grooming long/medium-hair cats?

[patandchickens]

So, let's say hypothetically that a person went looking for a small female shorthaired cat, but "accidentally" came home from the animal shelter with a very large orange semi-longhair male instead

He is a *wonderful wonderful* cat, and at age 5 really needed a home, although he does have a bit of a cold that we're dealing with -- but I have always had shorthairs before, and my only real experience with cats with longer or denser coats has been patiently snipping horrible matts out of the coats of neglected barncats.

Those of you with medium-hair or maine coon type cats, what do you recommend as the implement and method of choice, for daily brushing or combing or whatever i'm supposed to do, to keep *this* one's coat from getting into the state that I'm more familiar with? He is not super-long haired (esp. not his tail) but it is extremely dense fur.

I will post a better pic when I get a chance, but this gives you the general idea of what Mojo looks like (except you have to imagine him being awake and very busy and friendly and wanting to help with everything we do):

Thanks,

Pat

 

[luvchicks8]

I use cornstarch before brushing this guy not alot just like doing a baby in powder then brush it out. Never had mat yet.

 

[CountryMom]

We use a human hair brush with plastic brissles and plastic tips because one of our cats is very sensitive to having their skin scratched. Usually once a week one of us will work on them.

Congrats on the cat. I honestly like a male (fixed) cat WAY better than females. We have a lot of cats here - barn and inside cats - and I see more females with grumpy attitudes and spraying than I see males. Also saw that as a general rule when I rescued cats out in California. Males are just more loveable.

 

[Rosalind]

We used a slicker brush on this guy:

And in the summer we gave him a lion cut. Do not attempt the lion cut at home, cat skin is like wet lasagna noodles and tears readily.

 

[MoTownChickie]

I have 3 long haired cats.

I recommend the "Furminator". The name is cheesy and it is a bit expensive when compared with other sticker-type brushes, but it is awesome.

http://www.furminator.com/testbed/popup_04.htm



I 'try' to brush my kids at least once a week for short periods, and always get at TON of fur off of them. Not quite as much as in the above photo, but certainly enough to make a sweater for a sphynx!
Usually I get a fist sized ball off of them when I smoosh it down.

I wouldn't try this with my cats, unless I wanted them very unhappy with me, but it is a good visual. I'm much, much gentler when I 'furminate' them.

http://www.furminator.com/flash/cat.htm

The nice thing is that it is cheaper than a single lion cut. And you get to tell them "prepare to be furminated".

Congrats on your new family member.

 

[miss_thenorth]

I never brush this guy. I just vacuum up after him. Never had a problem.

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

I usually use a comb made for long hair dogs. I still have to trim but Frodo is so good he just lays still for me and let me trim away.
Congrats on your new family member!
Excuse the sideways photo, I couldn't turn it around

 

[tonini3059]

The Furminator is awesome!! I use it on my malamute mix and it work like a charm def worth the money!

 

[patandchickens]

Thanks everyone for the input! Wow, I had no idea there were so many different ways of grooming a cat; I guess I'm used to horses where there is more or less just one method

After trying found-around-household versions of most of your suggestions, I ended up buying a differently-named knockoff of that Furminator thing. Twenty bucks Canadian still seems like a LOT to pay (the actual Furminator itself was twice that, though! eeep) but I have to say, it does do a WONDERFUL job. Works even better than a fleacomb (which is what I've always used for removing loose hair on the shorthair cats) and much, much easier to use.

Rather useful on the other 3 cats too, actually

Now if I can just get Mojo's cold cleared up and get him eating better - he is currently being ultra picky, though apparently hungry, and is subsisting mainly on hand-fed morsels of scrambled egg and Nutrical, sigh - then everything will be good.

He is a really cool cat, the kids love him, and the other cats are starting to decide that he's ok.

Thanks again,

Pat

 

[verity]

We use a 'Mars' comb --- it is pricey but is truly a
'magic' wand for our dogs and cats ---
I get mine from eBay -- Colpotter rescue group sells them --

Have a super time with your beautiful kitty! I can tell he's one of the special ones ---

Mojo looks a lot like our 'Peachy-Jean-Stripedy-Head' -- love those orange kitties ---