Cat grooming hacks

As cat owners, there’s one thing we know for certain – cat hair gets everywhere! There’s no question; they’ll sleep on a pile of clean clothes, rub against your new coat, and don’t even get us started on the bedding.

It might be annoying to find black hairs on a white blouse or white hairs on black trousers, though it’s completely natural (and healthy) for cats to moult.  

Here are some top tips, owner hacks, and expert advice about grooming your feline friend and keeping your home as fur-free as possible…

Why do cats moult?

First things first, we need to know why everything gets covered in cat hair.  

Our cats shed to help remove old, dead, or damaged fur from their bodies and to make room for new hair that’ll grow in its place. The amount your cat sheds will vary depending on their breed, the season of the year, their diet, gender, and whether they spend a lot of time outdoors. Though for most cat owners, you can expect a lot of hair, everywhere!

Although they may seem to enjoy grooming themselves, we need to give our feline friends a lending paw when it comes to coat care.

Brushing

Brushing your cat’s fur helps remove dust, dead skin, and loose hairs, while preventing any tangling or matting, and can improve their circulation. 

The grooming process will give you the chance to check for any injuries or unwanted pests, like ticks and fleas, too. 

Plus, brushing them allows you to spend some quality time with your cat.

Here are our top tips for combing your cat:  

Make sure you have the right brush

There are plenty of different brushes and combs for cats, which means choosing the right tool for your feline friend can be confusing. 

You’ll need to find a brush or comb that suits the texture and length of your cat’s coat, as it’ll make things much easier when brushing them.

Slicker brush

This type of brush works with all coat types. 

However, because of the metal pins, you have to be careful not to scratch your cat’s skin and must be extra gentle with long-haired cats, to avoid hair breakage. 

A slicker brush removes tangles and dirt, smooths the fur, and spreads the natural oils through their coat – keeping it healthy and looking its best.

Pin brush

Much like the slicker brush, a pin brush can work its way through the longest fur – but its wire pins are tipped with plastic or rubber. 

Suitable for everyday use, a pin brush helps get rid of tangles and matted fur, keeping your kitty’s coat free from dirt and pests, like fleas and ticks.

Bristle brush

This brush is typically used for cats with short coats, though it makes a great finishing brush for those kitties with longer or thicker hair, too. 

The soft bristles help smooth the coat, leaving it nice and shiny, as well as stimulating their skin to improve circulation.

Moulting comb

A moulting comb can be used on any coat type, since it helps detangle your cat’s fur and prevents mats from forming. This style of comb features two different pin lengths designed to target varying cat coat types.

Grooming glove

Depending on the type you choose, a grooming glove usually has rubber tips over the palms, so you can lift hair, remove dander, and comb out tangles with ease. 

Once you're done, the collected hair peels right off the gloves – which is also helpful to keep your house fur-free!

Self-grooming help

Cats love to groom themselves; in fact, you’ll probably find them licking themselves more often than not (hello, furballs!). Though did you know that you can help them with self-grooming as well? 

You can buy self-grooming brushes and attach them to a surface at your cat’s height, to give them something to rub against. By helping your cat to scratch those spots they might struggle to reach with their tongues, moulting season could result in less mess!

Start with their faces

Most cats love to have their faces brushed and smoothed. So, start grooming from their face and work your way down their body – to make sure they enjoy the process from the beginning.

If your cat has a different favourite spot, and isn’t so keen on having their face brushed, simply start there instead.

Give them a treat

While cats aren’t usually as food motivated as their canine counterparts, you can still use a few treats to make grooming more acceptable to them. 

When deciding on the right treat, think about food they don’t usually get to eat as that’ll make it super special for them. 

For example, tuna chunks or pieces of salmon can help distract a cat from your brushing, while simultaneously rewarding them for their good behaviour.

Skin and coat supplements

Adding supplements to a cat’s daily diet can help to maintain a healthy coat, reduce moulting, and improve skin quality. However, any supplements you use should be suitable for your cat and given at the amount instructed.

Please note: You should speak to your vet for advice before giving your cat any supplements. 

Bathing

Cats do a pretty good job of keeping themselves clean and can go their entire lives without needing a bath. This might be for the best, because we couldn’t imagine having to tackle those claws while trying to get them into some water!

Pet hair cleaning hacks

Window squeegee

Surprisingly, a window squeegee is the perfect tool to help lift your cat’s hair from carpets, upholstery and rugs.

The rubber blade makes it easy to loosen any embedded fur that’s hard to remove even by hoovering. To make things easier, some people attach an old mop handle to a window squeegee to rake up the hair and other bits of debris.

Rubber gloves

Sometimes, you don’t need fancy tools to help keep your house clean and tidy.

To tackle the endless amount of fur, all you need is a pair of rubber gloves. Just put them on, wet your palms and rub your hands along the surfaces you’d like to de-hair. Voilà!

Hair roller

There are various pet hair remover rollers that can help keep your home, clothes, and furniture fur-free! Reusable and easy to use, pet hair remover rollers offer a more sustainable option when it comes to picking up cat hair. 

Do you have any grooming hacks you use for your cat? If so, please share your top tips with our followers on our Facebook page or on Instagram!

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