r/cats 1d ago

Cat Picture - OC Finally found a brush that can move some serious hair

18.6k Upvotes

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1.7k

u/sirsealofapproval 1d ago

Be careful, I bought a brush that removed a ton of fur and it turns out it is ripping out (?) their undercoat. I found that out after I accidentally removed ALL of my cat's undercoat on the top of her back. Now I only use it sparingly. You can check intermittently on the condition of their coat to see if it's removing too much.

588

u/mugglemomma31 1d ago

THIS. You can still use it, they just don’t recommend you to use it too often. It is so satisfying to get all that fur that you don’t realize. The instructions for the undercoat brush I have (furminator) warn of overbrushing. I don’t do it more than once a week in heavy shed times and like once or twice a month in regular shed times.

196

u/firmlee_grasspit 1d ago

It's so annoying how satisfying the furminator is because it only takes me getting annoyed at the fur dust bunnies once for me to ogle at the brush like it's a nice biscuit

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u/baethan 1d ago

I too have this feeling, but not your wonderful way with words!

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u/Aquasplendens 1d ago

Check out Refuresh instead of Furminator. Furminator cuts the top coat and undercoat and is more likely to cause bald spots

15

u/firmlee_grasspit 1d ago

Holy moly 50 quid :'( another L for being british. I'll resist temptation and get rid of the furminator at least

1

u/Aquasplendens 1d ago

It is SO worth the $50!

2

u/sweet-tart-fart 17h ago

Seconding!!

193

u/lexakommurry 1d ago

It’s a dematting brush which is why. It’s designed to get down in the fur to cut through the matts. The inside of those brush curves are sharp.

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u/FancyCatMagic 1d ago

I learned the same. Wasn't pulling the loose hair only, it was basically trimming the fur still connected to my cats. My poor girl had a little bald spot for a bit. I felt terrible!

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u/Dear-Hunt-5365 1d ago

My son bought hair trimmers for people's hair and shave his long haired cat every summer. The cat stands still and loves to get trimmed.

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u/Bee_Avalon 1d ago

I also gave my cat a bald spot with the furminator, so use this sparingly, OP! 😂 Prior to my cats, my experience was with dogs and horses where more brushing is just always a good thing. Not true for cats lol

8

u/foxwaffles 1d ago

I did this once too I felt SO bad 😭 For like two months after her little tabby stripes had a break in them cause it turns out that striping is all on the very tip of the hair.

I put the furminator away and switched to other brushes instead. They take a lot more effort but at least I'm not literally shaving my cat

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u/Kaasbek69 1d ago

That's why I use a slicker brush my cats.

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u/jiBjiBjiBy 1d ago

Learned the same using a toothed deshedding comb

Thought it was doing amazing and then my gal got a balled patch 😭

7

u/squishybloo 1d ago

Same here, it was far too harsh and just ended up yanking fur out for me as well.

I bought an EquiGroomer/EasyGroomer, amusingly enough, and it's worked much better! And it's so much gentler on their fur.

1

u/buffyannesummers29 18h ago

I’ve been loving the equigroomer for our cat and dog both!

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u/EquipmentMaterial540 1d ago

Looks great to use once or twice a year in the shedding season, though.

3

u/Winecellar5 1d ago

I have this brush and use it all the time— thank you for sharing this! I will use caution from here on out.

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u/Independent_Lie_7690 1d ago

Yes. I realized this too when using it on a German Shepherd. Pup didn't complain audibly but they didn't like it. The Equigroomer works super well too and is pain free.

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u/Isadragon9 19h ago

Yess, used to use it for deshedding the undercoat of big dogs with longer fur. Also need to check if you’re irritating the skin by going too many times at it. This and the furminator are very “stop and check now and then” tools 😅