You might be surprised to learn that even your short-haired cat can get mats! Therefore, you should invest in a good brush for them. Since there is a plethora of brushes to choose from, we saved you a bit of time with these reviews of the top 9 brushes for short-haired cats.
In this article
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites
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Best Overall
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Warren London Cat Pin Brush |
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Frisco Pin Bristle Brush for Cats |
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FURminator Short Hair Cat Deshedding Tool |
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KONG Cat ZoomGroom Multi-Use Brush |
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HandsOn All-in-One Pet Bathing & Grooming Gloves |
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The 9 Best Brushes for Short-Haired Cats
1. Warren London Cat Pin Brush – Best Overall
| Brush type: | Pin brush |
| Material: | ABS plastic, stainless steel |
| Size: | 9.15 x 5.2 x 2.4 inches |
The Warren London Cat Pin Brush is designed for gentle everyday grooming, particularly for short-haired cats that need regular maintenance without heavy deshedding tools. Its pin-style bristles are intended to remove loose fur while also helping stimulate the skin and distribute natural oils, which can support a healthier and shinier coat over time.
The ergonomic handle provides a comfortable grip, making it easier for pet owners to use during longer grooming sessions. This brush is especially useful for cats that are sensitive to firmer grooming tools, as the rounded pin tips help reduce discomfort while still effectively removing excess fur. It can be used as part of a daily or weekly grooming routine to help minimize fur around the home and keep coats smooth and clean.
All in all, we think this is the best brush for short-haired cats.
- Gentle on sensitive cats
- Helps remove loose fur
- Promotes healthy coat oils
- Comfortable ergonomic handle
- Not effective for heavy matting
2. Frisco Pin Bristle Brush for Cats
| Brush type: | Pin and bristle |
| Material: | Plastic and rubber |
| Sizes: | 7.09 x 1.97 inches (mini), 9.26 x 2.76 inches (large) |
Our budget buy pick is the Frisco Pin Bristle Brush for Cats, mainly because you get twobrushes in one! One side is a pin brush with rubber tips, and the other side is a bristle brush designed to smooth the coat and distribute the natural oils. Both sides work well for a short-haired cat.
The problem with this brush is that the pins are spaced far apart, so they don’t always remove excess hair.
- Affordable
- Two brushes in one
- Rubber-tipped pins on one side and bristles on the other
- Great for short-haired cats
- Pins spaced fairly far apart
3. FURminator Short Hair Cat Deshedding Tool
| Brush type: | Deshedder |
| Material: | Plastic and stainless steel |
| Sizes: | 8.75 x 5 inches |
We recommend the FURminator Short Hair Cat Deshedding Tool as a choice pick. While this isn’t exactly a brush, it similarly helps with the grooming process. Short-haired cats tend to shed more than you might think, so using this deshedder can really cut back on the hair floating around in your home. It has also been designed specifically for cats with short coats.
The metallic edge is curved slightly to conform to your cat’s body, and the handle is ergonomic for a comfortable grip. The main issues with this deshedding tool are the price, and while it does effectively remove excess hair, the hair tends to fly all over the place during use.
- Helps cut back on shedding hair
- Designed specifically for short-haired cats
- Curved blade conforms to the cat’s body
- Ergonomic handle
- Expensive
- Hair flies all over the place while in use
4. KONG Cat ZoomGroom Multi-Use Brush
| Brush type: | Rubber brush |
| Material: | Rubber |
| Size: | 4.5 x 2.75 inches |
KONG’s Cat ZoomGroom Multi-Use Brush is a rubber brush that is flexible and gentle and can act both as a massager and brush to remove loose hair. It’s made with rubber, so it can attract loose hair while you’re brushing, and the massaging effect helps condition the skin.
But it’s a curry brush, meaning it doesn’t have a handle and might be difficult for some people to hold while grooming. Additionally, it can be difficult to clean.
- Flexible and gentle
- Massager
- Removes loose hair
- Made with rubber, which can attract loose hair
- Helps condition the skin
- Difficult to clean
- Some might find it difficult to hold
5. HandsOn All-in-One Pet Bathing & Grooming Gloves
| Brush type: | Grooming gloves |
| Material: | Rubber |
| Sizes: | Junior, small, medium, large, x-large |
The HandsOn All-in-One Pet Bathing & Grooming Gloves can help owners of short-haired cats that might not like being brushed. Your cat will simply think that they are getting amazing pets while you brush them, as it also provides a gentle massage. You can use these gloves on your cat while giving them a bath (if your cat likes baths), and they can easily reach areas on your cat that might normally be difficult to access. They come in five sizes.
Unfortunately, since the hair doesn’t stick to the gloves, the hair that comes out while brushing tends to fly off everywhere. Also, the nubs on the gloves are more of a hard plastic, so if you press too hard, it might hurt your cat.
- Helpful for cats that don’t like being brushed
- Gives a gentle massage
- Easy to reach challenging areas
- Can be used in the bath
- Comes in five sizes
- Hair flies off the gloves
- Plastic nubs might hurt if you press too hard
6. Hartz Groomer’s Best Slicker Brush
| Brush type: | Slicker |
| Material: | Plastic |
| Size: | 9 x 3.25 inches |
The Hartz Groomer’s Best Slicker Brush features a coating on the tips of the pins, so it’s gentle on your cat’s skin. The pins are close together and extra fine, so it’s effective at removing any mats or tangles. The handle is ergonomic, making it easy to hold and control, and the size of the brush is perfect for cats. Finally, the shape of the brush enables you to get into difficult-to-reach areas on your cat, such as the face.
However, the coated tips are small and fall off easily, so it might be uncomfortable for some cats.
- Pins have a protective coating on the tips
- Pins are close together for removing mats
- Ergonomic handle is easy to hold
- Brush shape allows for brushing tricky areas
- Plastic tips fall off easily
7. Frisco Metal Dog & Cat Comb
| Brush type: | Comb |
| Material: | Stainless steel |
| Size: | 7.49 x 1.4 inches |
While not exactly a brush, the Frisco Metal Dog & Cat Comb is an effective tool for brushing your short-haired cat. It’s dual-sided with wide teeth on one side and narrow teeth on the other, and the teeth have rounded tips, so it’s less likely to hurt your cat. It’s durable stainless steel and can help remove mats and any dirt or debris in your cat’s coat.
The only issue is that if you have a kitten or tiny cat, you might find this comb to be on the large and heavy side.
- Wide teeth on one side and narrow teeth on the other
- Teeth have rounded tips
- Sturdy, stainless-steel comb
- Easily removes mats and dirt
- A bit large for small cats
8. Safari Complete Cat Brush
| Brush type: | Slicker |
| Material: | Plastic |
| Size: | 6.5 x 3 inches |
The Safari Complete Cat Brush is a slicker brush that has a combination of nylon-coated, rounded-tip plastic bristles and traditional plastic bristles. It helps remove any mats and tangles but will be comfortable for your cat. The bristles help distribute natural oils and effectively remove excess hair. Finally, the handle is ergonomic and doesn’t slip out of your hands.
However, the brush isn’t always effective at removing excess hair, and any hair in the brush tends to be challenging to remove.
- Plastic bristles for smooth brushing
- Nylon-coated rounded tips on long pins
- Removes mats and tangles easily
- Helps distribute natural oils
- Ergonomic handle is easy to grip
- Doesn’t always remove excess hair
- Hair can be difficult to remove from the brush
9. Catit Senses 2.0 Self Groomer Cat Brush
| Brush type: | Self-grooming brush |
| Material: | Plastic and stainless steel |
| Size: | 5.2 x 3.8 x 2.3 inches |
Catit Senses 2.0 Self Groomer Cat Brush is a departure from regular brushes. This one is called a self-groomer because that’s precisely what it is. You can place this brush on the corner of a wall or furniture (at cat height, of course), and your cat can rub themselves on it whenever they want. It’s attached with either adhesive strips or more permanently with screws, and there’s a separate compartment for catnip for added attraction. It’s also quite easy to clean.
The problem is that the bristles aren’t that soft and might be too hard for some cats. Also, some cat owners didn’t receive the adhesive strips or screws to attach it. For those who did receive the adhesive strips, it didn’t always stay up for long.
- Cats can groom themselves
- Easily attaches to walls or other surfaces
- Separate compartment for catnip
- Easy to clean
- Bristles are hard
- Some owners don’t receive the adhesive strips or screws
- Adhesive doesn’t hold for long
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Brush for Short-Haired Cats
Now that you’ve gotten a few ideas about the brushes available for your short-haired cat, let’s go over a few pointers that should help you with your final decision.
Best Types of Brushes for Short-Haired Cats
Becoming familiar with what kind of brushes work best on short coats is a good idea. A soft, slicker brush used once a week works well, but ensure that the bristles aren’t too long or likely to scratch your cat. Also, be sure to use it gently to reduce the chances of hurting your cat.
Bristle brushes are also recommended for smoothing the coat and distributing the natural oils, which will make your cat’s coat shine! You can also invest in several other tools, such as a deshedder or a rake if your cat is prone to matting.
If you’re unsure of which brush to use, please contact your vet or a reputable groomer for a recommendation.
Go With What Your Cat Likes
Figuring out what kind of brush works well on your cat’s coat and what they like is crucial. Your cat might prefer a bristle brush over a slicker but maybe only a specific type of bristle brush. You might need to make multiple purchases until you find the brush that doesn’t make your cat run away when you bring it out.
Getting Your Cat Used to Brushing
If you feel that you must battle your cat whenever it’s time for a brushing, you’re not alone. Starting a grooming routine when they are a kitten is best, but this isn’t always possible.
Start by showing them the brush and letting them smell and even play with it. This way, it isn’t a strange item but something familiar. Try gently brushing them when they’re curled up on or next to you, which should feel similar to a gentle stroking.
If you encounter a tangle, gently ease it out—this is where a cat comb or rake can come in handy. You can add conditioner to the mat if it’s stubborn, but never use scissors! Some cat owners have accidentally cut their cat’s skin, so you’re better off taking them to a groomer if mats are an issue. This is also a sign that they should be brushed more often.
Finally, offer praise and treats after a good grooming session. Add in nice cheek and chin scratches while you’re at it!
How We Selected Our List of Brushes for Short-Haired Cats
Catster has an experienced, expert team of writers, editors, and veterinarians who carefully consider a wide range of parameters when choosing the brushes for short-haired cats. This includes but is not limited to customer reviews, brand reputation, veterinary experience, hands-on testing, and of course, our cats have a say in the process too! We aim to select and review only the best products available, to help you make the best possible choice and most informed decision for your and your cat’s needs.
Why Trust Catster?
A trusted online brand since 2001, Catster has a lot of experience with brushes for short-haired cats. Our team of cat-loving writers, editors, and veterinarians is dedicated to helping you make the best decision for your precious cats. Our aim is to provide the best information available for cat owners to help cats live their best life possible. To do this, we scour reviews from the most trusted sources available and this, combined with our veterinary team’s experience and expertise, helps us gather the best options available to readers. Our team is deeply invested in the health and welfare of cats the world over, and believes that expert knowledge and veterinary guidance will help you make the right choices—for you and your cats!
Conclusion
Our overall favorite brush is Warren London Cat Pin Brush. It has stainless-steel rubber-tipped pins, that are perfect for short-haired cats, and you just press a button for simple cleanup.
Frisco’s Pin Bristle Brush for Cats gets you two brushes in one—a pin and a bristle brush—for an affordable price. Finally, the FURminator Short Hair Cat Deshedding Tool is great for being incredibly effective at removing excess hair from short-haired cats.
We hope that these reviews have led you to a brush that works out well for you and your cat. Grooming a cat, even a short-haired breed, is an essential part of being a cat parent, and it can even be a great bonding experience!
Featured Image Credit: Hepper
