15 Best Cat Brush Styles For Your Fur Baby

A good cat brush is essential for any pet parent's grooming kit. Daily brushing your cat's coat is a great way to bond with your kitty, and many cats love the attention. Plus, it'll remove loose hair, minimize excess shedding and dander, and prevent painful tangles, knots, and mats. Not to mention, it'll keep your pet's coat off your clothes and furniture too.

Choosing the best brush for your cat can be difficult. With so many options on the market, it's hard to know which one is the best. Different fur lengths and grooming needs require different types of cat brushes and tools. While long-haired cats benefit most from detangling rakes, shorter-haired breeds do best with a slicker brush or de-shedding comb. So to help you shop and find the right type of cat brush for your fur baby, we've rounded up the best cat brushes below. We've got everything from self-cleaning slicker brushes to bath-friendly rubber brushes to flea-fighting combs.

The 15 Best Cat Hair Brushes And Grooming Tools

The best brush for most cats is a simple pin brush like this Safari Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush. Its gentle stainless steel pins remove loose fur without irritating your cat's skin. A comfortable handle and retractable pins make grooming quick and easy every time. With the touch of a button, the brush retracts the pins for easy clean-up. Press the button again, and you're ready to keep grooming. Be sure to use gentle strokes and avoid using pin brushes on sensitive areas and heavily matted fur.

Turn grooming time into bonding time with these HandsOn Pet Bathing and Grooming Gloves. In addition to removing fur, the all-in-one gloves provide a gentle massage, stimulate circulation, and loosen up dirt and grime during bathtime. While a brush may slip out of your hand, your glove will stay put in wet, soapy conditions. Rubber brush nodules along the palm and fingers capture more hair than a brush with just a few strokes. The handy grooming gloves come in five size options to fit every hand. To keep your glove looking its best, be sure to hang it out to dry after every bath time.

A traditional pin brush may be too intense for sensitive cats. If your cat has sensitive skin or gets overstimulated easily, you'll need something a bit gentler. Instead of metal pins, this FURemover Duo Dual-Bristle Brush boasts soft rubber bristles. Thanks to a handy dual-sided design, it doubles as both a grooming brush and a lint remover. The thick bristle side helps detangle matted fur and massage your cat's skin, while the thin bristle side helps remove lint and loose hair from your clothing, furniture, and pet beds. It's great for taking on the go!

The best cat brush to use during the shedding season is a deshedding tool. This SleekEZ Deshedding Grooming Tool boasts a patented design that sets it apart from other deshedding tools on the market. Thanks to its unique wave pattern blade, it can painlessly remove 95% of loose hair, fur, and dirt. Tiny teeth along the blade grab the tips of loose hairs, separating them from the undercoat without painful tugging. It's gentle enough to remove hairballs from furniture, pet beds, rugs, and other fabrics around your home. The ergonomic handle comes in a variety of sizes to provide every pet parent with a comfortable grip.

Flea problems will be a thing of the past thanks to the Groomer's Best Flea Comb from Hartz. Daily use can keep fleas and flea eggs away and stop itching for good! The affordable cat comb has hundreds of fine teeth that remove fleas, eggs, and other small debris with every stroke. An ergonomic handle provides a comfortable, secure grip as you work. If your pet has long, thick fur, you can also use the fine-tooth comb to help detangle mats. Just be sure to brush gently and avoid tugging or pulling on tough knots.

This Furbliss Pet Brush from Vetnique Labs turns bathtime into a luxurious massage. The multi-purpose grooming tool is made from 100% medical-grade silicone that's safe and effective when wet. Its soft bristles help to gently remove excess hair, stimulate blood flow to the skin, and distribute natural oils throughout your pet's coat. The best part is, the silicone cat brush is dishwasher safe for easy sterilization between uses. It's great for dogs, rabbits, and other small house pets too!

Don't have time for daily brushing? Let your kitty groom themselves with the Senses 2.0 Self-Groomer Cat Brush from Catit. Just attach the groomer to a wall, corner, or other flat surface using the adhesive strips included, and your cat can rub and scratch its way to a healthier coat. The handy self-grooming tool even has an inner compartment where you can stash catnip to entice your furry friend. It's a great option for shy, sensitive cats who don't like to be groomed.

The best way to get your cat used to regular grooming is to begin brushing your cat when it's just a kitten. This ConairPro Soft Slicker Brush is the perfect size and style for small, squirmy kittens. It's also great for using on your cat's face, legs, belly, and other sensitive areas. The stainless steel pins have reinforced tips that help remove tangles and prevent scratches so they won't irritate sensitive skin. Plus, the memory gel foam handle provides an ergonomic grip while you brush.

Give your cat the healthy, shiny coat they deserve with this Boar Bristle Cat Brush from The Buddy System. The professional-grade brush boasts soft boar bristles that are gentle on your pet's skin. Regular use can reduce excess shedding and dander production while stimulating natural oil production. It's suitable for use on all fur lengths and is great for dogs and other small house pets too!

Regular grooming is essential for long-haired cats. Using an undercoat brush like this Maxpower Planet Dual-Sided Cat Grooming Brush can help prevent mats and tangles. With daily brushing, your cat's coat will look smooth, shiny, and healthy. The rake-style de-shedding brush has a dual-sided design to speed up grooming time and achieve better results. Start with the wide-toothed side for detangling and flip to the fine-toothed side for de-shedding. Together, they're incredibly effective at removing loose hair from the undercoat, and you may be surprised how much hair your cats have concealed in their undercoats. A lightweight, non-slip rubber handle ensures your hand won't get tired while you take out tough knots and tangles.

Hate cleaning the hair out of your cat's brush? Get a self-cleaning brush that does the hard work for you! This Hertzko Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush makes grooming easier than ever. Just press the self-cleaning button when you're finished, and the stainless steel bristles will slide inside so you can wipe hair away with ease. It's suitable for use on any fur length.

For everyday grooming, try Burt's Bees for Cats' Slicker Brush. The stainless steel pins help to remove loose hairs, detangle knots, and distribute oils for a shiny coat. Regular brushing can help to reduce shedding and prevent painful matting. To complete your pet grooming set, Burt's Bees for Cats makes a double-sided comb and double-sided pin and bristle brush too. All of the eco-conscious brand's brushes are made from Made with bamboo handles and recycled materials.

Short-haired cats don't need a heavy-duty detangling brush like long-haired breeds. Instead, they'll benefit most from a deshedding brush like this FURminator Short-Hair Cat Deshedding Brush. Its patented technology was created with shorter hair in mind. A fine-tooth stainless steel comb reaches through the topcoat to remove loose hair and undercoat beneath. The curved edge conforms to your pet's body for better comfort and more thorough hair removal. Use it on your cat regularly, and you can significantly reduce shedding and hairballs.

If you're dealing with serious mats or have a long-haired cat, you'll need a heavy-duty brush that can take on the job. This best-selling GoPets Dematting Comb was designed specifically to tackle knots, tangles, mats and remove hair without pulling or snagging your cat's skin. Its dual-sided design allows you to painlessly detangle and demat with ease, no matter your cat's coat type. While some cat brushes pull out your cat's fur, this dematting cat comb cuts through mats and tangles for faster results. It's great for grooming dogs with long hair too!

Turn your grooming session into a relaxing massage with this Massaging Dog & Cat Grooming Tool from PetWell. It's made from flexible silicone that's gentle on the skin and easy to clean. The handheld massager helps to stimulate blood circulation and alleviate muscle soreness while removing loose fur and dirt. An adjustable strap and compact size ensure a secure, comfortable grip. It's perfect for a quick grooming session after bathtime or right before bed.

How To Choose The Best Cat Brushes For Your Cat

Hair Length

The best brush for your cat will depend on their hair type. For example, cats with long hair need a slicker or pin brush and possibly a de-shedding tool to remove dead hair and dirt from their topcoat and undercoat. 

If you have more than one type of hair at home, there are brushes out on the market that can be used for both long and short-haired cats.

Easy To Clean

Hair Brushes should be cleaned after every use, especially if you have multiple cats in a household. The best brushes should make cleaning easy, and some brushes can be cleaned by simply removing hair by hand and tossing away removed hair. Then wash the brush with warm soapy water regularly.

Bristle Type

Most short-haired cats can use any bristle type, but opt-in for a denser bristle if you want to get ahead of shedding. For long hair cats, bristles designed to glide through the coat are always preferred.

The soft bristle is great for removing shed hairs and distributes oils to keep your cat's coat looking shiny and healthy.

Brush Shape

The best cat brush should be comfortable for you to hold and can be a comfortable brush along your cat's body.

The S-shaped pins are ideal for the straight and curly-haired cat to remove loose hair, dirt, and debris without scratching your cat's skin.

Extra Features

Some brushes feature a gel handle, so it's comfortable for you to hold. And some brush comes with sharp teeth with rounded tips at the end that allow you to cut through mats without pulling your cat's skin.

Brushing Your Cat FAQ

How to Introduce Your Cat To Brushing

Whether you just got a kitten or cat sitting, it's always best to start slow. Most cats enjoy being groomed and love the attention that comes with it. Other felines may need some time to warm up to the idea. Regardless, be sure to brush gently and slowly to avoid spooking or causing discomfort to your cat.

How Often Should You Brush Your Cat?

Depending on the cat's hair length, some will require more brushing than others. The long-haired breed requires more brushing than the short-haired breed to avoid any tangle or mat. In general, you should brush your cat at least once a day.

How To Clean Cat Hair Brush?

Besides removing hair after each use, you should also clean the brush by running it under warm water.

Does brushing help with cat dandruff?

Even though cats groom themselves regularly, they will need a little help with issues like dry skin and dandruff. Regular brushing can help exfoliate the skin and remove dandruff. However, if you have terribly dry skin, you may want to bathe your cat with hydrating shampoo and conditioner.

Should I Brush Or Comb My Cat?

The best tool to groom your cat will depend on your cat's coat length. Long hair and fine coat cats should regularly use a wide-toothed comb and a dematting tool for when it's needed. A bristle brush or rubber brush will get the job done and leave your cat with a nice and shiny coat for short-haired cats.