You’ll have a lot of responsibilities when you become a cat owner — and learning how to brush your pet’s fur is just one. Regularly and properly brushing your cat’s fur is crucial to their overall health as it removes dirt, grime, and dead hair from their coats. It also eliminates skin flakes and improves blood circulation, resulting in healthier skin and coat health.
Although important, not every cat owner knows how to brush their pet’s fur. Cat owners often have several grooming tools on hand but don’t know what techniques to follow to groom their feline friend. If you’re guilty of being the same, this article can help.
This article will cover easy-to-follow yet effective techniques to properly brush your cat’s fur. Consistently follow all of the tips mentioned here, and you’ll become a pro at brushing your cat’s fur in no time!
- Choose the Right Brush
The key to successful brushing sessions depends on the brush you’re going to use. Using the wrong brush will make your cat uncomfortable and cause them to detest brushing. In worse cases, the wrong brush can trigger skin irritations and infections.
Before brushing your cat, exert time and effort to select the right brush first. Investing in a high-quality brush that suits your cat’s coat type is the first step to a calm and pleasing brushing experience. The market is bombarded with different types of cat brushes, so do your homework and compare options.
If you have a short-hair cat, look for a brush with soft bristles, like the Atlamia Self Cleaning Slicker Brush. This dog brush also has rounded tips that protect your cat’s skin from irritations.
For cats with dense or long hair, a brush with longer bristles is ideal to ensure that your cat’s undercoats are groomed. The Soft Bristle Pet Brush by Hertzko fits this requirement because its bristles are longer than most cat brushes and effectively remove loose fur, dirt, and other debris from your cat’s undercoats.
- Pick a Place and Time Wisely
The place and time of your cat’s brushing sessions also influence the entire experience. For example, picking a place that’s too humid or cold for your cat will likely cause them to fear or hate their brushing sessions. This will make it very challenging for you to brush them often.
To begin brushing your cat’s fur, pick a place and time wisely. Ideally, you should look for a space that’s comfortable for you and your cat and have your pet sit on your lap. Avoid dragging or holding your cat too tight, as this will cause stress and discomfort. Instead, stroke your cat as they position themselves on your lap to put them in a calm, more relaxed mood.
Pick a time of the day when they’re less likely to leap out of the room or paw the brush out of your hand. You know your cat better, so you can easily determine what time of the day they are in their most relaxed state.
- Brush Carefully
The last thing you want to do is hurt your cat as you’re brushing them. Making this mistake once is usually enough for your pet to hate brushing. Make sure that this doesn’t happen by brushing your cat’s hair carefully and effectively.
Begin by brushing along your cat’s back using gentle and slow strokes. Start from the top of their head down to their tail. Remember to follow the direction of the hair growth to avoid tangles and mats. If your cat has long or dense hair, use the carder to get rid of any loose and dead hairs, followed by a regular comb or brush to smoothen their coats.
Check the brush as you use it on your cat and remove hair that gets stuck before you continue. Don’t forget to brush your cat’s sensitive areas, such as the belly and armpits. These are two of the most common areas where knots develop and go unnoticed.
As you brush your cat, pay attention to their body language. If you notice any signs of pain and discomfort, stop brushing and calm your cat first. Only continue once your cat is relaxed again.
- Detangle Knots Gently
It’s common for cats to have knots on their fur. This can happen when their fur becomes too dirty or oily, or when their fur gets caught in their topcoats when they shed. Regardless, it’s important to remove knots as these can cause pain and skin irritations.
When detangling knots, never pull as this might hurt your cat. Use a knot separator to break the knots into smaller pieces or cut them carefully using scissors. The second option is ideal if the knots are too close to your cat’s skin.
You can also use a generous amount of olive oil to soften the knots and comb them out starting from the tip until you reach the root. This process requires a lot of time and patience, so be prepared.
- Finish With a Reward
Did your cat stay completely still throughout their brushing session? Were they able to stay calm from start to finish? If your cat shows good behavior while you brush them, reward them with their favorite treats. This will help your feline friend associate brushing with a positive experience, making them less likely to avoid brushing next time.
How Often Should You Brush Your Cat?
Brushing your cat one or two times every week is enough to keep their coats healthy and shiny. Having regular brushing sessions is important, especially if your cat ages and can no longer groom themselves.
What Are the Benefits of Brushing Your Cat?
Even if felines can groom themselves, it’s still important to brush them regularly. In fact, brushing your cat should be a routine because it offers the following benefits:
- Fewer hairballs: Hairballs are common in cats but when left unnoticed, can become gross and challenging to clean. Brushing your cat regularly can prevent hairballs as it helps remove excess fur.
- Less shedding: Brushing your cat is one of the best ways to reduce shedding. Brushing reduces the hair your cat carries by removing loose and dead hair. The less hair your cat carries, the less likely they’ll shed.
- Flea spotting: Worried that your cat carries fleas? Brushing serves as an opportunity for you to look into your cat’s fur and check for fleas. As you comb through your cat’s coat, you can easily see their skin and determine if they have fleas. Early detection is crucial in the treatment of fleas in cats.
Start Brushing Your Cat
Who says brushing your cat is difficult? By following all of the tips mentioned here, you can brush your cat with ease and ensure that they’ll love the entire experience!