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Grooming Tools for that Self-Sufficient Feline

Mary Simpson
by Mary Simpson
Published:  April 17th, 2025

(photo credit: lucky_pics / shutterstock.com)


Do you brush your cat? Let me rephrase that. Does your cat let you brush her? Because if she’s longer-haired she should be brushed daily – regardless of how annoyed she becomes with you. And for shorter-haired felines, at least once a week to keep both cat and home, reasonably free from flying fur.


But there’s more because beyond ensuring your fluffball looks her very best, brushing out all that loose fur stimulates the natural oils for a healthy, shiny coat and reduces the likelihood of her developing those dread hairballs. Yes, due to how frequently a cat licks and preens her fluffy coat throughout the day, hairballs are not uncommon. At best, they pass through her system and straight into the litter box. More typically, they build in her digestive tract until they’re too large to move through her. At this point, she regurgitates them back up as a slimy mass of hair you’re almost certain to step in. And then there are the extreme cases where the mass grows to become a solid blockage that requires veterinary intervention. So, let’s not let it get to that point.


If you’re trying to keep your feline well-groomed but she won’t tolerate brushing for more than a few seconds, what can you do? Don’t give up for starters. Choose to move through the process in increments. Start with gentle brushing in the areas she approves of, then gradually increase the coverage while praising and offering treats along the way. At the same time, build the duration up from just a few seconds to a few minutes.


Now, kitty may well have plans for primping that don’t include you. When that’s the case, a little hands-off assistance may be just the ticket and thankfully the pet industry has developed some cat-friendly tools your feline will actually enjoy using.


If your cat is like most, she loves to rub her face and cheeks along the corners of walls or furniture edges. This activity leaves her scent (pheromone) and claims the space as her own. It also tends to leave a dirty streak over time so, why not take advantage of this instinctive behavior to preserve your walls and tackle those furry dust bunnies? This dual-pack of wall-mounted cat brushes is the way to go. Gently curved to work on wall corners, furniture legs, or soft furnishing edges, the soft bristles on these grooming brushes deliver a gentle massage plus facial groom your cat will definitely return to again and again. I love that you can attach this wall-mount brush with either screws or double-sided tape – perfect for rental units or when you haven’t quite decided on an ideal location. And when it’s time to clean it out, simply pop the brush component off the base, wash and reattach.


When kitty is a multi-tasker, what could be better than getting in a good back scratch while brushing away all that loose hair, and, at the same time, sharpening her claws? If trying to accomplish many things at the same time, sounds like you (or rather, your cat) then this cat grooming brush with integrated scratching pad from Catstages is going to be right up your alley. Of course, the natural draw for any cat is going to be that thick corrugated cardboard base infused with dried catnip. I mean, what cat can resist the ‘nip, right? Now, once you have her attention, she’s about to discover that the dense, heavily textured base is perfect for digging in and working off a day’s worth of stress while at the same time, giving herself a little mani/pedi. But it’s that arched brush with a full 360 degrees of back-scratching bristles that you’re both going to get excited about. Reposition it from side-to-side to a diagonal position to suit any feline shape and gently work away loose fluff.


Tick every feline grooming and maintenance box with this interactive cat scratching pad from Catlit. Let’s start with that comfy cushion that allows kitty to lie down as she works her way through a literal buffet of grooming aids. And yes, the pad is removable for easy cleaning. But surrounding that vibrant green cushion is a 360-degree grooming ridge she can rub and wriggle against to tackle any itches. Then there are the two heavily textured grooming brush pads that sit right at face, neck, and cheek level. Perfect for when she wants to stretch out and do a little self-defluffing. A fun addition to this mini wellness center is the BPA-free gum-stimulating nub atop this grooming unit. Infused with catnip and covered in tiny dimples, it’s a natural draw that helps keep teeth and gums healthy. Best of all, each component in this cat grooming station was detachable and washable.


The high-energy feline deserves a seriously fun motion-activated cat grooming brush to keep her looking her very best. And this LED option is such a great choice. Not only does it rotate at two different speeds to deliver the ultimate facial massage and groom, but its interactive. Dual power options (battery or USB charge) deliver five minutes of LED light-blinking fun that’s sure to draw your curious cat over to explore. A round, spiky head is motion-activated and rotates for the first five minutes of use, then powers down. But once kitty nears, it fires up again and begins the rotation. Super cool is that this automatic cat grooming brush uses suction cups to anchor it to any hard surface – including floors, walls, or even windows.


WOW
Mary Simpson
Mary Simpson

Sharing space with three seriously judgy Schnoodles and 2 felines who prefers to be left alone. #LivingMyBestLife

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