few times the fur practically disappeared. Nothing flew or accumulated in the corners, the carpet and clothes were clean. Combing now occurs 1-2 times a week.

Cat hair care

Now it becomes clear that without a cat brush it is difficult to care for its fur. Dead hairs must be removed regularly, otherwise mats will form in long-haired and fluffy breeds. The animal licks off most of the old hair, which threatens to disrupt the patency of the esophagus.

It's difficult to care for your cat's fur without a cat brush.

Each cat breed has its own coat type. The British have a awn and down of the same length, Persians have a thick undercoat. There is no down in Siamese-Oriental breeds; Siberians have long hair with a double undercoat. Astrakhan-like fur is characteristic of rexes, while sphinxes have barely noticeable fluff.