Kittens, believe it or not, are delicate creatures, even if they somehow manage to get into trouble more than almost every other creature—usually in the space of just a few minutes. They are active, adorable, and sweet, and once you welcome one of these beautiful creatures into your family, you’ve years of love and companionship to look forward to.
Cats need affection; one of the most important ways kitties show love is through grooming. While kittens begin to clean themselves pretty soon after they’re born, mother cats regularly lick their babies to help them stay clean. Brushing your new companion is a great way to strengthen the bond between you and your cat. Read on for our reviews of the 10 best kitten brushes on the market.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024
Image | Product | Details | ||
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Best Overall | Safari Complete Cat Brush |
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Best Value | Hepper Deshedding Cat Brush |
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Premium Choice | Hertzko Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush |
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Pakeway Kitten Slicker Brush |
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Mr. Peanut's Hand Gloves |
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The 10 Best Kitten Brushes
1. Safari Complete Cat Brush — Best Overall
Material: | Plastic |
Size: | 6″ long, 4″ handle, 2″ head |
The Safari Complete Cat Brush has everything you need when grooming your cat, making it our pick for the best overall kitten brush! It removes tangles and all the extra fur, so there’s no need to purchase two separate products.
It’s appropriate for both long and short-haired kitties and can even reduce shedding when used regularly. Use short strokes for best results with short-haired cats and longer ones for medium and long-haired kittens. Some owners have reported difficulty removing hair from the brush after use.
- Made of easy-to-clean plastic
- All-in-one design
- Removes loose fur and grooms
- Appropriate for long and short-haired kittens
- Can be difficult to remove hair
2. Hepper Deshedding Cat Brush — Best Value
Material: | ABS plastic, Stainless-Steel Needles |
Size: | 7.4”L x 3.1”W |
We give Hepper’s Deshedding Cat Brush our vote for the best value choice in kitten brushes. This is also a stylish choice as it has three color options. The round shape and slightly tilted brush head make deshedding the fluffiest kittens easy—for both you AND the kitten. The plastic material makes gripping the brush a breeze, while the stainless-steel needles effortlessly gather up any loose fur. Removing the fur is easy as well. All you need to do is press the button on the back of the brush head, and the collected fur is pushed away from the needles. However, because the needles are metal, avoid brushing your kitten if it has any broken skin or sores.
At Catster, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest, so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!
- Easy-to-grip handle
- Comes in multiple colors
- Built-in mechanism for removing fur from brush head
- Waterproof for easy cleanup
- Needles may be too sharp for kittens with any skin issues
3. Hertzko Self-Cleaning Dog & Cat Slicker Brush – Premium Choice
Material: | Stainless Steel, Metal |
Size: | 10”L x 5.8”W x 3”H |
This super handy self-cleaning brush makes brushing and grooming easy for you and fun for your kitten. It works for both long and short-haired kitties and removes dirt, debris, and tangles, and there’s no need to purchase multiple products to keep your kitten’s coat smooth and healthy.
It features specially designed bristles that provide a deep clean without irritating your feline baby’s sensitive skin. Its ergonomic design makes it an excellent choice for people with joint issues. When you’re done with your grooming session, simply push the bristle retraction button and wipe away the collected fur.
- Retractable bristles for easy cleaning
- Ergonomic design comfortable handing
- Provides a deep clean without irritating your kitty’s skin
- Appropriate for long and short-haired kitties
- A bit large to comfortably use on tiny kittens
4. Pakeway Kitten Slicker Brush
Material: | Engineered Plastic, Stainless Steel |
Size: | 7.6”L x 3”W x 2”H |
The Pakeway Kitten Slicker Brush features stainless steel bristles capped with plastic to ensure your kitten’s comfort while grooming. It’s designed to limit the formation of static electricity during brushing and provide a deep clean while gently removing tangles.
Its ergonomically designed non-slip silicone gel handle feels great in your hand and makes it easy to engage in long grooming sessions without hurting your wrist. It features an easy-clean function that pushes the collected hair up and away from the bristles at the touch of a button for easy removal. Also, the entire product is water and rust-proof.
- Water and rust-proof
- Ergonomic design for pain-free grooming
- Super easy to remove hair from the bristles
- Designed to limit static electricity formation
- Short bristles make it less effective on long-haired kittens
5. Mr. Peanut’s Hand Gloves
Material: | Neoprene, Rubber |
Size: | One Size Fits all |
Mr. Peanut’s Hand Gloves do two things at once; they groom and gather up all of the loose fur that causes hairballs. It’s technically a deshedding tool, and the gloves feature rubber tips that grab dirt and get rid of tangles.
They work with long and short-haired kitties and feature a strap you can use to adjust the gloves’ fit, so they comfortably stay put on small, medium, and large hands. To clean the gloves, give them a quick wash and let them air dry.
- Super easy to use
- Enjoyable for most kittens
- Machine washable
- Grooms and desheds
- Removes but doesn’t collect hair well
6. GM Pets™ Self Cleaning Grooming Cat Brush
Material: | N/A |
Size: | 5”L x10”W x 2”H |
The GM Pets™ Self Cleaning Grooming Brush makes brushing your kitten simple. It’s appropriate for both kittens and cats, as well as short and long-haired kitties, and it has bristles long enough to provide a deep clean to thick undercoats. The brush has an easy clean design for ultimate convenience; press a button, and you can wipe the hair off the brush. It features an ergonomic grip with anti-slip material and even has a thumb rest to make brushing your pet easier on your hand and wrist.
- Ergonomic design for comfort during use
- Easy clean function
- Great for long-haired kitties
- Appropriate for kittens and adult cats
- Bristle length is a bit too long to brush short-haired kitties
7. YiEFUR Soft Silicone Self Cleaning Brush
Material: | ABS, Thermoplastic Rubber, Stainless Steel |
Size: | 6.3”L x 3.1”W x 2.3”H |
This self-cleaning slicker brush not only gets rid of knots and tangles but also grooms and removes fur that your kitty might otherwise ingest and end up bringing up later as a nasty furball. It’s designed to limit fur loss and, when used regularly, can help improve your kitten’s circulation.
It features a silicone handle that conforms to the shape of your hand, making this a super comfortable product to use. Thanks to its handy self-cleaning feature, you can get rid of all the hair with the touch of a button. It’s suitable for kittens and cats, and you can use it to groom both short-haired and long-haired felines.
- Self-cleaning functionality
- Ergonomically designed handle for comfort
- Appropriate for both long-haired and short-haired kitties
- Appropriate for kittens and adult cats
- Bristles are a bit sharp and can cause skin irritation
8. Frisco Car Curry Brush
Material: | Rubber |
Size: | 4.34”L x 2.56”W x 1.19”H |
Is your kitten battling with the brush when you try to groom it? We get it! Some kittens may not take to being brushed, so we recommend the Frisco Cat Curry Brush. This brush has two sides: one with small short rubber bristles and one with longer, thicker rubber bristles. The rubber material may feel gentler on your kitten, making it more inclined to stay still for a brushing session. Plus, this brush also helps remove dead skin underneath the coat. Another bonus is that you can use this brush to massage in shampoo should you ever decide to give your feline a bath.
However, some people felt that this brush was less effective than brushes with metal bristles at removing loose hair.
- Waterproof for easy cleaning
- Soft rubber
- Effective at removing dead skin
- Budget-friendly
- Less effective at removing a large amount of fur
9. Hartz Groomer’s Best Slicker Brush
Material: | Plastic |
Size: | 3.2”L x 1.6”W |
This affordable choice features fine bristles to tackle knots and matted fur without pulling your kitten’s fur. It also collects loose hair, dirt, and debris to help keep your furry companion’s coat shiny and healthy. The bristles feature a coating to ensure your kitten’s comfort while being brushed.
The product’s ergonomic handle makes the brush easy to maneuver, and keeping the product clean is a snap; it can be cleaned with soap and water. The bristles are designed to evenly distribute your kitten’s natural oils, giving your kitten’s coat a nice healthy sheen.
- Removes tangles
- Gets rid of loose hair
- Decreases shedding
- Ergonomic design
- Not ideal for long-haired kitties
10. Depets Self Cleaning Slicker Brush
Material: | Stainless Steel, ABS Plastic, Rubber |
Size: | 7.7 “L ×4.1” W |
The Depets Self Cleaning Slicker Brush removes tangles and collects excess hair, so it doesn’t end up all over your house. The widely-spaced bristles feature rounded beads at the end that ensure your kitty’s sensitive skin is protected during grooming sessions, and they also provide a gentle massage that’s great for improving the blood flow.
The product also features a grip designed with your comfort in mind. When cleaning up, all you have to do is press a button, and the collected hair lifts off the bristles for easy removal.
- Removes tangles and desheds
- Bristles feature comfort-improving rounded beads
- Comfortable grip
- Easy cleanup
- Not appropriate for long-haired kittens
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Kitten Brush
While cats and kittens are typically pretty good at taking care of their grooming needs, there are a few things to keep in mind when deciding what brush to purchase, including the length of your kitten’s hair, the sensitivity of your cat’s skin, your preference when it comes to design options, and how easy the product is to clean. Below you’ll find tips to help you select the best brush for your cat’s needs.
Hair Length
Short-haired cats are relatively easy to deal with when grooming. You can select any product they enjoy and one you feel comfortable using. Grooming gloves, slicker brushes, and shedding combs are all excellent options. However, you probably won’t need to use a deshedding comb or brush very often unless your cat starts coughing up hairballs and needs an occasional assist for getting rid of excess fur. Fine wire brushes with soft tips are affordable choices that are perfect for maintaining your short-haired cat’s coat.
Medium and long-haired kitties, on the other hand, do best with a combination of slickers and deshedding combs or brushes. Cats with medium-length hair are usually fine with a quick daily brushing and weekly deshedding sessions. Long-haired cats often need serious attention with a brush and deshedding comb to keep their fur from getting excessively tangled. For best results, select a comb with both wide and narrow teeth.
Brush or Glove Size
Kittens are, for the most part, pretty tiny, and they require a brush that’s not too big. Brushes or brushing gloves that are too large can make it difficult to get to those delicate little arms, legs, and tails without making your feline uncomfortable.
Design
Cats with long hair are sometimes easier to groom with a regular pin brush, while small, round, hand-held options with straps tend to be easier for owners to control. Gloves simulate regular petting and can be a great way to bond with your kitten while you groom them, but some cats take time to get used to the silicone material.
Pins or Silicone
Standard brushes tend to have metal pins tipped with soft plastic or rubber. Some kittens are just fine with the pins, but you can use a silicone brush or glove if your kitty shys away from the brush or you see their fur rippling as you groom them, indicating overstimulation.
Clean Up Options
Stopping your brushing session every two minutes to remove your cat’s fur from the brush can be annoying, and it’s easy to make a mess as you clean the brush and throw the loose strands of hair into the nearest trash receptacle.
If cleaning your kitty’s brush drives you crazy, look for a retractable option that will make it easy to wipe the collected fur away. Some models have long teeth designed to catch more hair than standard brushes, reducing the times you need to clean the brush during each grooming session.
Conclusion
According to our reviews, the Safari Complete Cat Brush is the best overall kitten brush due to its versatility. The Hepper’s Deshedding Cat Brush offers a super gentle and affordable option. The Hertzko Self-Cleaning Dog & Cat Slicker Brush makes our list for its easy cleanup.
The Pakeway Kitten Slicker Brush provides static electricity control and an ergonomically designed handle. Mr. Peanut’s Hand Gloves are a great option that lets you pet your kitten while grooming them, creating an excellent human-baby cat bonding activity.
Featured Image Credit: Stock Video Footage, Shutterstock
Contents
- A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024
- The 10 Best Kitten Brushes
- 1. Safari Complete Cat Brush — Best Overall
- 2. Hepper Deshedding Cat Brush — Best Value
- 3. Hertzko Self-Cleaning Dog & Cat Slicker Brush – Premium Choice
- 4. Pakeway Kitten Slicker Brush
- 5. Mr. Peanut’s Hand Gloves
- 6. GM Pets™ Self Cleaning Grooming Cat Brush
- 7. YiEFUR Soft Silicone Self Cleaning Brush
- 8. Frisco Car Curry Brush
- 9. Hartz Groomer’s Best Slicker Brush
- 10. Depets Self Cleaning Slicker Brush
- Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Kitten Brush
- Conclusion