In the article we looked at what a furminator for cats is, the principle of its action and advantages, and what contraindications exist. You will also learn how to choose a device and use it correctly.
When animals molt, the entire apartment becomes covered with hair—any owner knows this firsthand. Wool is everywhere: in all rooms, on your clothes, on dishes, on the sofa. There is no way to avoid this, but you can minimize its consequences. A furminator for cats comes to the rescue.
This is a favorite care product for long-haired cats for many owners. We’ll talk about why the Furminator for cats is so loved, and what it is, in this article.
Furminator
Why do you need a furminator?
This is an improved version of the pet brush. Instead of regular teeth, like a comb or brush, it has an attachment with fine metal teeth at the end.
The device is somewhat reminiscent of a machine or trimmer. It removes dead hair before it reaches your clothes or your favorite carpet.
Don't worry about the rest of the fur. The teeth comb it very courteously and do not cause any discomfort to the animal. After combing, the owner needs to remove the resulting hairball from the nozzle.
Benefits of the new tool
But before buying such a tool for caring for an animal, you should know its advantages and why it is better than other combs and brushes.
Let's name just a few of them:
- Removes even dead undercoat from the very bottom. If the owner uses a regular comb, then only 70% of the fur is combed out, everything else remains in the undercoat, accumulates, and gets tangled;
- After such combing, the fur becomes noticeably silkier and healthier. When combing, the grease is distributed over all areas of the coat;
- The cat does not experience discomfort or pain. The wool does not come off. Hair removal can be done on sensitive areas of the skin;
- It will last a very long time and will pay for itself several times over;
- Reduces the number of tangles. You can see what the tangles look like in the photo;
- It combs out more hair and the cat stops choking on it;
- You can't ignore the cleanliness of your home. No brush can save you from the ubiquity of hair.
Terms of use
Brushing a cat with a furminator has several features and recommendations that need to be taken into account. First of all, it is worth remembering that you can only comb out clean and dry wool. Those pets who walk outside must be thoroughly bathed before the procedure to clean the fur from dust and dirt, then allowed to dry, after which you can begin removing dead hairs.
Please note that the tool cannot be used to remove mats. They must first be untangled or carefully cut with scissors.
Combing should be carried out strictly according to hair growth, with gentle stroking movements, slowly moving from the upper part of the body to the lower part. It is recommended to start from the head and then move to the back. Only after this can you begin to care for the paws, belly, tail and groin area.
To avoid pain and discomfort, you need to:
- Do not try to untangle tangles using a furminator
- Use only brushes that are the right size
- Do not comb dirty or wet fur
- Do not carry out the procedure if there are inflammatory processes on the skin, scratches, abrasions, etc.
- Do not use on breeds that do not have an undercoat.
Principle of operation
It is not difficult to understand how a regular furminator for cats works; you just need to imagine a human trimmer. Only now he does not shave the cat, but only lifts the top layer of fur so that he can get to the undercoat. In this case, the wool is not cut or pulled out.
The special position of the teeth allows you to remove up to 90% of hair. But for this it will be necessary to carry out at least 3-4 procedures during the animal’s molting period.
Combing procedure
Disadvantages and contraindications
Despite the fact that the Furminator is so loved by many owners, it has its own disadvantages and contraindications. There are not many of them:
- It cannot be used if your cat has short fur or no fur at all. Its use is contraindicated in breeds such as exotic, angora, and baley.
- The tool is not suitable if the animal has even slight damage to the skin. This includes not only scratches and wounds, but also diseases. For example, if a cat is found to have subcutaneous mites, fungal diseases, dermatitis and other diseases that harm the skin.
- But it is contraindicated not only for hairless cats. There are some other breeds, such as Laperm, Burmese, Oriental and others.
If you have even the slightest doubt, it is best to consult your veterinarian. Such damage is very difficult to treat. Therefore, it is better to warn yourself and your pet than to correct the consequences for a long time.
Example of a contraindication
Types of furminators
The work depends on the characteristics, type. They are available in the following sizes:
- Small, width 3.2 cm. Great for kittens and small cats;
- Medium, width 4.5 cm. These devices can be used to comb cats weighing less than 5 kg;
- Large, width 6.9 cm. For cats weighing more than 5 kg. Very often it is bought for combing dogs.
For short-haired breeds, buy furminators with a short comb, for long-haired breeds - with a long one.
In addition, furminators can be:
- Classic;
- deluxe type.
Both are good. The only difference is that the deluxe line has large, comfortable handles and a special button. With its help, removed hair is automatically removed.
Types of furminators
Manufacturers
The main manufacturer and developer is FURminator deShedding Tool, headquartered in Fenton, Missouri, USA. However, it is manufactured by enterprises located in China. The entire range undergoes two-stage testing in the USA and China.
The FURminator brand takes the issue of counterfeiting seriously. Therefore, when purchasing, check the serial number of the tool. So, since 2012, the Deluxe series has not been imported into Russia.
Nuances when purchasing:
- at the top of the packaging of officially imported tools there must be the phrase: Anti-shedding tool in 4 languages;
- the distributor sticker must be affixed;
- voluminous manual, as opposed to thin fake instructions;
- technical differences: curved working blades and reinforced handle design of the original.
It is also produced by the following companies:
- Trixie requires periodic blade replacement, costing half the device, produced in Germany;
- HelloPet is manufactured in Thailand;
- Foole is endowed with bright colors and an unusual design solution, manufactured in France.
Trimmer
How to use a furminator
To learn the furminator for cats and understand how to use it correctly, no special knowledge is required.
The most important thing is to set the cat in the right mood, calm it down, and pet it before the procedure itself. If the cat does not struggle and behaves well, then the procedure will go quickly and without problems.
Note! Before combing, you should make sure that there are no stuck or tangled sticks, various twigs, or other objects in the wool. The coat must be dry. If there are sorcerers, knots, then it is better to untangle them in advance, carefully. If you just start combing them, it may hurt the cat. Then she will associate this procedure with negative emotions.
Longhaired cats
If the cat is long-haired, you need to get special hairdressing clips. You should start with the bottom layer of wool, the top layer is removed using hairdresser's clips.
The amount of fur after one procedure
The procedure starts from the tummy. You need to move strand by strand up to the spine. You should not scratch against the grain, as it may hurt the cat. You shouldn’t take a lot of wool at once; the brush may simply not cope.
The approximate time spent on combing is an hour.
Shorthair cats
If the cat is short-haired, then you can start from any part of the pet’s body. But it is still important to move in the direction of hair growth.
As for movements, they should be very smooth and careful. It is important to stop in time if the iron teeth trip over a knot.
In general, the procedure takes about half an hour.
Precautionary measures
The precautions are similar to those described in the “Disadvantages and Contraindications” section.
It is only worth noting that if you have never used a furminator before, you must first carefully study the combing procedure and learn how to properly hold the tool in your hands so that the animal does not get hurt.
Cat and furminator
Reference! The procedure is very different from the procedure of combing with a regular comb. This means we need to approach it more consciously.
After the procedure, you need to thoroughly clean the nozzle, close it with the existing cap, and put it in a hard-to-reach place.
You should not trust small children to comb the animal, they can hurt it or even seriously injure it.
How often can I use it?
The frequency of combing depends on the following factors:
- Season;
- Breed, coat length;
- Owner's need.
Most often, the furminator is used only during the molting period, or rather in late spring and early summer.
During this period, loving owners brush long-haired cats every day, and short-haired cats a couple of times a week.
Cat and its fur
The Furminator can be used at any other time of the year, it all depends only on the wishes of the owner. Long-haired pets can be combed twice a week, short-haired pets - once a month.
But you should not resort to his services too often. Firstly, it takes too much time, which is not always convenient not only for the owner, but also for the cat. Secondly, although steel teeth are safe, they can cause hair breakage.
What to do if the animal is not given?
If a pet is not accustomed to hygiene procedures, it is most often not given to the owner.
Your cat should be taught to brush itself from childhood. If we are talking about an adult pet, you will have to be patient and gradually accustom him to manipulation. It is necessary to ensure that the cat stops being afraid of the procedure and begins to treat it calmly. To do this, you need to act carefully, without causing the cat any unpleasant sensations. After the procedure, it is recommended to give your pet a treat.
This will create additional motivation before the next combing.
Step-by-step instructions for making a bed or other sleeping place for a cat with your own hands with photos and patterns
Some cat owners advise placing the comb in a place that the animal likes. If the cat often rubs against a corner or table leg, you should put the tool there for a while. This way the cat will get used to the sight of this item and leave its scent on it.
Device selection
In order for the device to perform all its functions without causing any trouble, it is worth exploring all the available options. It’s not enough to just go to a pet store and buy the first one you come across. Pet store shelves are filled with a huge variety of grooming tools. Some of them are very expensive, but there are those that combine reasonable prices and excellent quality.
When purchasing, pay attention to the following parameters:
- Size, build quality of the handle;
- The metal from which the nozzle is made must be stainless and durable;
- The presence or absence of a protective cover;
- Width of working surface.
Where to place the comb
The brush should be placed in those places where the cat most often rubs its back or whiskers: corners, door frames, table legs. Observe your cat and place the device exactly in the place chosen by the cat. Don't forget to attach it at the level of your pet's neck so that he can reach the scratcher with both his back and muzzle.
My cat was constantly rubbing her face on the legs of the kitchen table. Perhaps in this way she was simply begging for a tidbit. But we decided to hang a comb in these places. The cat really liked this thing, and sometimes she rubbed against it even in our absence, as the tufts of fur remaining on the device told us about.
To summarize, I would like to say that when choosing a comb or brush, you should first of all rely on the preferences of the cat and its characteristics: length of hair and type of undercoat
And only after that pay attention to the price of the device and its convenience for the owner
Review of popular models
Popular models sell well not just because they are inexpensive. They are made of very high quality material and will last for many years.
Let's give an example of some of them.
FURminator Trimmer Brush
The line is represented by a whole series of models for animals of different sizes.
FURminator Trimmer Brush
Advantages:
- Tops all ratings;
- A large number of positive reviews;
- Comfortable handle;
- Quality materials;
- The purchase quickly pays for itself.
Hello PET trimmer brush
An inexpensive model that is no different from its expensive counterparts. Users note that the trimmer brush does its job perfectly, and you can achieve the desired result in just a couple of uses.
Hello PET trimmer brush
Trimmer brush FoOlee One
Most brushes from this manufacturer are beautifully designed, which is what attracts buyers. But the model gained popularity not only due to its design, but also to its quality.
Trimmer brush FoOlee One
Almost all models have short teeth. FoOlee One is suitable for short-haired cats.
DeLIGHT
The DeLIGHT company produces many products for hair care. Among them you can find furminators. Their cost is low and depends on the size and model.
DeLIGHT
Owner reviews
If we look at the entire furminator market as a whole, we can draw ambiguous conclusions. Many owners' ratings may depend on many variables that have nothing to do with the product. The most common ones are:
- Incompetence in using the tool;
- Use on breeds with no undercoat;
- Too frequent use of the furminator;
- The obstinate nature of the pet.
The reaction to a pet's furminator is always unpredictable - this is what the owner should be guided by when choosing a gadget
There are situations in which furminators are useless, having neither a positive nor a negative effect.
One thing is for sure - positive reviews of the original product usually prevail.
