Furminator for cats: what is it and how to use it

The Furminator for cats is loved by many owners of mustachioed and tabby cats. Every owner wants to get rid of annoying animal hair in their apartment. It can cause allergies in humans, and intestinal disorders in cats if it enters the body. The problem becomes even greater if several pets live in the house.

In this situation, a furminator comb becomes a real salvation. Using the device, you can remove almost all fallen hairs from your pet’s undercoat and prevent them from spreading throughout the house.

What is it - a furminator for cats

This invention was invented by a group of American specialists consisting of groomers, breeders and veterinarians. The device is not many years old, but it has managed to enter the lives of cat owners as a necessary item in their grooming arsenal.

The furminator looks like a comb with a handle. The main role here is given to the metal blade, which has an unusual sharpening. It allows you to capture hairs from the very depths of the undercoat and thereby remove almost all lost hair. The device body is made of durable plastic. The holder has an anti-slip rubber cover or rubberized inserts.

Undoubted advantages

When buying a furminator for cats, you need to understand what it is and how it differs from other accessories and combs. This will help you make the right choice. Compared to a slicker comb, the Furminator has several advantages in the fight against hair loss.

So, why do you need a furminator for cats with such a variety of grooming accessories:

1. It removes dead inner undercoat. Conventional combs remove only the top layers and do not reach the undercoat, which can accumulate for a long time, becoming entangled in the long pile. The Furminator helps remove the hard-to-reach inner layer that can be so difficult to comb out.
2. Does not spoil the structure of the coat. Despite the metal teeth, the Furminator does not damage the fragile cat skin and fur structure. It gently removes undercoat without harming the cat.
3. Prevents the formation of tangles. The inner undercoat is difficult to comb out with combs, and in long-haired breeds this can cause increased formation of tangles.
4. The cat eats less of its fur. When licking, a cat swallows a lot of hairs, and during the molting period their number doubles. This negatively affects the pet's gastrointestinal tract and can cause intestinal obstruction. By removing the inner undercoat with a Furminator, the owner helps the cat cope with excess fur and improve its health.
5. During the process itself, the grease is evenly distributed. As a result, owners note that the animals' fur becomes shinier and smoother. She looks healthy and well-groomed, like after a trip to the groomer.

Perhaps one of the advantages is indirectly the ability of the furminator to keep the house clean. The less the cat sheds, the less often you need to collect hair throughout the house.

Operating principle

To understand the principle of operation of a special comb, it is enough to imagine a modern trimmer. Only the furminator does not cut the hairs, but lifts them so as to capture the small pile from the animal’s undercoat. The owner needs to remove the hairballs from the device and throw it in the trash. At the same time, living hairs remain absolutely intact and unharmed due to the correct arrangement of the teeth. The procedure is not complicated, but it does require a little skill and time.

To remove almost all excess hair from an animal (up to 90%), it is necessary to carry out 3-4 procedures, and sometimes even less, during the molting period.

The device is durable because its blades do not bend or break, as happens when using a regular cat brush. The animal's skin is not injured. The owners assure that their pets tolerate the procedure well - for them it is absolutely painless.

Benefits of use

The Furminator is a comb-trimmer with a handle and a sharpened comb-shaped blade. There is a certain distance between the teeth of the comb. The Furminator works on the principle of a rake - it gently lifts the fur and removes it without sharp pulling or cutting. It removes dead hairs and undercoat without touching the outer coat - it slips between the teeth. This useful device makes the combing procedure less traumatic and stressful for the cat. Some animals even enjoy it, and owners prefer it to going to the salon.

How is a furminator better than a regular comb:

• the cat swallows less hair when licking;
• you can remove hair from sensitive areas of the body - the stomach, genitals;
• Combing is combined with massage, which is beneficial for blood circulation.

It is believed that using a furminator you can remove approximately 90% of dead hair. Thorough brushing will help reduce the time it takes for hair to become everywhere in the house by half during shedding.

Types of instruments

There are several models of furminators, and it is best to choose the best option taking into account the breed, health status, coat and the amount of lint that falls out. Cats should be combed with a high-quality furminator, so as not to spoil the animal’s coat. There are only three main types of tools.

For long-haired individuals

For cats with long hair, use a furminator with long teeth located at a large distance from each other. This is due to the fact that in long hair the undercoat gets tangled faster and much more strongly. The process causes the formation of tangles, which subsequently become impossible to comb. Manufacturers take into account the age and weight of the cat, and also produce special models for kittens.

The product has a special designation – “Large”, which indicates that the model is intended for adult cats with long hair. There are also two subspecies: for cats with hair lengths up to 10 cm and for those individuals whose hair length exceeds 12.5 cm.

For short-haired individuals

For cats with short hair, there are three modifications, including the weight of the animal. These modifications are designated as “Small” (small), “X-Small” (very small) and “Medium”.

Depending on the hardness of the cat's hair, there are varieties for hard or printed (soft, plush) coats. A consultant at a pet store will help you choose the appropriate model.

According to technical qualities, there are “Classic” and “Deluxe” levels. When choosing between these types, you will notice differences in the quality of the material from which the handle is made, and the presence on the Deluxe model of a button for automatically cleaning the comb from combed hairs.

For certain breeds

For British and Scottish Shorthair cats there is a special furminator suitable specifically for this breed. It is designed for the characteristic plush fur. The model is selected according to the weight and size of the cat.

For Abyssinian cats, combs are suitable that go deeper into the coat to comb out the most inaccessible layers of the undercoat. These are usually 4 cm wide ridges.

Gradation by size

The labeling of values ​​varies among different manufacturers, but generally comes down to 4 categories:

• small – (Small, Mini);
• medium (Medium, Midi);
• large (Large, Maxi);
• universal – 3(4) in 1.

The most compact option is suitable for small animals and kittens. The width of the comb of the device does not exceed 3.3 centimeters. For adult fluffies weighing 5-6 kilograms, you need to choose a furminator with a blade width of 4.5 to 7 centimeters. There are also offers for owners of large specimens: the blade width of the “Maxi” model is 10 centimeters.

Universal models are sold complete with several attachments. This allows you to change one blade to another depending on the breed of your pet. Typically, such things are used by professional groomers or owners of several animals.

Where to buy a furminator

Owners, exhausted by the need for regular brushing with a regular comb, will probably wonder where to buy a furminator for cats? Let's consider several options:

1. At a pet store or veterinary pharmacy.
   Here you can purchase a high-quality furminator with a guarantee (usually 30 days), having received a sales and cash receipt in your hands. True, the price of goods in a pet store (or pharmacy) is almost always slightly overpriced (at least 800-900 rubles);
2. In the online store.
   There are many offers on the Internet for the sale of grooming accessories at prices ranging from 400 to 2500 rubles. In addition, virtual stores often offer discounts; the seller offers to deliver goods directly to your home. In addition to Russian online stores focused only on the sale of pet supplies, you can also search for the furminator on large foreign Internet sites, for example, you can buy it really inexpensively on Aliexpress or Amazon. But delivery from afar can be quite long, and there is no certainty that the goods will arrive undeformed;
3. In hypermarkets (like Auchan or Lenta).
   The only drawback of buying in such a place is the modest range of furminators.

Criterias of choice

By comparing all the available types of tools with the characteristics of your pet, you can confidently make a choice. What you need to determine before purchasing:

• pet's hair length - it is better to measure with a ruler;
• weight and dimensions - if in doubt, choose a furminator with a narrower blade to reach the lint in hard-to-reach places;
• how much money are you willing to spend - the Deluxe class costs one and a half times more, but it is incomparably more convenient.

Pay attention to the country of origin. Do not buy questionable products - they may be of poor quality and therefore dangerous for your pet.

The structure of cat fur

The fur of cats and dogs is a kind of hair. Periodically, the formation of new hair stops. After some time, the old hair falls out - shedding occurs. Then cell division of the hair follicle resumes, and new hair grows.

There are several types of shedding:

1. Seasonal, associated with the change of season. It is typical for animals living on the street. All wool is renewed almost simultaneously.
2. Permanent, in those individuals that live in the house. There is a periodic, gradual replacement of wool throughout the year.
3. Physiological. This is a temporary process associated with certain periods: estrus, mating, pregnancy, feeding kittens.

Lost hair is everywhere in the apartment, creating inconvenience for owners and cats. To solve this problem, there are furminators for cats. To understand why to use them, it is necessary to consider the structure of the coat of cats.

Hair follicles in cats have a complex structure. From each follicle grow:

1. The awn is the primary, or central (covering) hair. It is the thickest and longest, called the guide.
2. 2-3 thinner and shorter hairs that surround the hair guide.
3. Hair, even shorter, forming the undercoat.
4. Downy hair.

The furminator for cats greatly simplifies this labor-intensive process.

Cats have the thickest fur. Its density varies in different parts of the body. The thickest, short covering hair—almost just fluff with undercoat—is located on the belly. The hair on the back is longer and thicker, but there is less of it.

Disadvantages and contraindications

Before using a furminator for cats, you need to remember that this is a device that has contraindications and some disadvantages. It is best to consult a professional before using it on your pet. In some cases it can cause harm:

1. The Furminator should not be used if the cat has lesions on the skin, as well as subcutaneous mites, dermatitis or fungal infections.
2. Some “hairless” breeds do not need to be combed with a furminator (Canadian Sphynx, Don Sphynx, Peterbald, Ukrainian Levkoy, elf and others).
3. In addition to short-haired breeds, there are breeds for which combing with a furminator is contraindicated due to the almost complete or complete absence of undercoat (Burmese, Laperm, Devon Rex, Cornish Rex, Oriental and others).

If any doubt arises, you should consult a specialist. Damage to a cat's skin takes a long time and is difficult to treat, so it is better to protect her from this trouble.

Who should not use the furminator?

The use of a furminator is not advisable for cats of those breeds that do not have an undercoat or the coat has its own characteristics. These include:

• la perm;
• Devon Rex;
• Turkish Angora;
• sphinx;
• Singaporean;
• oriental;
• Burmese;
• Cornish Rex;
• tiffany;
• Balinese shorthair and others

Also, do not forget that the use of the furminator is absolutely contraindicated in the presence of any skin diseases, wounds and cuts.

How to use a furminator for cats

Before using the device, you need to study it thoroughly: be sure to read the instructions. It is also recommended to check the serviceability of the device - inspect it from all sides. There should be no burrs on the blade.

Treatment frequency

It is especially useful to use the device during molting animals. At this time, you need to comb the fluffy often - every 1-2 days. Later, when the acute period of hair loss has passed, treatment with a furminator can be carried out less frequently - about once a month.

In summer, the procedure will be needed a little more often: a clean coat and the absence of excess hair will allow the animal to maintain normal heat exchange on hot days. Focus on the pet's condition and its comfort.

Algorithm of actions

Consider where you will place the animal - ideally it should be a table, couch or something similar covered with a non-slip material. It is advisable to have a light source and a wool basket nearby. Don't forget to prepare your pet's favorite toy - he may need to be distracted and calmed, because not all cats tolerate hygiene procedures well.

The animal's skin and fur must first be examined. Under no circumstances should you comb out if there are wounds, cuts or pustules. Postpone the procedure until the sores heal.

A long-haired cat must first be bathed to remove dirt from the hairs. Clean wool is the key to the success of the operation. The pet needs to be dried a little, combed and checked to ensure there are no tangled hairs or tangles. After this, you can start combing.

It is necessary to work with the furminator only in the direction of hair growth. Movements must be careful. Pressure and pressure on the skin should not be allowed. Sensitive areas (stomach, groin) should be treated with extreme caution - carelessness can cause pain to the animal and cause fear of the procedure.

For the first time, in order not to experience anxiety, it is better to go to a groomer and, under his guidance, carry out combing. You can also invite a specialist to your home.

Brushing dogs with a furminator: pros and cons

The advantages of the device include its ability to significantly facilitate and speed up the combing of dead undercoat.

1. The device removes fluff and dead hair.
2. Reduces molting period by 90%.
3. Does not cause pain when exposed.
4. Helps remove tangles.
5. Dirt, dust and even parasites are also removed with dead fur.
6. Brushing distributes the oil lubricant throughout the dog's body, protecting the skin from harmful environmental influences.

The disadvantage of the furminator is that it costs more than a comb.

1. In addition, low quality fakes are often found. Counterfeit tools break quickly and can damage the dog's epidermis.
2. If your dog has a lot of tangles, you must first remove them with your hands.
3. The Furminator is not suitable for all coat types. For example, it is not suitable if the dog has no undercoat (blue terrier, bichon frize, Portuguese water dog).
4. Do not use the tool when the animal has skin wounds or injuries.

The tool is not suitable for all dogs. For example:

• If the dog has silky hair (lapdog, shih tzu, Yorkshire terrier), it is combed out with a comb and brush.
• If the coat is hard (Airedale Terrier, Schnauzer, Irish Terrier, Spaniel) or curled (Commander, Puli), then the Furminator is also not suitable.
• Pets with very short hair or hairless dogs (Peruvian Hairless Dog, Chinese Crested Dog) do not require a Furminator.

Rules for use and care of the instrument

When you first meet it, it becomes obvious that a furminator for cats is a device that combines different materials. But avoiding this does not become difficult. The simplest rules:

1. There should be no foreign objects in the cat's fur - specks and tangles; they must be removed first.
2. The device is used only on clean fur, so if the cat gets dirty, it should be washed and dried first.
3. After combing is completed, the furminator should be cleaned of hair and the blades should be covered with a protective cap.

With proper use and care, the tool will last for many years (from 5 to 10 years). The main thing is to strictly follow the rules of use.

How to comb your pet: what do you need to know about grooming?

It is recommended to do this procedure only 1-2 times a week using a specific brush. After this procedure, particles of dead fur will be completely removed.

When buying kittens, hardly anyone thinks about the need to purchase care products in the first months. However, when the molting period approaches, this issue becomes acute. It is important to accustom your cat to a comb from childhood; in this case, there is the greatest chance of avoiding aggression from the pet, and proper combing will cause a contented purr from a pleasant massage.

There is a variety of Scottish cat breeds - the Scottish Straight, which is very undemanding in care. The appearance resembles a teddy bear, which is why the breed is very popular. The British is an equally popular breed; cats are very clean by nature, since this feature is inherent at the genetic level. However, it is important to properly raise an animal from childhood.

Caring for British cat breeds

Ungroomed fur of an animal can lead to various skin diseases.
There is a lot of lint from such breeds. Due to the fact that uncombed fur often gets tangled, forming dense balls (tangles), it is considered a breeding ground for unwanted microorganisms on the animal’s body - fleas, ticks, fungal infections, which is why careful care is necessary. When wet, the mat does not dry well, which leads to irritation of the skin around it, and also increases the risk of injury to the animal, because a tangled ball of fur can get caught on something and, when unraveling, the cat will be injured. Therefore, it is so important to monitor the condition of your pet’s fur and systematically comb it.

Most owners believe that it is better to clean the apartment one more time than to scratch the cat and be scratched by sharp claws. On the one hand, this is correct, but on the other hand, it is dangerous, since swallowed lint is not removed from the body naturally, but is regurgitated. Insufficient regurgitation and a large number of wool particles clog the cat’s intestines, which, in turn, threatens a trip to the veterinary clinic. There is an alternative method - a specially developed paste used to remove fur hairs accumulated by daily washing.

Review of popular models

Among the many models, the main thing is to choose the most suitable furminator for cats, because this device will serve for many years. It should be convenient for the owner and safe for the pet.

Manufacturers and models

The most common manufacturer of furminators for cats is FURminator, because it is the first company to produce such accessories for cats and dogs.

There are other models from various manufacturers:

• Hello PET trimmer brush;
• FoOlee One Medium trimmer brush;
• furminator for cats and dogs of different sizes PetComb;
• Xiaomi Pawbby Anti-Hair Cutter Comb;
• furminator DeLIGHT;
• furminator for dogs and cats TRIXIE;
• furminator for cats Zolux.

It is better to select a model in accordance with the breed and characteristics of the pet. If you are doing this for the first time, enlist the support of experienced friends or trust a consultant at a veterinary pharmacy.

How to avoid buying counterfeits

If you buy a furminator for cats on the Internet, it is not a fact that it will be a successful purchase. The photo may show one product, but they will bring you a completely different one.

To avoid buying a fake, it is better to buy a furminator at a veterinary pharmacy or specialized pet stores. You should always check the packaging, manufacturer and availability of the warranty card.

The Furminator is a great product for owners of short-haired and long-haired cats. It saves during heavy molting and preserves the beauty and health of the pet.

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How to recognize a fake

On sale you can find inexpensive models priced at a couple of hundred rubles that you might like. However, the desire to save money will ultimately result in wasted money, because it is a counterfeit product. The original costs many times more.

Unscrupulous manufacturers copy original furminators, but leave out small details. Pay attention to them - they will help you identify a fake:

• the presence of inscriptions in several foreign languages ​​at the top of the package;
• slightly curved rather than straight blade;
• the handle is only partially rubber, has a metal base;
• presence of the original number on the blade.

Also pay attention to the packaging. The original one must have a distributor sticker.

Why brushing is important

There are many reasons why brushing is important for cats. These reasons will be different for long-haired and short-haired pets. That is why different products are made. As you can see in the photo of combs for cats, these models have different densities of teeth and different shapes.

Why brushing is important for long-haired pets:

• This process eliminates the formation of tangles.
• Stimulates the growth of undercoat and new coat
• Cats are getting fluffier
• The comb collects lost hairs
• Dead hairs and skin particles do not collect in the animal’s stomach and do not spread throughout the apartment

Importance of the process for short-haired animals:

• The coat becomes smoother and silkier
• Skin massage occurs
• Fur and skin particles are removed using a comb.

Important! Many owners of smooth-haired pets think that they do not need to be brushed. This opinion is wrong. These animals also need similar care, like their furry relatives.

Price

The price of a furminator for cats depends on many factors; here is a rating of the most popular models:

• Furflex Furminator, a professional tool for high-quality pet hair care, the high price hides excellent quality and long service life
• Delight, a variation of the previous option, the cost is slightly lower, but the technical characteristics are almost identical, there are options on sale with different numbers of teeth
• HelloPet, a great mid-range option, is the most popular

Materials for combs

Also, combs are made from different materials, which can be either natural or artificial.

• There are brushes with natural pig bristles or combs made of wood - pets will like them the most, since animals perfectly sense natural odors.
• Reviews of combs for cats show that it is for this reason that many owners prefer to choose natural materials.
• Such products are also more pleasant for the owners’ hands.

Another advantage of natural products is that they do not accumulate static electricity. This is very important when scratching cats, as it occurs more often in animals than in humans.

But such products are much more expensive and more difficult to buy. In addition, these products are the least durable. They will last about 2-3 years.

More popular options are made of plastic, plastic and metal. Such models are much cheaper and last a long time. You can find them at any pet store. But animals will like them less.