Top 7 Best Cat Brushes (We Tested Them All)

Cats · 5 years ago

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Why should I brush my cat if they groom themselves?

Cats do self-groom, but regular brushing removes loose hair before it sheds around your home, distributes natural oils across the coat for health and shine, and can act as a relaxing massage that reduces stress—especially for cats with the right temperament.

At a glance

Length
14 min
Channel
Cats
Video from
Dec 2020
Rating
⭐⭐ Great video · 2/2
Best for
Cat owners dealing with shedding or grooming reluctance

What this video answers

  • Why should I brush my cat if they groom themselves?
  • What's the difference between a slicker brush and a rubber brush?
  • Which brush is best for a long-haired cat prone to matting?
  • Are grooming gloves effective, or are they just for anxious cats?
  • How often should I use a deshedding tool like the FURminator?
Reads the guide aloud in your browser — free, no account.

Overview of the Seven Best Cat Brushes Tested

This video presents hands-on testing of seven cat brushes across different styles and purposes, helping pet owners choose the right grooming tool for their cat's coat type and temperament. The host demonstrates each brush on her own cats while explaining the pros, cons, pricing, and best use cases for every option. Beyond listing products, the video explains why brushing matters: it reduces shedding around the home, distributes natural oils to keep coats healthy and shiny, and can act as a stress-relieving massage for cats with the right personality.

The selection spans multiple categories—from wire-bristled slickers for versatility to rubber brushes for sensitive cats, dematting combs for long-haired breeds, grooming gloves that feel like petting, dedicated deshedding tools, and a flea comb for pest prevention. Each recommendation includes real-world feedback from the tester's experience with her own cats, honest observations about effectiveness, and practical notes on durability and maintenance.

Key Moments

Key Points About These Cat Grooming Tools

  • The Safari Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush ($14.95) works on short, medium, and long coats, effectively detangles, and has a self-cleaning button to easily discard collected hair.
  • The Kong Zoom Groom features flexible rubber teeth that massage the skin while picking up loose hair, making it ideal for sensitive cats, though it doesn't contain hair as neatly as firmer brushes.
  • The GoPets Dematting Comb ($29.99) offers dual functionality with a deshedding side and stainless steel blades to tackle mats, designed specifically for long-haired cats prone to tangles.
  • The Glandex Furbliss ($18.99) is a soft silicone brush suited for short-haired and sensitive cats, dishwasher-safe, and marketed for use during baths as well as regular grooming.
  • The HandsOn Grooming Glove ($24.99) comes in five sizes and as a pair, allowing two-handed petting motions that feel natural to cats who fear traditional brushes.
  • The FURminator ($29.95) excels at removing undercoat, reducing shedding and matting, but requires gentle use to avoid over-removal of protective undercoat layers.
Featured image for the guide to Top 7 Best Cat Brushes (We Tested Them All) by Cats

Why Regular Cat Brushing and Tool Selection Matter

Choosing the right cat brush directly affects both your grooming success and your cat's comfort and health. While cats groom themselves naturally, regular brushing reduces loose hair in your home, keeps coats shiny through oil distribution, and provides stress relief—benefits especially important for anxious or high-energy cats. The video emphasizes that different cats have different sensitivities; a brush that one cat loves may intimidate another. Understanding the differences between slicker brushes, rubber tools, grooming gloves, and specialized combs empowers you to match your purchase to your cat's coat length, sensitivity level, and your own comfort. This targeted approach transforms grooming from a frustrating struggle into a bonding ritual that supports your cat's wellbeing.

Common Questions About Choosing and Using Cat Brushes

Why should I brush my cat if they groom themselves?

Cats do self-groom, but regular brushing removes loose hair before it sheds around your home, distributes natural oils across the coat for health and shine, and can act as a relaxing massage that reduces stress—especially for cats with the right temperament.

What's the difference between a slicker brush and a rubber brush?

Slicker brushes have fine, short wires close together and work well on all coat types for detangling and removing loose hair, but may feel harsh to sensitive cats. Rubber brushes have flexible or soft teeth that feel more like a massage, making them gentler but less effective at deep grooming and hair collection.

Which brush is best for a long-haired cat prone to matting?

The GoPets Dematting Comb is specifically designed for long-haired cats; it has blunt edges that won't hurt skin but includes stainless steel blades to cut through tangles and prevent mats from forming. It can be used both preventatively and to treat existing mats.

Are grooming gloves effective, or are they just for anxious cats?

Grooming gloves like the HandsOn model remove a significant amount of hair and work well on anxious cats who fear traditional brushes, but they're also effective for any cat owner who prefers the feel of petting over wielding a brush. The key is getting the right size and using both hands for a natural grooming experience.

How often should I use a deshedding tool like the FURminator?

The video doesn't specify exact frequency, but notes that the FURminator is very effective at removing undercoat. Gentle and occasional use is recommended to avoid over-removal of the protective undercoat layer that keeps cats warm and insulated.

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Key Terms

Slicker brush
A brush with fine, short wires packed tightly together that detangles coats and removes loose hair across all coat lengths.
Undercoat
The soft, fluffy hair layer closest to a cat's skin that provides insulation and sits beneath the top coat.
Deshedding tool
A specialized grooming device designed to remove loose undercoat hair and reduce shedding around the home.
Dematting
The process of removing or cutting through mats and tangles in a cat's fur to prevent knots and skin irritation.

Sources: Slicker brush · Undercoat · Deshedding tool · Dematting — definitions cross-referenced with Wikipedia

Justin’s Take

This video delivers genuine value for anyone frustrated with shedding or struggling to groom a resistant cat. The host tests each brush hands-on, shares honest feedback about what worked and what didn't with her own cats, includes pricing, and explains the practical benefits of regular brushing beyond vanity.

What I appreciated most was the candid discussion of personality differences—the video acknowledges that one cat loved the slicker brush while another was reluctant, and offers gentler alternatives for sensitive cats rather than pushing a one-size-fits-all solution. This approach helps you make a real choice based on your cat, not just product hype. I'd confidently recommend this to anyone shopping for cat grooming tools.

Great video · 2 out of 2

Justin
Justin

I started Helicopterstour.com because I genuinely believe there’s no better way to see the world than from the sky. I used to work on the Pride of America cruise ship in Hawaii, helping guests book shore excursions all over the islands. Two Vacation Hero Awards 2,000+ Guests/Week Pride of America · NCL Hawaii Shore Excursions 1000+ Tours Reviewed

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Description

When you find the best cat brush, both you and your cat will both know it. Good brushes feel great in your hand, are gentle on your cat’s skin, and are a perfect fit for their coat type. We've tested and reviewed the top 7 best cat brushes on the market.

Read our complete guide to the top 10 best cat brushes and deshedding tools for short, medium, and long hair: https://cats.com/best-cat-brush
✔️ Sign up for our free recall alert program: https://cats.com/recall-tool-email?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=video

Video Navigation:
0:00 Introduction
0:13 Why Brush Your Cat?

1:34 Overall Best: Safari Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush
Buy on Chewy: https://cats.com/link/?href=https%3A%2F%2Fchewy.sjv.io%2Fc%2F1397719%2F3054490%2F32975%3Fu%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.chewy.com%252Fsafari-self-cleaning-slicker-brush%252Fdp%252F46215
Buy on Amazon: https://cats.com/link/?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FSafari-Self-Cleaning-Slicker-Brush-Cats%2Fdp%2FB000YIWUXI%2F%3Ftag%3Daac-youtube-20

3:13 Best Rubber Brush: Kong Zoom Groom
Buy on Chewy: https://cats.com/link/?href=https%3A%2F%2Fchewy.sjv.io%2Fc%2F1397719%2F3054490%2F32975%3Fu%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.chewy.com%252Fkong-cat-zoomgroom-multi-use-brush%252Fdp%252F45801
Buy on Amazon: https://cats.com/link/?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FKONG-ZoomGroom-Cat-Grooming-Brush%2Fdp%2FB0002AR18M%2F%3Ftag%3Daac-youtube-20

4:16 Best Budget: Gopets Dematting Comb For Cats & Dogs
Buy on Amazon: https://cats.com/link/?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FGoPets-Dematting-Sided-Professional-Grooming%2Fdp%2FB00OIOB90E%2F%3Ftag%3Daac-youtube-20

5:59 Best for Bathing: Glandex Furbliss Multi-Use Brush
Buy on Amazon: https://cats.com/link/?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FFurbliss-Grooming-Massaging-Deshedding-Multi-Functional%2Fdp%2FB075RS3MVF%2F%3Ftag%3Daac-youtube-20

8:45 Best Grooming Glove: HandsOn Grooming Glove
Buy on Chewy: https://cats.com/link/?href=https%3A%2F%2Fchewy.sjv.io%2Fc%2F1397719%2F3054490%2F32975%3Fu%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.chewy.com%252Fhandson-all-in-one-pet-bathing%252Fdp%252F136597
Buy on Amazon: https://cats.com/link/?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FWinning-Shedding-Grooming-Shedding-Livestock%2Fdp%2FB00R3U4VGE%2F%3Ftag%3Daac-youtube-20

10:31 Best Deshedding Tool: FURminator for Cats
Buy on Chewy: https://cats.com/link/?href=https%3A%2F%2Fchewy.sjv.io%2Fc%2F1397719%2F3054490%2F32975%3Fu%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.chewy.com%252Ffurminator-long-hair-cat-deshedding%252Fdp%252F269743
Buy on Amazon: https://cats.com/link/?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FFurminator-Long-deShedding-Large-Standard%2Fdp%2FB07MZDGF5M%2F%3Ftag%3Daac-youtube-20

11:58 Best Flea Comb: Safari Flea Comb for Cats
Buy on Chewy: https://cats.com/link/?href=https%3A%2F%2Fchewy.sjv.io%2Fc%2F1397719%2F3054490%2F32975%3Fu%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.chewy.com%252Fsafari-flea-comb-cats%252Fdp%252F46251
Buy on Amazon: https://cats.com/link/?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FSafari-Pet-Products-Prevention-Treatment%2Fdp%2FB0002RJM7I%2F%3Ftag%3Daac-youtube-20

12:56 Conclusion

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Video transcript for “Top 7 Best Cat Brushes (We Tested Them All)” Accessibility

A full written transcript of this video, provided for accessibility. Select any timestamp to jump the video to that moment.

Unknown: Hey guys, it's Mallory here with All About Cats. In this week's video, we're going to be taking a look at the top seven best cat brushes on the market. Before we go into our top seven recommendations, I want to talk a little bit about why you might want to brush your cat at all. After all, cats are

more or less self grooming, right? They're capable of cleaning themselves, and for the most part, we don't really need to brush or clean them. But brushing your cat can be beneficial in a couple of different ways. So for one, brushing your cat regularly is going to help to reduce the

amount of hair that is shed and distributed around your house. And secondly, brushing your cat regularly can be good for their skin and coat. So you're distributing natural oils across their coat, helping to keep it nice and shiny and healthy. That leads me to the third reason why brushing can be beneficial for

some cats, which is the fact that it kind of acts as a massage, especially if you have the right type of brush. I was recently talking to our team's cat behavior expert, and she noted that regular brushing, assuming that your cat has the right personality for it, can really help to reduce their

stress. When I was trying out the brushes included in this review, for example, I noticed that Wessie's attitudes seemed a lot better after brushing, it certainly seemed that he was feeling a lot happier and more relaxed after a brushing session. So stay tuned to learn all the details about my top

seven recommendations and which of these brushes I think is going to work the best for different types of people and cats. Now our first recommendation is the Safari self-cleaning slicker brush. The reason why I chose this wire-bristled slicker brush as our top pick is because it's so

versatile and so effective in multiple ways. So you can use this brush for just about any cat. Whether your cat has a short, medium or long coat, you're going to be able to use this brush to kind of detangle and increase the shine of your cat's coat. When I was using this slicker brush with my cats,

I found that while Forestwas pretty reluctant to be rushed at all, Wessie absolutely loved being brushed with the Safari slicker brush. Even though at first glance, it might look like these wire bristles might be irritating, I think that was he really enjoyed the way that they felt on his skin. I brushed my

own skin a little bit with them, and they're definitely not particularly harsh. I know that some cats who are a bit more sensitive have an issue with slicker brushes like this. So it just depends on your cat's personality. For Wessie, however, this seemed to be a really comfortable and enjoyable

brush. The brush did an excellent job of collecting excess hair from Wessie's coat and it made sure that the hair stayed on the brush head. And then it's really easy to remove it from the brush and discard that hair in the trash. Overall, I found that the Safari slicker brush was very effective. It did

exactly what it needed to do, removing loose hair from my cat's coat. And it also seemed to be an enjoyable brush for my cats to use. It costs $14.95, so it's a tiny bit more expensive than some other brushes, but still a relatively affordable option. Our next recommendation is my favorite rubber brush, and

it's one that you've probably seen around or heard mentioned by other cat guardians. It's called the Kong Zoom Groom. It has these widely-spaced fairly flexible rubber teeth that kind of massage your cat's skin while moving through the coat to pick up the loose hair. Again, Wessie had a much more positive

attitude towards being brushed, and I think he really enjoyed using the Kong Zoom Groom. It's a really gentle choice that can be a good option for more sensitive cats and it kind of massages your cat's skin as it goes along. My biggest gripe with the Kong Zoom Groom is that it doesn't really do a great job

of collecting the hair. So you're going to be going through your cat's coat, and then you'll see the loose hair just kind of collecting around near the base of their tail. You're going to have to take that off of your cat's coat in order to fully remove it. Overall, though, I really enjoyed using the Kong

Zoom Groom. It seems like a gentle and effective choice that is going to appeal to a wide variety of cats. Our next recommendation is our top pick for long-haired cats, especially those who are prone to developing mats. The Go Pets dematting and deshedding comb addresses multiple aspects of

this problem encountered by long haired cats. The rounded edges of the comb that are actually touching your cat's skin are blunt and they aren't going to hurt your cat. But the comb also has these stainless steel blades and those blades are going to help to cut through the beginnings of mats like little

tangles as well as fully formed maps. So you can use the deshedding side of this brush as a preventative tool, and then you can use the dematting comb in case any real mats form. Since both of my hands have short coats, I wasn't really able to get good first hand experience with the Go Pets two

sided comb, but I have read a lot of reviews from people who do have long haired cats and have used this product. And for the most part, they're positive. Aside from a few scattered reviews complaining that the blades aren't quite sharp enough to get through mats. I have read some complaints about hair

getting stuck to the handle, and I encountered an issue with gel seeping out of the handle. So it seemed that during transit, the handle had been nicked. And this gel that makes the handle nice and soft was starting to leak out. I haven't read a lot of customer reviews saying that they experienced the same thing,

but it is worth bearing in mind that if you do accidentally nick this handle, you could have some leaking and you're going to want to either replace it or patch it up with some tape in order to prevent that from happening. At $29.99, this brush is a little bit more expensive than a lot of the other products on the

market. So our next recommendation is labeled as the best brush for bathing. It's the Glandex Furbliss multi-use brush. So this is a really soft rubber brush that looks and feels a little bit like a sponge. As the name suggests, this is a multi-use brush. So they say that you can use it for

bathing, for general grooming, and you can also use it to remove hair from your furniture and clothing. So one side of the brush has these soft silicone nodules that kind of dig into your cat's coat and help to massage their skin as you brush them. It's a very, very soft, squishy, very gentle brush, and

it's going to be a good option for cats who are uncomfortable with more harsh rigid brushes. It's going to work best for short haired cats, because it just doesn't have the teeth to get deep into a long haired cat's coat. Again, this brush is recommended for bathing as well as regular brushing. So on the

opposite side of those brushing nodules, it has what it refers to as shampoo reservoir cells which are intended to hold that shampoo or soap in the cleaning tool as you're going across your cat's body. And even if you aren't going to be using this to bathe your cat, you can also use it for a dog in your household.

So it's a good flexible option that works for a wide variety of pets, as well as a wide variety of uses. Again, they also say that you can use it to remove hair from other surfaces around your house. I tried using it to remove some hair from a T-shirt. And while it was somewhat effective, I can't say that it

was any better than using a typical lint roller or a piece of tape in my case. Now as for my experience using the Furbliss, I found that my cat Wessie seemed pretty comfortable using it and then it did remove some hair from his coat. That being said, it really wasn't the most thorough brush. I don't

think that I was pulling out as much loose hair as I was with some of our other recommendations. And somewhat similarly to the Kong Zoom Groom, it didn't do that great of a job of keeping the hair on the brush so that it could easily be picked up and then thrown away. One interesting

feature of this brush is that it's made for medical grade silicone and is 100% dishwasher safe. So that makes it pretty easy to maintain. So overall, based on my experience and reading customer reviews, I would say that this is a good pretty flexible product that can be used for a variety of

purposes. It's going to be a particularly good choice if you have a short haired cat, especially if they're rather sensitive and not all that comfortable with more rigid brushes moving across their skin. At $18.99, I think that the Furbliss brush is a little bit more expensive than it needs

to be. But then again, I know a lot of people really like this product, and it might be justified for certain people. Now our next recommendation is going to be a particularly good option if your cat is uncomfortable with new and unfamiliar objects coming down towards their body. If your cat

tends to be scared of brushes, then a grooming glove like this one could be a good option. So our top recommendation in the grooming glove category is the Hands On grooming glove. There are a few things about this glove that are really a step up from the competition. And the first area where I think this

grooming glove is special is in its sizing flexibility. So it comes in five different sizes, meaning that you can actually find a glove that's the right size for you. That's pretty rare among grooming gloves, which seldom come in more than one size and are often either big floppy mitts or way too small

for larger hands and getting that good fit isn't just beneficial for you. It's going to make your cat's experience better, too. Brushing your cat with a glove that fits well is going to feel a lot more natural, a lot more like a normal petting session. Another way that the Hands On grooming

glove is going to feel a little more natural for your cat is the fact that you get two gloves. A lot of other grooming gloves come in packages with just one glove or mitt, so you're only able to pet your cat with one hand, which isn't always natural. Sometimes you're going to want to go hand over hand,

and the Hands On grooming glove allows you to do that. I find that both of my cats really seem to enjoy being pet with the Hands On grooming glove. It's pretty effective and removes quite a bit of hair, especially compared to other grooming gloves on the market. I'd say the biggest drawback of the

Hands On grooming glove is the fact that the nitrile palms tend to crack over time. But other than that, this seems to be a pretty well-made product that should last you for a while. The Hands On grooming glove is available in two colors, so you can get it in either black or green, and it costs $24.99. Our

next recommendation is the best deshedding comb. You've probably heard of it. It's the Furminator. The Furminator is famous for doing a really outstanding job of removing your cat's undercoat. So again, the undercoat is that soft, fluffy hair that's closer to your cat's skin than their top coat. So the

undercoat is a really important part of your cat's coat. You don't want to just get rid of it. But there are some benefits to this type of deshedding tool. Removing some of that undercoat can help prevent knotting, especially if you have a long-haired cat. It can also reduce the amount of shedding

around the house. And finally, it can kind of help to keep your cat cool in really extreme summer heat. As expected, I found that the Furminator worked quite well to remove a lot of that undercoat. With only a few little strokes, I was already removing quite a bit of hair. It also managed to do a great job

of keeping the hair collected on the brush head and it didn't send a lot of hair flying around the room or onto the surface of my cat's coats. The only downside of the Furminator is that, if your cat doesn't have a particularly thick undercoat, or if you get a little bit too aggressive with brushing, you

certainly remove too much about undercoat and reduce the overall integrity of their healthy coat. The Furminator is available in a variety of different sizes intended for different types of coats. I use the small one made for short coats and it cost $29.95. Our last recommendation is a little bit different from

the others on this list that isn't really intended to maintain your cat's coat. Instead, it is a flea comb. If you live in an area where your cat may be affected by fleas either during the summers or throughout the entire year, you're going to want to have a flea comb in your arsenal. And

if you're going to get a flea comb, I would recommend Safari's flea comb for cats. And this is a classic. It's a single-rowed flea comb that seems to do an excellent job of extracting fleas and flea dirt from your cat's coat. It receives almost entirely positive reviews. There really aren't that many people

complaining about a bad experience with the Safari flea comb. Fortunately, I haven't had the opportunity to use this in a real flea infestation scenario, but I have run it through my cat's coats and they seem to be comfortable with the way that it feels. At $4.67, the Safari flea comb is a relatively economical

investment in your cat's health. So that's it for our top seven recommendations for the best cat brushes you can buy. I hope that you saw something here that you think will work for your cat. But if you'd like more recommendations, you can check out our article on the top 10 best brushes on the market. It

goes in depth on all of the brushes reviewed here, as well as three other recommendations So check out the link in th description in order to visi our best cat brushes buyer' guide while you're in th description. You'll also se links to all of the product mentioned in this video, so yo

can check them out and lear more for yourself. So thank yo so much for watching this video And again, I hope that you foun it helpful. If you like thi video and you're interested i more buyers guides, produc reviews and information on al things cats. Please go ahead an subscribe to the All About Cat

channel and hit tha notification bell so you'll ge the news every time we release new video. Thanks. B

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