Do you have a cat that hates to be brushed? Does your cat run away and hide every time he sees a cat grooming tool? This is a common problem that can be made easier if you use a soft cat brush that’s made for sensitive cats. If you’re looking for the best brush for cats that hate to be brushed you’ll find a full list of our top picks below.
Also, if you scroll down to the bottom of this page you can learn how to groom a cat that doesn’t want to be groomed.
Best Brush for Cats That Hate To Be Brushed
Best Cat Brush for Cats That Hate To Be Brushed
HandsOn Pet Grooming Gloves
The HandsOn Pet Grooming Glove (Buy Online) is the best cat brush glove on the market. These pet grooming gloves are available in four different colors and five sizes: Junior, Small, Medium, Large, X-Large.
The HandsOn Pet Grooming Gloves have soft rubber nodules that are very flexible and non-abrasive. That means you can use these cat brush gloves to groom your cat while you pet them and in most cases, they won’t even know they are being brushed.
The HandsOn Pet Grooming Gloves will work on both short hair and long hair cats and they are very effective at removing dirt, dandruff, and loose hair from a cat’s coat. Best of all the gloves are also very easy to clean since they are machine washable.
Safari by Coastal Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush
The Safari by Coastal Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush (Buy Online) is the best slicker brush for cats since it makes grooming a simple process. This brush requires minimal effort to get good results since it uses small steel pins that gently loosen mats and tangles. The safari self-cleaning slicker brush for cats also has bristles that retract so cleaning the hair out of the brush is extremely easy.
Cat Tongue Textured Grooming Brush
The Cat Tongue Textured Grooming Brush (Buy Online) is one of the most unique cat grooming tools on the market. The texture on this soft ABC plastic brush has been specially designed to mimic a cat’s tongue.
This soft cat brush with a tongue texture is the best cat brush for short hair cats that hate to be brushed since it doesn’t have long bristles. Instead, it has soft rubber grooves that will gently brush your cat’s fur while removing dirt, dandruff, and loose hair
FURminator for Cats, deShedding Tool for Cats
The FURminator for Cats, deShedding Tool for Cats (Buy Online) is the best cat brush for shedding. This brush is designed to reach through a cat’s topcoat and remove loose hairs from their undercoat without irritating their skin or pulling on the hairs in their topcoat. The furminator undercoat deshedding tool will also help prevent hairballs when used regularly since it can limit the amount of hair a cat swallows while self-grooming.
FURminator LongHair deShedding Tool for Large Cats
The FURminator LongHair deShedding Tool for Large Cats (Buy Online) is the best cat brush for long-haired cats. This cat brush is made to gently remove loose hair from a cat’s undercoat without scratching their delicate skin or pulling out any hairs in the process. It also is the best cat brush for shedding especially when it is used in conjunction with FURminator shampoo which will help nourish your cat’s skin and strengthen their hair follicles.
Pet Grooming Tool – 2 Sided Undercoat Rake for Cats
The Pet Grooming Tool – 2 Sided Undercoat Rake for Cats (Buy Online ) is an undercoat deshedding tool and a skin massager. This undercoat rake is made to remove loose hair from a long-haired cats undercoat. The curved teeth are specifically designed to loosen tangles and the sharp inner side of the teeth will make short work of stubborn matted hair. The rounded teeth are also gentler on a cat’s skin compared to metal pins or bristles, and most cats will enjoy the feeling of the curved teeth especially if they have dry itchy skin that’s bothering them.
Professional Slicker Brush for Dogs and Cats by GoPets
The Professional Slicker Brush for Cats by GoPets (Buy Online) is a gentle slicker brush for cats. This cat brush has a higher bristle density than most slicker brushes so it won’t poke, scratch, or scrape your cat’s skin. This brush is 4-inches across and it has a total of 672 bristles, and it’s also very comfortable to use since it has an ergonomic design and a soft silicone handle.
Cat Self Groomer Wall Corner Groomers Soft Grooming Brush
The Cat Self Groomer Soft Grooming Brush (Buy Online) will make it easy for your cat to groom themselves at their own leisure. This soft cat brush can be mounted on the corner of a wall or even on a cat tree. Whenever your cat naturally rubs up against this soft brush it will help remove loose hairs and prevent tangles from forming.
If you have a cat that won’t let you come near them with a cat grooming tool then this Self Grooming Brush might be one of the best cat brush alternatives for your situation.
CeleMoon Ultra-Soft Silicone Washable Cat Grooming Shedding Massage/Bath Brush
The CeleMoon Ultra-Soft Silicone Washable Cat Brush (Buy Online) is one of the softest cat brushes on the market. This brush is made from premium silicone that will never scratch your cat’s skin since it’s extremely flexible. You can also use this silicone brush when you give your cat a bath since it’s 100% waterproof.
Boar Bristle Brush
Mars Boar Bristle Cat Hair Brush
The Mars Boar Bristle Cat Hair Brush (Buy Online) is a soft cat brush that’s made for cats that don’t like to be brushed. This professional-grade cat brush is 7.25 inches long and it’s made from birch wood with a nutwood varnish.
This high-density boar bristle brush is gentle on a cat’s skin and it won’t catch on tangles or matted hair. The Mars Boar Bristle Cat Hair Brush works best on short hair cats, but it will also work on long-haired cats as long as their hair isn’t too dense.
Alcott Bamboo Groom Palm Brush with Boar Bristles
The Alcott Bamboo Groom Palm Brush (Buy Online) is a boar bristle brush that measures 3.25” wide x 4” Tall. This handcrafted brush fits into the palm of your hand and it comes with an elastic strap for added comfort.
Palm brushes with boar bristles are great since you can gently brush your cat while you pet them. They also allow you to have better control of the pressure you apply to the brush, which can make it easier to keep your cat calm and comfortable while you brush their hair.
How To Brush a Cat That Doesn’t Want To Be Brushed
Brush In The Right Direction
Make sure you always brush in the direction that a cat’s hair naturally grows. If you brush a cat’s coat in the wrong direction it can be a very uncomfortable and stressful experience for both you and your cat. Also, if you follow the natural grain of a cat’s coat it will make your job easier since the brush will glide through your cat’s hair with minimal effort.
Move Slow
When you start to brush your cat’s hair try to move slowly and let them get used to the feeling of the brush. Then you can start to move a little faster once you know your cat is comfortable. If your cat starts to show any signs of agitation or distress you should stop brushing them, and then let them calm down before you try to brush them again.
Use The Right Brush
There are lots of cat brushes that you can use to groom a cat, but some will be more effective on cats that don’t like to be brushed. Cat brush gloves, slicker brushes, boar bristle brushes, and soft cat brushes made of silicone and rubber are some of your best options. You can scroll up this page and find our favorite cat brushes for sensitive cats if you want to get the best brush for cats that don’t like to be brushed.
Regular Brushing
The best way to make your cat comfortable with having their hair brushed is to try and brush them on a regular basis. This will help alleviate some of their fear and stress since it will get them used to the sensation of being brushed.
Regular grooming will remove loose hairs and it will also keep tangles from forming. Removing loose hairs will go a long way towards keeping shedding under control, and best of all it will also help prevent hairball problems.
Pick The Right Time
Choosing the right time to groom your cat is more of an art than a science. You want to pick a time when your cat is relaxed and willing to tolerate close physical contact. If your cat is avoiding you and keeping to themselves then it’s probably not a good time to groom them. However, if your cat is rubbing up against you and looking for affection then you might want to use that opportunity to gently brush them.
Use Treats
If your cat is food motivated you can use treats as a reward or an enticement. One good trick is to give your cat treats while you brush them to draw their focus away from the brush.
Treats can also be used as a reward after you brush your cat, but be sure to only give them a treat if they stayed calm and relaxed while you brushed them.
Each method can work but it will depend on your cat’s personality, so you’ll need to see what works best for your situation.
Start Early
One of the best ways to get a cat used to the feeling of being brushed is to start brushing them regularly when they are kittens. If you start brushing your cat early they are more likely to enjoy being brushed, and they will be less likely to lash out or hide when you brush them as they start to get older.
