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Some cats think being brushed is like a spa-treatment. Others, not so much. Jackson Galaxy, cat behaviorist and host of My Cat From Hell, offers tips for brushing your cat. He also explains why it’s important to brush regularly.
Is Brushing Necessary?
According to “the cat daddy,” as he calls himself, brushing is completely necessary for both long and short-haired cats. The most important reason to brush is to prevent knots in the fur, because cats have very thin skin. That means that if a knot gets close to a cat’s skin, it will hurt them every time they try to move.
Regular brushing is also important because it gives the owner an opportunity to inspect the cat for any fleas or injuries.
Okay, so we established that brushing is important. But is it really necessary to brush a short-haired cat? Although this may surprise you, the answer is yes!
Although knots are less likely to be a problem with short-haired cats, Jackson says short-haired cats still need their sebaceous glands stimulated. These glands secrete sebum into the hair follicles which lubricate the skin and hair. In other words, regular brushing keeps your cat’s fur shiny and healthy. But the perks don’t stop there!
Brushing also prevents dander (dried flakes of skin), which can help people with cat allergies. Best of all, brushing prevents hair balls! This is because after removing excess hair, cats will not swallow as much fur when they groom themselves.
Huh, who would have thought?
Tips For Brushing Your Cat
While most cats like being brushed, some do not. Jackson says follicle receptors are sometimes to blame. When the brushing starts, the cat registers that something feels good, but then that feeling continues to intensify and the receptors fail to shut down. This overstimulation makes brushing go from feeling really good, to not so good. Eventually, it can even feel painful.
So, what do you do if your cat dislikes something that is beneficial for their fur coat? Jackson has a few tricks up his sleeve. Here is our summary of his advice:
- Brush when the cat is relaxed.
Brushing should not be done when your cat is “all hyped up,” and ready to play. Instead, try it at a time when they are relaxed. Luckily, many cats mellow out when they’re being brushed. - Reward them after brushing.
After brushing your cat, reward them with something they love. That something may simply be more love from you, or it could be their favorite treat. - Only reward when deserved.
Save the reward for after you brush them. If you give the cat a treat after only being able to get in one or two strokes, that reinforces behavior you are trying to avoid. - If your cat is agitated, stop.
A good way to tell if you are agitating your cat is if their tail is “swooshing.” If you start to see tail swooshing while brushing, stop and try again later. - Consider a slicker brush.
Slicker brushes have spaced-out metal teeth, which makes them work well to remove dirt, dander, and excess hair. This is Jackson’s brush of choice.
Slicker Brush
Personally, we like this slicker brush from Amazon because it has a button that retracts the bristles to release fur, which keeps the brush clean.
Does your cat like being brushed? If yes, what’s their favorite spot? If no, did these tips help? Let us know in the comments.
If you would like to see Jackson Galaxy explain these tips, check out his video below.
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Disclaimer: The Purring Journal is not in the medical field. This post is made for entertainment purposes only. Use the information presented in this article at your own risk. Always seek medical advice from licensed veterinarians.
