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.

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

Here are some top tips, owner hacks and expert advice when it comes to 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 is covered in cat hair.  

Our cats shed to help remove old, dead or damaged fur from their bodies 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, but you can expect a lot of hair, everywhere!

We need to give our feline friends a lending paw when it comes to grooming and we’re stuck with tidying up after them, too.

Brushing

Brushing your cat’s fur helps remove dust, dead skin and loose hairs while preventing any tangling and matting and can improve their circulation. It’ll give you the chance to check for any injuries or unwanted pests like ticks and fleas while allowing you to spend some quality time with your cat.

Here are our top tips on 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 one that suits the texture and length of your cat’s coat which will make things much easier when it comes to actually brushing them.

Slicker brush

This type of brush works with all coat types but because of the metal pins, you have to be careful not to scratch your cat’s skin and to 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

A lot like the slicker brush, but its wire pins are tipped with plastic or rubber, a pin brush can work its way through the longest fur. Suitable for everyday use, it 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, but it makes a great finishing brush for those kitties with longer or thicker hair. The soft bristles help smooth the coat and leave it nice and shiny while stimulating their skin.

Moulting comb

A moulting comb can be used on any coat type as it helps detangle their fur and prevents mats from forming. This type of comb features two different pin lengths to target a cat’s different coats.

Grooming glove

Depending on the type you buy, a grooming glove usually has rubber tips all over the palms so that you can lift hair, remove dander, and comb out mats and tangles with simple strokes. Once you're done, the collected hair will just peel right off the gloves helping keep your house fur-free, too!

Self-grooming help

Cats love to groom themselves and you’ll probably find them licking themselves more often than not (hello, furballs!) but you can help them with this, too. You can buy self-grooming brushes and attach them to a surface at your cat’s height to give them something to rub against to get to those spots they might struggle to reach with their tongues!

Start with their faces

Cats love to have their faces brushed and smoothed so start grooming from their face and work your way down their body so that they enjoy it from the start.

If your cat has a different favourite spot then 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. Think food they don’t usually get to eat so that it’s super special for them. Tuna chunks or pieces of salmon can help distract a cat from your brushing while rewarding them for their good behaviour.

Skin and coat supplements

Adding supplements to a cat’s daily food can help to maintain a healthy coat, reduce moulting and improve skin quality.

Please note: These supplements should be specific for your cat and given at the amount instructed.

Bathing

Cats do a pretty good job in keeping themselves clean and can go their entire lives without needing a bath. This might be just as well as we couldn’t imagine even having to tackle those claws to try and get them in some water.

Pet hair cleaning hacks

Window squeegee

Surprisingly, a window squeegee is a 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 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 help 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 that 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, these offer a more sustainable option when it comes to picking up cat hair. 

Do you have any grooming hacks when it comes to your cat? Why not share your top tips on our Facebook page or with our Twitter followers?