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9 Best Cat Brushes in the UK in 2024: Reviews & Top Picks

Written by: Christian Adams

Last Updated on February 26, 2024 by Catster Editorial Team

cat brushing a home

9 Best Cat Brushes in the UK in 2024: Reviews & Top Picks

cat brushing a home

A cat brush can be used to keep your cat’s hair in good shape. It can also remove mats of hair that are especially common in longhaired breeds, and certain types of cat brushes and cat combs can even be used to help combat flea-and-tick infestations. But the brush needs to be convenient to use, comfortable for the cat, and effective. With so many different variants and models on the market, it can be difficult to confidently choose the best one for you and your feline companion.

That’s why we compiled reviews of the best cat brushes in the U.K. and included a guide to help you choose the one that’s appropriate for your cat.

3 cat divider

A Quick Look at Our Favourites in 2024

Image Product Details
Best Overall
Winner
FURminator Undercoat De-shedding Tool FURminator Undercoat De-shedding Tool
  • Removes loose hairs from undercoat and top coat
  • EdgeGuard protects teeth when not in use
  • FURejector button quickly releases hair and fur
  • Best Value
    Second place
    Ferplast Combination Brush For Cats Ferplast Combination Brush For Cats
  • Cheap
  • Dual heads for removing hair and grooming
  • Comfortable handle
  • Premium Choice
    Third place
    GoPets Dematting Comb With 2 Sided Professional Grooming Rake GoPets Dematting Comb With 2 Sided Professional Grooming Rake
  • Dual-purpose rake
  • Sharp teeth for mats and knots
  • Rounded ends to prevent injury
  • Best for Kittens
    Celemoon Cat Brush Celemoon Cat Brush
  • Reasonably priced
  • Soft and gentle silicone
  • Comfortable and convenient hand grip
  • MalsiPree Pet Grooming Brush MalsiPree Pet Grooming Brush
  • Reasonable price
  • Two sides for thinning and de-matting
  • Curved teeth won’t damage skin
  • The 9 Best Cat Brushes in the UK

    1. FURminator Undercoat De-shedding Tool — Best Overall

    FURminator Undercoat De-shedding Tool

    Type: De-shedding
    Style: Rake
    Material: Plastic, metal
    Cat Size: Medium

    The FURminator Undercoat De-shedding Tool is designed for cats with a double-layer coat. The stainless-steel teeth get through the outer layer of the coat and to the undercoat, where it removes loose hairs and helps minimise the impact of shedding.

    FURminator has a range of de-shedding tools for cats of different sizes and with coats of different lengths, but this one is for medium-sized cats with a short coat. The plastic handle is comfortable to hold and contoured to the shape of the hand with a textured grip, and the de-shedding tool comes with an EdgeGuard to protect the teeth when not in use. There’s also a FURejector button designed to release the fur quickly from the comb, making it easier to clean and keeping it in better condition.

    Although this is quite expensive for a cat comb because it removes loose hair from the top and undercoat of the cat, it is effective at helping reduce shedding, making it the best cat brush in the U.K. Plus, its many features make it convenient and comfortable.

    Pros
    • Removes loose hairs from undercoat and top coat
    • EdgeGuard protects teeth when not in use
    • FURejector button quickly releases hair and fur
    Cons
    • Expensive
    • Must ensure that you get the right size

    2. Ferplast Combination Brush for Cats — Best Value

    Ferplast Combination Brush For Cats – Best Value

    Type: Grooming
    Style: Brush
    Material: Plastic, metal
    Cat Size: All

    The Ferplast Combination Brush for Cats is a brush-style tool that utilises both sides of the head. One side has soft bristles that massage the skin and allow some styling of your cat’s hair, while the other side of the head has stainless-steel pins.

    The pins have rounded heads, so they won’t dig in and scratch the skin, and this side is designed to remove dead hair and tackle mild to moderate matting. The handle is ridged and suitable for any hand size, and the brush is one of the cheapest on this list. This low price, combined with the combination brush heads, makes it the best cat brush in the U.K. for the money.

    This is a good value brush that is especially effective for general maintenance, but it won’t be able to deal with heavy matting, and you may need a better brush for cats with really long hair.

    Pros
    • Cheap
    • Dual heads for removing hair and grooming
    • Comfortable handle, so easy to use
    Cons
    • Not effective against matted hair

    3. GoPets Dematting Comb With 2 Sided Professional Grooming Rake — Premium Choice

    GoPets Dematting Comb With 2 Sided Professional Grooming Rake

    Type: De-matting
    Style: Rake
    Material: Wood, metal
    Cat Size: All

    If your cat does have problems with matted fur, the premium GoPets Dematting Comb With 2-Sided Professional Grooming Rake is designed to counter the problem. As well as a stylish and quality wooden handle, this grooming rake has two sets of grooming teeth: a high-density side for thinning and de-shedding coats and a lower-density side for really bad knots and tangled hair.

    The teeth have rounded ends, so they won’t dig and scratch your cat’s skin, but they are designed to be sharp so they make quicker work of getting through hair mats. If you have a cat that gets stressed when being brushed—common if they do have matted fur—then the longer you’re combing, the more anxious your cat will become. So, quick work is essential.

    This is an expensive cat comb, but it is designed to tackle problematic matted fur and works out cheaper than regular visits to the groomer.

    Pros
    • Dual-purpose rake
    • Sharp teeth to quick work of mats and knots
    • Rounded ends prevent injury to cat’s skin
    Cons
    • Expensive

    4. Celemoon Cat Brush — Best for Kittens

    Celemoon Cat Brush

    Type: Grooming
    Style: Brush
    Material: Silicone
    Cat Size: All

    It is a good idea to start regularly grooming and brushing kittens when they are still young. They will get used to the odd sensation of being brushed, and it allows you some control over mats and knots. However, kittens are sensitive, and they need a brush that meets their needs. The Celemoon Cat Brush is a hand-shaped grip brush made with silicone.

    The silicone is flexible and soft, which means it won’t scratch or cause irritations to your kitten’s skin, and it is suitable for standard grooming, though it won’t tackle matted fur. Silicone can also be washed with water, so it can be kept clean and ready for use. The brush is reasonably priced, and it has a finger grip so you can enjoy total control when using it.

    While the brush is useful for kittens and cats with short hair and no matting, it won’t tackle difficult jobs; for those, you will require something more substantial.

    Pros
    • Reasonably priced
    • Soft and gentle silicone
    • Comfortable and convenient hand grip
    Cons
    • No use against mats
    • Not great for long hair

    5. MalsiPree Pet Grooming Brush

    MalsiPree Pet Grooming Brush

    Type: Undercoat brush
    Style: Rake
    Material: Wood, metal
    Cat Size: All

    The MalsiPree Pet Grooming Brush is an undercoat brush designed to get rid of loose hair. A lot of brushes do a decent job of getting rid of loose fur from the top coat because this is easy to reach, but loose fur in the undercoat is a lot more challenging. The brush has to be able to work through the outer layer and into the undercoat.

    The curved metal teeth of the MalsiPree Pet Grooming Brush are designed to do exactly that, while the curved ends prevent scratching and irritation. The brush is double sided. The standard side has nine teeth and is used for stubborn matted hair, while the extra-dense side with 17 teeth is effective at thinning hair and getting rid of shed fur.

    The MalsiPree is a little more expensive than a standard brush but less costly than a lot of similarly designed brushes. It is designed for long, thick coats and shouldn’t be used on those cats that have short hair. Even the dense side of this brush has fewer teeth than some other undercoat brushes, though, and would benefit from a more densely toothed design.

    Pros
    • Reasonable price
    • Two sides for thinning and de-matting
    • Curved teeth won’t scratch or damage cat’s skin
    Cons
    • Not suitable for short-haired cats
    • Dense side could still do with more teeth

    6. JW Pet Company GripSoft Cat Slicker Brush

    JW Pet Gripsoft Cat Slicker Brush

    Type: Slicker
    Style: Brush
    Material: Metal
    Cat Size: All

    The JW Pet Company GripSoft Cat Slicker Brush is a slicker brush, which has dense, short wires that are designed for cats with medium to long coats and to remove mats. The GripSoft handle is soft and easy to hold, so you have total control over the grooming. The brush is lightweight and does a decent job of removing loose hairs.

    It is reasonably priced too, but the pins are sharp, and it may cause some discomfort if you’re not careful. The company recommends removing hair from the brush every week, and the design of the pins means that it is easy to simply pull the collected hair off.

    Pros
    • Reasonably priced
    • Comfortable SoftGrip handle to use
    • Dense pins to tackle mats
    Cons
    • Sharp pins may cause discomfort

    7. Hartz Groomers Small Slicker Brush

    Hartz Groomers Small Slicker Brush

    Type: Slicker
    Style: Brush
    Material: Plastic, metal
    Cat Size: Small or medium

    The Hartz Groomers Small Slicker Brush is a cheap slicker brush that is suitable for cats of all sizes but is best used on cats with medium to long hair. The head of the brush is quite small, which means that it can take longer to finish the job, especially on cats with a lot of hair and a thick coat. However, the angled head makes it easier to brush the whole of your cat. The brush can be washed in warm, soapy water to get rid of grime and help remove the hair it catches. The pins do have covered ends, which means less pain for the cat, but it can prevent the brush from working against really difficult matted fur.

    If you have a large cat or one with really matted fur, you may need a stronger slicker brush.

    Pros
    • Cheap
    • Covered pins to prevent scratching
    • Angled head to make it easier to access belly and chin
    Cons
    • Small head only really suitable for small cats
    • Not effective against challenging hair

    8. Thunderpaws Pet Dematting Rake

    Thunderpaws Pet Dematting Rake

    Type: De-matting
    Style: Rake
    Material: Rubber, stainless steel
    Cat Size: Large

    The Thunderpaws Pet Dematting Rake is a dual-headed, de-matting rake with a different number of teeth on either side. This enables you to use one side for removing loose hairs and the other for getting through matted and knotted hair. The handle is made of rubber, which is soft to hold but offers good grip, and the de-matting rake is priced reasonably. It also has an extra-wide head, which means that it will cover more surface area in a single pass, reducing the time it takes to comb your cat.

    The brush is heavy, and the teeth don’t do as good a job of cutting through matted hair as other de-matting rakes, which means that it can pull on your cat’s hair. The extra-wide head is also a hindrance unless you have a really large cat.

    Pros
    • Good price for a de-matting rake
    • Rubber handle is soft but grippy
    • Extra-wide head covers more surface area
    Cons
    • Extra-wide head too big for most cats
    • Not great at cutting through matted hair

    9. Simply Natural Pet Grooming Glove Set

    Simply Natural Pet Grooming Glove Set

    Type: Grooming
    Style: Glove
    Material: Plastic
    Cat Size: All

    The Simply Natural Pet Grooming Glove Set is a set of two grooming gloves, which can be beneficial for owners of cats that are resistant to being brushed. Some cats are put off by the look of the brush, never mind the feeling of metal teeth pulling at their fur. A glove looks and feels as though you are giving them rigorous pets, but the short plastic teeth will pull away some loose hairs and can help prevent hair from becoming matted before it becomes a problem. The set of gloves is affordable, and you do get two, so you can halve the time it takes to groom your cat.

    However, while grooming gloves can be beneficial for resistant cats, the short, plastic teeth do not get out many loose hairs. If your cat dislikes the feel of having a grooming glove used on them, they may be hesitant to be touched at all in the future.

    Pros
    • Affordable
    • Potentially useful for brush-resistant cats
    • Set of two
    Cons
    • Not that effective at removing loose hairs
    • Some cats won’t like the feel

    cat paw dividerBuyer’s Guide: Finding the Best Cat Brush in the UK

    Grooming is a requirement that not only benefits the cat but also the owner. It picks up loose and dead hair, which minimises shedding so you won’t have to brush or hoover as often. It also makes your cat feel more comfortable and prevents hair from becoming matted. The length of your cat’s hair and their tendency to shed will ultimately determine how often you need to groom your cat, and choosing the right type of cat brush will go a long way to ensure the process is as smooth and painless for you both as possible.

    Brush Types

    Although they have many different names, there are only a few basic types of cat brushes:

    • Slicker Brush: A slicker brush has lots of pin-like metal teeth, which can be quite sharp if they don’t have some kind of protective tips. These brushes remove loose hair, and they can get through matted areas of the coat.
    • De-matting Rake: A de-matting rake or undercoat rake is a rake-shaped device that has large teeth that are usually curved. It is designed to get through the top layer of the coat to the undercoat, which regular brushes can miss. The curved teeth are also efficient at de-matting knotted hair.
    • Grooming Brushes: The grooming brush is what many people consider to be the standard cat brush. It typically has plastic bristles, though some brushes use natural bristles made of boar hair or another material. These will remove loose hair but are most effective on short-haired cats that do not suffer from matted fur.

    The Benefits of Brushing Your Cat

    There are multiple benefits to regular cat brushing, including the following.

    • Removing Dirt: Cats are known for being clean animals, but even the cleanest can occasionally find themselves with dirt and grease in their coat that they can’t remove effectively themselves. Brushing pulls the particles of dirt away from the hair and is especially effective at removing dried-on dirt.
    • Removing Loose Hair: When hairs die or fall out, they don’t necessarily leave your cat. If too many are left in the coat, this causes knots and matting. It is uncomfortable for your cat and can cause hairballs. Regular brushing removes hairs that are dead or loose, making your cat more comfortable.
    • Increasing Circulation: Brushing your cat improves blood circulation and encourages the glands to produce more natural oils. This leads to a healthier and glossier-looking coat.
    • Removing Dandruff: Dandruff is irritating and looks ugly. Brushing not only removes loose hair but also gets rid of flakes of dandruff. Combine regular brushing with the use of a decent anti-dandruff shampoo to really combat the problem.
    • Minimising Hairballs: Cats routinely lick themselves as a means of cleaning and grooming. When they do, they naturally pick up loose and dead hairs. If they hoover up too many hairs, these can get stuck undigested until the cat brings them up as a hairball. It’s a natural reaction, but too many hairballs can lead to sickness, and nobody likes being presented with a wet, sticky hairball. Removing the dead hairs before your cat has the chance to ingest them minimizes incidents of hairballs.
    • Reducing Cleaning: Some cats shed a lot of dead hair, and this tends to accumulate on surfaces like furniture and the floor. This means you have to hoover more often. Removing the dead hairs on a brush and then disposing of those hairs means you won’t have to clean them up later. Although some shedding should still be expected, there will be less work for you.
    • Bond Building: Most cats like to be brushed or stroked with a grooming glove, and doing so reinforces and builds the bond between owner and cat. It doesn’t have to be a chore, and if your cat enjoys the sensation, you can do it while watching TV.

    How to Brush Your Cat

    Always brush in the direction from your cat’s neck to their tail, and try to start with the abdomen and legs. Be gentle so as not to cause discomfort or pain, and stop if your cat makes noises that suggest they’re in any discomfort. If you keep going, the cat will be less inclined to let you brush them again in the future. When brushing the tail, part the fur and brush in both directions.

    Use this opportunity to check the condition of the coat, and run your hands down the cat’s body to check for any signs of injury or illness.

    Ideally, you want to get into a routine of brushing your cat when they are still a kitten and make the experience a positive one. This will help ensure that they are more open to being brushed when they become an adult.

    vet doctors brushing scottish fold cat
    Image by: Denys Kurbatov, Shutterstock

    Is a Brush or Comb Better for Cats?

    Combs can do a good job of de-matting fur, but since the teeth are close together, they are more likely to pull. What’s more, the teeth can be sharp, so if you do use a cat comb, be especially gentle to prevent any injuries or discomfort. A brush tends to be softer, and you can cover more area in a short time. A rake may offer the benefits of both comb and brush but is typically only required when a cat’s fur is especially matted.

    How Often Should You Brush Your Cat’s Fur?

    The frequency you brush your cat will depend on coat length, time of year, and their tendency to shed. Brush at least once a week, and be prepared to brush twice a week if your cat has a long coat. Some breeds may require daily brushing to ensure that their coat is kept in good condition and that they are comfortable.

    mans hand combing maine coon cat with hair brush
    Image Credit: Sergey Fatin, Shutterstock

    Can You Over-Brush a Cat?

    In the same way that your cat over-grooming themselves can cause problems, you can also brush them too often. Too much brushing can cause bald spots to appear, and it can lead to skin irritations and other problems. If you notice any of these problems, reduce the amount you brush and allow the hair time to grow back properly.

    3 cat divider

    Final Verdict

    Cats’ coats vary in length and density from one breed to the next, but most require some kind of regular grooming from their owners. Try to brush your cat at least once a week. Not only will it benefit your cat, but it will also minimise instances of hairballs and reduce how often you have to clean up cat hair.

    In this guide and reviews list, we found the FURminator Undercoat De-Shedding Tool to be an affordable brush that does a good job of getting through the overcoat to remove loose hair and matted fur. If you just need a simple brush and don’t want to pay too much, the Ferplast Combination Brush is inexpensive, and its double-headed design enables you to remove dead hairs and tackle matted fur.

    See Also:


    Featured Image Credit: Africa Studio, Shutterstock

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