The Best Cat Brush for Short Hair (and for British Shorthairs)

For most short-haired cats, a soft rubber brush for the weekly groom and a fine metal comb to finish are all you need. If your cat has a thick, plush undercoat, as a British Shorthair does, add a slicker brush for everyday grooming and a deshedding tool for the weeks in spring and autumn when the fur comes out in handfuls. Below you'll find which tool suits which coat, the five we recommend, how often to brush, what to do with a cat who hates it, and when shedding is a reason to see your vet.

Which brush suits which short coat?

"Short hair" tells you surprisingly little about how much work a coat is. A moggy with a sleek, thin coat is a completely different job from a British Shorthair whose dense undercoat feels like plush. Look at your own cat's coat first.

If your cat's fur is longer than about 5 cm (2 inches) or it tangles, this guide is less useful. Long-haired cats mainly need a good comb and a different routine, which we cover in our Maine Coon care guide.

Types of cat brush for short hair

Rubber brush (curry brush)

A rubber brush has soft nubs or fingers that massage the skin and pick up loose hair and dander. For a short, sleek coat this is often the only brush you need. Cats who won't tolerate metal pins usually accept rubber. The drawback is that hair doesn't stay in the brush very well, so it's best used somewhere a bit of flying fur doesn't matter. Rinse it under the tap and it's clean.

Grooming glove

A glove with silicone or rubber tips on the palm and fingers is the gentlest way in for a cat who bolts at the sight of anything that looks like a brush. You stroke your cat as usual and the loose hair sticks to the glove. It removes less than a brush, so think of it as a first step or as an extra.

Slicker brush

A slicker has lots of thin, slightly bent wire pins on a pad. They get through the topcoat into the undercoat, so on a dense coat like a British Shorthair's a slicker lifts far more than rubber. The pins can be sharp, though. Don't press down, just let the brush glide. Choose one with rounded or coated pin tips for a short coat, and a self-cleaning model with a button saves you picking fur out of the pins.

Fine-tooth metal comb

Many owners skip the comb, yet it does a lot on a short-haired cat. Run it through after brushing and you'll see straight away whether loose undercoat is still there. A fine comb is also how you check for fleas: black specks that turn reddish-brown on damp kitchen paper are flea dirt. If your cat has a dense coat, a comb with both wide and fine teeth helps you work through in two passes.

Deshedding tool

A deshedding tool such as the FURminator has a fine-toothed stainless steel edge that pulls loose undercoat out without cutting the topcoat. This is the tool for the weeks when your cat leaves fur on everything you own. Because it works so well, it's also easy to overdo. Keep sessions short and don't use it every day (more on that below).

The five we recommend

The five side by side

Torn between a slicker and the FURminator? They do different jobs. The slicker is for the normal weekly groom, and the FURminator is for the few weeks a year when the undercoat lets go all at once.

The best brush for a British Shorthair

The British Shorthair has a short but very dense coat with a lot of undercoat. That's what makes it feel like plush, and it's also why there's more hair on your sofa than you'd expect from a short-haired cat. A rubber brush slides over the top of that coat without reaching the undercoat. For that you need fine pins or a comb.

Brush a British Shorthair at least once a week. During the moult in spring and autumn, step it up to several times a week. Hill's even recommends daily brushing while the coat is changing. Because the coat is so thick, loose hair stays caught in it, and if you leave it, small mats can form close to the skin.

A practical routine for a British Shorthair:

1. Slicker brush lightly over the whole cat, in the direction the fur grows. This removes most of the loose undercoat.
2. Comb through the coat. Where it catches, there's still loose undercoat.
3. Fine comb to finish. The coat lies flat and you can see straight away whether there are fleas.
4. During the moult: the FURminator once or twice a week, briefly, in place of the slicker.

Plenty of British Shorthairs aren't keen on being picked up or rolled onto their back. So groom them wherever they happen to be lying, on the sofa or on your lap, and leave the tummy and back legs until last.

How to brush a short-haired cat

1. Pick a calm moment. After a meal, or when your cat is already dozing. Not in the middle of a play session.
2. Let your cat sniff the brush first. Many cats rub their cheek against it. That's your cue to start.
3. Start at the head and neck. Most cats like being touched there. Then work along the back to the tail, always in the direction the fur grows.
4. Sides and chest next. The tummy, armpits and back legs are more sensitive. Do those last and very lightly, or skip them if your cat objects.
5. Comb through. A fine metal comb shows whether you've got everything, and whether there's flea dirt.
6. Stop before your cat does. Tail swishing, twitching skin or ears, or a look back at your hand all mean you're done. Finish with a treat.

If your cat hates being brushed

Start with a grooming glove or a rubber brush and keep it to one minute. Do it a few days in a row at the same time of day, with a treat afterwards. Only make the sessions longer when your cat stays relaxed. Forcing it backfires, because a cat who has been held down once remembers it.

It also helps to split the job up. Do the back today and the sides tomorrow. Five short, pleasant sessions a week do more than one long battle on a Sunday.

Older cats often groom themselves less well, for example because of stiff joints or dental problems. A soft rubber brush or glove helps keep their coat clean. If an older cat's coat suddenly looks dull, greasy or scruffy, ask your vet to take a look, because that can be an early sign of illness.

How often should you brush a short-haired cat?

Once a week is enough for most short-haired cats. A cat with a thick undercoat is better brushed two or three times a week in spring and autumn, when the coat changes. A few short sessions a week work better than one long one.

Brushing does more than keep fur off the sofa. Every hair you brush out is a hair your cat doesn't swallow while washing, which lowers the risk of hairballs, as International Cat Care explains. And while you brush, you'll feel lumps, scabs or small wounds that you'd otherwise find much later. For the fur that's already on your furniture and clothes, see our guide to removing cat hair.

When is shedding not normal?

Normal shedding is even. The coat thins a little all over, mostly in spring and autumn, and indoor cats shed a bit all year round. A brush won't fix shedding that has a medical cause, so watch for these signs:

• Bald or thinning patches, often on the tummy, inner thighs or near the base of the tail.
• Short, broken, stubbly hairs. That usually means your cat is licking or pulling the fur out (over-grooming).
• Red, scabby or sore skin, or your cat keeps licking or nibbling the same spot.
• Shedding together with other changes, such as weight loss, a change in appetite or a different mood.

Common causes include fleas or a flea allergy (one of the most common), other allergies, stress, pain, mites and ringworm. Ringworm is a fungal infection that can also spread to other pets and to people. Some hormonal conditions, such as an overactive thyroid, can make hair fall out too. UK vet charities such as the PDSA and Animal Trust advise booking a vet appointment for any bald patches or sore skin, and if hair loss keeps going despite regular flea treatment. Don't put human creams on the skin in the meantime.

Keeping your brushes clean

• After every session: remove the hair. With a self-cleaning slicker or the FURminator use the button, with a comb just pull the fur off with your fingers.
• Rubber brushes and gloves: rinse under warm water and leave to dry.
• Once a month: wash brushes and combs in lukewarm water with a drop of mild soap. Dry metal pins and combs thoroughly so they don't rust.
• More than one cat: if one cat has fleas or a skin problem, give that cat its own brush for the time being.

A short-haired cat rarely needs a bath. Regular brushing normally keeps the coat clean enough. While you have the grooming kit out, it's also a good moment to check the claws. Our guide on how to trim your cat's nails walks you through it.

Frequently asked questions