Brushing Your Cat: How Often, 7 Easy Expert Tips

Brushing your cat is one of the easiest ways to support a healthy coat. Short-haired cats need a session at least once a week, while long-haired cats need daily care.

This guide covers how often to brush, which tools help, how to start with a nervous cat, and what to do about mats. It also explains when a scruffy coat is a sign to call your vet.

For coat nutrition, see our guide to omega fatty acids for cats.

Why Brushing Your Cat Matters

Cats groom a lot on their own. The Cornell Feline Health Center says cats typically spend 30 to 50 percent of their day grooming. So why add a brush?

The answer is loose hair. As Cornell explains, a cat swallows a lot of loose hair while it grooms. Brushing your cat removes some of that hair before it ends up in the stomach.

Brushing helps the skin too. The ASPCA says it removes skin flakes and stimulates blood flow, which improves the overall condition of the skin.

• Fewer hairballs: less swallowed fur.
• Fewer mats: tangles come out while they are small.
• Health checks: you notice lumps, wounds or fleas early.
• Bonding: calm sessions build trust.

How Often Should You Be Brushing Your Cat?

The right schedule depends on coat length. International Cat Care gives a clear rule of thumb.

• Short coats: aim to groom at least once a week.
• Long coats: groom at least once a day.

Other vet sources agree. VCA Animal Hospitals says cats with long, silky or curly coats need daily brushing to stop tangles and mats. The ASPCA suggests one or two brushings a week for most cats, and sessions every few days for long-haired indoor cats.

So a short-haired cat may only need a weekly session. Still, many owners find that brushing your cat a few times a week is easy to keep up, and most cats enjoy it once they are used to it.

Brushing Your Cat by Coat Type

Here is a simple guide. Use it as a starting point, then adjust to your own cat.

Above all, keep sessions short and positive. A calm two minutes is better than a long fight.

Tools for Brushing Your Cat

You do not need a drawer full of gadgets. International Cat Care lists a fine-toothed comb, a bristle brush and a rubber grooming pad or mitten for short coats. For long coats, it suggests a wide-toothed comb, with rakes and slicker brushes as further options.

The ASPCA adds that a rubber brush works well to remove dead hair from short-haired cats.

• Rubber brush or mitt: great for short coats and nervous cats.
• Wide-toothed comb: the first tool for long fur.
• Fine comb: finds fleas and small knots.
• Slicker brush: lifts loose undercoat; use a light touch.

Try one tool at a time. If your cat dislikes a tool, switch to a softer one rather than forcing it.

How to Start Brushing Your Cat, Step by Step

Start slowly, especially with a cat that is new to grooming. International Cat Care says a cat should never be forcibly groomed.

1. First, pick a quiet time, such as after a meal when your cat is relaxed.
2. Next, let your cat sniff the brush and reward the sniff.
3. Then stroke with your hand, followed by one or two light brush strokes.
4. After that, brush in the direction the hair grows, starting with the back.
5. Finally, stop before your cat gets restless and give a treat.

Over time, add a few strokes each day. Once your cat accepts the back and sides, move to the chest, legs and tail.

Brushing Your Cat to Reduce Hairballs

Hairballs are a common reason owners start brushing. Cornell advises owners to get into the habit of brushing and combing their cats daily. It also notes that long-haired breeds, such as Persians and Maine Coons, may be at greater risk.

Likewise, the UW–Madison School of Veterinary Medicine says regular brushing or visits to a groomer can decrease hairballs.

That said, frequent hairballs are not something to ignore. If your cat brings up hairballs often, retches without producing anything, or stops eating, see your vet.

Mats: When Brushing Your Cat Is Not Enough

Mats are clumps of tangled fur. The ASPCA warns that matted hair can be painful and lead to skin problems underneath.

Small tangles often come loose with fingers or a comb. The ASPCA suggests a mat-splitter if the knots do not come out by hand. However, larger mats need care.

• Never use scissors. VCA says never use scissors to cut a mat off, because cat skin cuts easily.
• Ask your vet. VCA notes that your vet can sedate your cat for pain-free mat removal if needed.
• Expect a shave. International Cat Care says severe mats often need to be shaved off by the vet team.

Prevention is far easier. So brushing your cat little and often is the best way to avoid painful mats.

Brushing Your Cat as It Ages

Older cats often groom less. VCA calls a decrease in grooming one of the most common pain-related behavior changes in aging cats. It adds that ungroomed areas become matted.

In fact, International Cat Care says you may notice matting over the lower spine and hindquarters in senior cats. Those are the spots a stiff cat cannot reach.

Research points the same way. A 2022 study of 206 mature cats linked abnormal orthopedic exam findings with a matted coat. So if your older cat suddenly looks scruffy, ask your vet about joint pain.

Overweight Cats Need More Help

Extra weight makes grooming hard. VCA notes that arthritis and obesity can cause dandruff or matting when a cat cannot groom itself.

For these cats, brushing your cat several times a week helps with the back, rear and base of the tail. Meanwhile, talk to your vet about a safe weight plan, because a healthy weight lets your cat groom itself again.

What Brushing Your Cat Can Reveal

A brushing session doubles as a quick health check. International Cat Care says grooming gives you the chance to give your cat a quick physical check. The ASPCA suggests looking for wounds, bumps and hidden tangles.

• lumps, scabs or sore spots
• fleas or flea dirt on a fine comb
• bald patches or broken hairs
• heavy dandruff or a greasy coat

Also watch for overgrooming. International Cat Care lists patches of broken or sparse hair as signs, and advises a prompt vet visit. Cornell adds that causes can include fleas, allergies, pain and stress.

Diet and Coat: Beyond Brushing Your Cat

A brush can only do so much. The coat also reflects what your cat eats. VCA says a cat on an inadequate diet will have a dull, dry haircoat and may shed a lot.

VCA's skin and coat guide explains that hair is mostly protein. It also calls linoleic acid a key nutrient for a healthy coat, and says omega-3 fatty acids help protect the skin and keep the coat shiny.

So start with a complete and balanced diet. If your vet agrees, an omega-3 supplement can be part of a daily routine. Our guides to omega-3 for cats and dry cat fur go deeper.

What About Bathing?

Most cats rarely need a bath. VCA notes that most healthy adult cats groom carefully and rarely require one. Regular combing does most of the work. If your cat gets into something sticky or toxic, call your vet for advice before you bathe at home.

Some cats with skin conditions need medicated baths. In that case, follow your vet's plan for both bathing and brushing your cat.

Common Mistakes When Brushing Your Cat

• Going too long. End the session while your cat is still calm.
• Pressing too hard. Slicker pins can scratch thin skin.
• Cutting mats with scissors. VCA warns against it.
• Skipping the belly and legs. Mats hide in these spots.
• Ignoring sudden changes. A scruffy coat can signal pain or illness.

In short, gentle and regular beats long and rare.

Brushing Your Cat with Long Fur

Long-haired cats, such as Persians and Maine Coons, need the most help. Their fur tangles fast, and they may swallow more hair. So brushing your cat every day matters most for these breeds.

1. First, run a wide-toothed comb through the coat to find knots.
2. Next, work on small tangles with your fingers, holding the hair near the skin.
3. Then use a soft slicker on the body, with light strokes.
4. Finally, check the armpits, belly, back legs and under the tail.

If a long-haired cat hates the brush, split the work. For example, comb one area each day. Brushing your cat in short, planned pieces still covers the whole coat in a week.

Making Brushing Your Cat a Positive Habit

Cats learn fast when good things follow. So pair every session with something your cat loves, such as a small treat, play or praise.

• Same time, same place: a routine helps your cat relax.
• Read the body language: a twitching tail or flat ears mean stop.
• Use a soft start: begin with the cheeks and back, where most cats like a touch.
• End on a high note: stop while your cat still enjoys it.

Over a few weeks, brushing your cat can turn into a calm daily ritual. Many cats even come running when they see the brush.

Brushing Your Cat When It Sheds More

Some cats drop more hair at certain times. If you notice extra fur on the sofa, add a few more sessions that week. Brushing your cat more often then catches loose hair before your cat swallows it.

However, heavy shedding with bald patches, scabs or itching is different. In that case, book a vet visit rather than just brushing more.

Questions to Ask Your Vet

• How often should I be brushing my cat, given its coat and age?
• Which brush or comb suits my cat's fur?
• Could pain or weight be stopping my cat from grooming?
• Is my cat's diet right for its skin and coat?
• Should I add an omega-3 supplement, and at what amount?

Also, mention any mats, hairballs or skin changes you have seen. That way, your vet can tailor a plan for brushing your cat at home.

Brushing Your Cat vs. Brushing Teeth

People often mix up the two. This guide covers fur. Tooth brushing is a separate routine with its own schedule and tools.

If you want to start dental care too, read our guide on how often to brush cat teeth. It explains pet toothpaste, timing and how to begin.

When to See a Vet

Book a vet visit if you notice any of the following while grooming.

• a sudden change in coat quality
• hair loss, scabs or red skin
• large or painful mats
• frequent hairballs or vomiting
• weight loss or less interest in food

Our guides on dry skin on cats and cat dandruff cover related skin issues.

Brushing Your Cat: The Bottom Line

Brushing your cat is a small habit with big rewards. Short coats need at least a weekly session, while long coats need daily care. Regular sessions cut down loose hair, prevent mats and let you spot problems early.

Keep it gentle and short, reward your cat, and never cut mats with scissors. If your cat stops grooming or the coat changes fast, see your vet.

Related guides: Dry cat fur · Dry skin on cats · Fish oil for cats

Key Terms Explained

• Mat: a dense clump of tangled fur that can pull on the skin.
• Undercoat: the soft, short layer of hair under the outer coat.
• Slicker brush: a brush with fine wire pins that lifts loose hair.
• Hairball: a wad of swallowed hair that a cat brings back up.
• Overgrooming: licking or chewing that leaves broken or missing hair.

This article is for general education and is not veterinary advice. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Kittysum products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.