We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Shopping Pet Products The 10 Best Cat Brushes of 2024, Tested by Our Cats Our winner was the FURminator Undercoat deShedding Tool By Theresa Holland Theresa Holland Theresa Holland is a contributing shopping writer at PEOPLE with several years of experience covering home, outdoor, pets, travel, and beauty. Her work has been featured in Byrdie, Travel + Leisure, The Spruce, Brides, and more. People Editorial Guidelines Updated on October 22, 2024 11:00AM EDT In This Article View All In This Article Our Top Picks Reviews Add to Cart What to Know FAQ Behind the Scenes Why Trust PEOPLE? What Is PEOPLE Tested? Photo: People/Jeanne Geer Finding loose hair all around your home is simply part of life with a cat. A good cat brush is a cat supply you'll need to help control the issue, but that's not the only reason to get one. Experts Say "Brushing your cat regularly can help prevent the formation of hairballs and mats, which can lead to discomfort or health problems. It's important to choose a brush that is gentle on your cat's skin and doesn't cause any discomfort or irritation."—Dr. Carling Matejka, veterinarian and spokesperson for Solid Gold We tested 22 cat brushes to help you narrow it down, including slickers, dematting tools, and boar hair brushes. Each option was evaluated for user-friendliness, effectiveness, ease of cleaning, quality, and value. Our Top Picks Best Overall: SALE FURminator Undercoat deShedding Tool at Amazon $40 $29 Jump to Review Best Budget: HARTZ Groomer's Best Small Slicker Brush at Amazon $9 Jump to Review Best for Long Hair: Pet Republique Dematting Tool at Amazon $12 Jump to Review Best for Short Hair: Furbliss Brush for Grooming at Amazon $17 Jump to Review Best for Matted Fur: Hertzko Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush at Amazon $12 Jump to Review Best for Deshedding: SALE Aumuca Cat Brush at Amazon $20 $16 Jump to Review Best Slicker: SALE Depets Self Cleaning Slicker Brush at Amazon $10 $7 Jump to Review Best for Large Cats: Safari Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush at Amazon $21 Jump to Review Best Duo: KALAMANDA Slicker Brush at Amazon $7 Jump to Review Best Gentle: Mars Coat King Boar Bristle Cat Hair Brush at Amazon $14 Jump to Review Best Overall FURminator Undercoat deShedding Tool PHOTO: Amazon $40 $29 at Amazon $35 at Target $24 at Walmart Star Qualities Ergonomic design Loosens, removes, and detangles hair effectively Fur-ejector button keeps it clean Our cat enjoyed this brushing session Red Flags None Of all the options we tested, our favorite cat brush is the FURminator deShedding Tool. It has a grippy ergonomic handle and durable yet gentle stainless steel teeth that effortlessly loosen and remove all excess fur from your cat's coat while detangling mats. The brush is super comfortable to hold and easy to maneuver. It's the perfect size and shape for reaching all around your pet's body, including larger areas and into smaller curves and contours. Cats seem to enjoy it too! The kitty we tested it on purred with delight and rolled over to have her tummy brushed. This cat brush removes an impressive amount of fur, so you can expect to need less help from your pet hair remover. Thanks to the fur-ejector button, it's also incredibly easy to clean, as the hair just comes right off. We loved this product and wouldn't change a thing about it. Dimensions: 6 x 3 x 2 inches | Bristle Material: Stainless steel PHOTO: People / Lisa Pezzuto PHOTO: People / Lisa Pezzuto Best Budget HARTZ Groomer's Best Small Slicker Brush PHOTO: Amazon $9 at Amazon $5 at Walmart $6 at Chewy Star Qualities Comfortable, non-slip handle Soft rubberized tips are effective at deshedding and detangling Red Flags Tricky to clean The Hartz Groomer's Best Slicker is our favorite pick we tried under $10. This cat brush has a sturdy, non-slip handle and medium-firm metal bristles with soft rubberized tips. During our tests, it was comfortable to hold and worked very well at loosening and removing excess fur. It's also good at detangling and getting rid of mats. One drawback is that this brush is a bit difficult to clean. Unlike other slicker-style tools, it doesn't have a self-release button, so you have to pull out the captured fur by hand. Still, this effective product is a steal at its price. Dimensions: 9 x 3.5 x 1.5 inches | Bristle Material: Metal PHOTO: People / Christine Austin PHOTO: People / Christine Austin PHOTO: People / Christine Austin Best for Long Hair Pet Republique Dematting Tool PHOTO: Amazon $12 at Amazon $12 at Walmart $12 at Chewy Star Qualities Dual-sided design for combing and deshedding Comfortable and easy to maneuver in all areas Good at loosening excess fur Red Flags Requires some effort to clean If you have a long-haired cat, go with the Pet Republique Dematting Tool. The dual-sided design has longer metal teeth on one side for combing through stubborn knots and shorter, smaller teeth on the other for removing loose fur. We found this brush sturdy, comfortable to hold, and generally easy to maneuver. While it wasn't great at removing existing mats, it glides through un-matted cat hair pretty effortlessly and does a good job loosening excess fur. Using the brush creates some static electricity, which makes the loose hair stick to the comb. This makes it somewhat tricky to clean, but we got all the fur off with a little elbow grease. All things considered, this affordable tool is a great value. Dimensions: 10 x 4 x 0.5 inches | Bristle Material: Metal PHOTO: People / Jennifer Joanning PHOTO: People / Jennifer Joanning PHOTO: People / Jennifer Joanning Best for Short Hair Furbliss Brush for Grooming PHOTO: Amazon $17 $15 at Amazon $15 at Chewy Star Qualities Easy to maneuver Made of soft, gentle, cat-friendly silicone Gathers all loose fur Red Flags Doesn't comb out mats We recommend the Furbliss for brushing short-hair cats. This silicone grooming tool feels well-designed and not the least bit flimsy. Though it doesn't have a handle, we found it easy to hold and maneuver. The silicone "bristles" are much gentler than metal-toothed models (based on their purring, we could tell how much the cats loved being brushed with it). Though this brush doesn't comb out knots, it gathers up all the loose fur that would otherwise fall off and end up on your floors and furniture. You can expect a smoother, shinier coat after using it. It's also a breeze to clean — just wash it with soap and water. Dimensions: 4.5 x 2.5 x 1 inches | Bristle Material: Silicone PHOTO: People / Lisa Pezzuto PHOTO: People / Lisa Pezzuto The 12 Best Cat Trees of 2024, Tested by Cats Best for Matted Fur Hertzko Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush PHOTO: Amazon $12 at Amazon Star Qualities Comfy rubberized handle is easy to hold Gentle yet effective Bristles are retractable for easy cleaning Red Flags Bendable bristles Does your cat's hair get easily matted? Reach for the Hertzko Slicker Brush. It's a well-made grooming tool that has a comfy rubberized handle and stainless steel bristles. Gently yet effectively, it works through knots and picks up clumps of hair without tugging on your cat's skin. It's also super easy to clean — just press the button to retract the bristles and release the captured hair. One thing to note is that it might be slightly too large for some cats, as well as for accessing smaller parts of their body. Also, the bristles are pretty thin, so they likely bend easily, which could impact the effectiveness and potentially make it uncomfortably pokey for cats. Still, we think this product is a great value and definitely worth buying. Dimensions: 10 x 6 x 3 inches | Bristle Material: Stainless steel People / Andrew Whalen The 6 Best Automatic Pet Feeders We Tested with Our Cats and Dogs Best for Deshedding Aumuca Cat Brush PHOTO: Amazon $20 $16 at Amazon Star Qualities Penetrates deep into undercoat Protective rubber tips keep your cat safe Easy to clean Red Flags Can't fit in certain areas The Aumuca Cat Brush is your best bet for deshedding. The solid, well-balanced handle feels comfortable and easy to hold, and the stainless steel bristles are curved at the perfect angle to penetrate your cat's undercoat and remove all excess fur. We (and the cats we tested it on) also appreciate that the bristles have protective rubber tips to make them less pokey. Since the brush head is on the larger side, it's hard to access some areas, like the head, neck, and under the legs. But all in all, it did an excellent job of removing hair and debris from the undercoat. Cleaning was a piece of cake, too, thanks to the bristle-release button. Dimensions: 8.5 x 4 x 2 inches | Bristle Material: Stainless steel PHOTO: People / Jeanne Geer PHOTO: People / Jeanne Geer PHOTO: People / Jeanne Geer PHOTO: People / Jeanne Geer Best Slicker Depets Self Cleaning Slicker Brush PHOTO: Amazon $10 $7 at Amazon $16 $13 at Walmart Star Qualities Stainless steel bristles are perfectly spaced Loosens and removes excess fur with ease Self-cleaning design makes for easy hair removal Red Flags Too large to access some areas Depets' slicker brush has a comfy, grippy handle and stainless steel bristles with protective rubber tips. We found it easy to hold and maneuver, and although the large size makes it hard to access all parts of the body, it moves pretty effortlessly through a cat's coat. With perfectly spaced bristles, this slicker brush does impressive work loosening and removing excess fur from the undercoat. Cleaning it was no problem, either. All you have to do is push the button on the back to retract the teeth, which releases the collected hair. All things considered, we wouldn't hesitate to recommend this product to any cat owner. Dimensions: 6 x 2 x 2 inches | Bristle Material: Stainless steel PHOTO: People / Alessandra Amodio PHOTO: People / Alessandra Amodio PHOTO: People / Alessandra Amodio Best for Large Cats Safari Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush PHOTO: Amazon $21 $20 at Amazon $17 at Walmart $17 at Chewy Star Qualities Handle is comfortable to hold Large brush head ensures a quicker combing session Simple self-cleaning design Red Flags No protective beads on bristles The Safari Slicker Brush is the best option for large cats. This sizable tool has a sturdy feel and a comfortable, grippy handle. The large head allows you to quickly brush your cat's entire body, and the stainless steel bristles do an excellent job of deshedding and removing loose fur. While the bristles don't have protective beads at the tips, they didn't seem to bother the cats in our testing. After using this tool, you can expect your cat's coat to be shinier and softer. Thanks to the self-cleaning design, all you have to do is press a button to release the hair into the trash. In the end, we think the price is right on point. Dimensions: 10.5 x 6.5 x 2.5 inches | Bristle Material: Stainless steel PHOTO: People / Lisa Pezzuto PHOTO: People / Lisa Pezzuto PHOTO: People / Lisa Pezzuto The 10 Best Cat Carriers of 2024, Tested by Our Cats Best Duo KALAMANDA Slicker Brush PHOTO: Amazon $7 at Amazon Star Qualities Comb serves as a great backup tool to slicker brush Quick and easy to clean Great value Red Flags Too large for some cats This set from Kalamanda comes with a slicker-style brush and a comb, each with lightweight yet sturdy plastic handles and stainless steel teeth. The brush is on the larger side, so while it's great for the back and belly, it's not ideal for smaller areas — and it might be entirely too big for some cats. Still, it was effective at removing loose fur, knots, and dander. Plus, the comb is a great backup for places the brush may not be able to access, like the head, cheeks, and legs. Both tools are easy to clean — hair just pulls right out of the comb, and the brush has a "one-click cleaning" feature that instantly releases the fur with the press of a button. This cat grooming set is a stellar value. Dimensions: 8.5 x 3 x 1 inches | Bristle Material: Stainless steel PHOTO: People / Elise Wojczyk Wang PHOTO: People / Elise Wojczyk Wang The 6 Best Cat Scratching Posts of 2024, Tested by the Experts (Our Cats) Best Gentle Mars Coat King Boar Bristle Cat Hair Brush PHOTO: Amazon $14 at Amazon View on Marscoatking.com Star Qualities Lightweight enough for kids to use Bristles are exceptionally soft but still effective Leaves coat smooth and soft with regular use Red Flags Not ideal for dematting or deshedding If your cat has sensitive skin, we suggest this boar hair brush from Mars Coat King. The natural bristles are exceptionally soft, but they seem to be securely attached to the wooden paddle. They glide over your cat's hair and remove loose, excess fur from the surface while making their coat smooth and ultra-soft. Though this brush doesn't do much in terms of detangling or deshedding, we think using it regularly would likely prevent knots. Since the collected hair sticks to the bristles, it's hard to pull it out by hand. But it comes off pretty easily with a comb. Your cat will look forward to brushing time with this pampering, ultra-gentle option. Dimensions: 7.5 x 2 x 1.5 inches | Bristle Material: Boar hair PHOTO: People / Skye Senterfeit PHOTO: People / Skye Senterfeit The 6 Best Cat Litters of 2024 to Keep Your Home Smelling Fresh Add to Cart If you’re shopping for cat brushes, you might be interested in these other PEOPLE-Tested pet products, too. Our recommended picks go through rigorous testing from both our editors and independent testers. ChomChom Pet Hair Remover $28 $25 at Amazon $28 at Chewy Purina Unscented Cat Litter $24 at Walmart $33 at Chewy View on PetSmart Petseek Extra Large Cat Carrier $70 at Amazon Tucker Murphy Pet Siegfried Cat Tree $11 at Walmart $76 at Wayfair What to Know About Cat Brushes Type There are a few types of cat brushes to consider, including slickers, soft-bristle brushes, rubberized massagers, combs, and rakes. According to Dr. Matejka, the right option depends on your cat's coat and what you're trying to achieve. Rakes, such as the FURminator deShedding Tool, are good for deshedding and combing through knots. Slickers like the Depets Self-Cleaning Slicker are also good deshedders and a go-to for removing mats. Combs are great for accessing hard-to-reach areas, and gentler options are best for smoothing and softening. Bristles Cat brushes often have stainless steel bristles, which are typically very effective at deshedding and detangling. As with the Aumuca Cat Brush, some have protective rubberized tips, which make them a little gentler on your pet's skin. You'll also find options with boar bristles, like the Mars Coat King Cat Hair Brush, which resemble human hair brushes and are generally good for more sensitive cats. Hair Length When buying a cat brush, consider your pet's hair length. "Long-haired cats may require a slicker brush with tightly packed bristles that can penetrate the thick fur and detangle knots," says Matejka. "For short-haired cats, a rubber brush or grooming mitt is often effective in removing loose fur and promoting healthy skin." Frequently Asked Questions Is it OK to brush a cat every day? "Yes, it's generally OK to brush a cat every day when done gently and with the right tools," says Matejka. She explains that daily brushing can prevent hairballs and matting. "It can also help distribute natural oils in your cat's coat, keeping it shiny and healthy."Matejka adds that it's best to introduce new grooming tools gradually to avoid a negative reaction, which is also good practice when it comes to dog hair brushes for your favorite canine. "If your cat shows signs of discomfort or stress during brushing, it may be best to reduce the frequency or seek guidance from a professional groomer or veterinarian," she adds. What is the best tool to remove matted cat hair? Based on our tests, the best tool to remove matted cat fur is the Hertzko Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush. The stainless steel bristles gently yet effectively move through knots and tangles while capturing loose hair. That said, any high-quality slicker brush should work to get rid of mats. What brushes do cat groomers use? It depends on what they're trying to achieve, but groomers often use softer bristle brushes to make a cat's coat smooth and shiny. If the cat has existing mats or tangles, they might reach for a slicker or rake tool to remove them. For bathing, groomers might use a silicone or rubber massager-style brush. Behind the Scenes We took our time researching the best cat brushes on the market and selected 22 to try firsthand. All components of each brush were carefully examined, including the handle, head, and bristles. We then used them to brush at least one cat's entire body, noting how easy they were to maneuver, how well they worked, and the cat's reaction during the grooming session. Lastly, we cleaned the brushes and recorded how long it took. After two weeks of use, each cat brush received a score for quality, ease of use, effectiveness, ease of cleaning, and value. Those with the highest overall scores are featured in this roundup. Why Trust PEOPLE? Theresa Holland is a freelance commerce writer at PEOPLE who covers a wide range of topics, including pet care, home goods, beauty, skincare, and more. For this article, she used testing insights from real cat owners and interviewed veterinarian Dr. Carling Matejka. Our Expert Panel Carling Matejka, DVM, veterinarian and spokesperson for Solid Gold. What Is PEOPLE Tested? We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs. But we don't stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we've awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square. In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase.