Written by Linda Hornberger - copied in full
Grooming a Cat -- Part 3.2 -- Tools for Longhairs
As long as we are not talking about grooming a show persian (or other longhaired show cat), the tools are very simple.
Item 1 -- A greyhound comb.
These are metal combs, usually with two different ends -- one wider spaced than the other. The teeth should be about 1 3/8" or a bit longer with the comb about 7.5" long. Master Grooming Tools makes one for about $8-15. Andis (the clipper company) has them. Chris Christensen's Buttercombs (shampoo manufacturer) are good ones I've been told and cost around $30. The best WERE the Original Greyhound combs handmade in Belgium. Sadly that company went out of business, but an English company, Ashley Craig, bought the molds and is now manufacturing greyhound combs for about $35. Whether these are actually better is a matter of opinion -- some claim the new ones are smoother through the coat, others claim the old ones are more durable. The point is, there is a greyhound comb to fit everyone's budget.
The reason you want a comb is simple -- you have to get through all that hair and down to the skin. A brush (slicker, bristle, pin) won't work and in fact, a brush often will make matters worse by dealing with only the last 1/2" of hair while the hair near the skin mats. This leaves the owner surprised when they finally discover the cat is one giant mat even though the outer layer is soft!
And that is about it... For years, I had 1 cheap greyhound comb and it was perfectly fine to keep my longhairs and persians in okay condition. Now if you want to, you can add a face comb for the legs and face and a pin bursh to floof the coat, but neither item is essential. Just the greyhound comb...
Now for my show cats, I have an oversized greyhound comb, 2 regular greyhound combs, a face comb, a flea comb, a fat-brat comb, a pin brush, eyebrow comb, and 2 sizes of slicker brushes -- each with a particular task or area of a cat to deal with. (I do believe some of the appeal of showing persians is buying all the tools to groom them!) If there is interest and we have time, I will gladly explain grooming a show persian.
Next up, how we will be using these tools.
Grooming a Cat -- Part 3.2 -- Tools for Longhairs
As long as we are not talking about grooming a show persian (or other longhaired show cat), the tools are very simple.
Item 1 -- A greyhound comb.
These are metal combs, usually with two different ends -- one wider spaced than the other. The teeth should be about 1 3/8" or a bit longer with the comb about 7.5" long. Master Grooming Tools makes one for about $8-15. Andis (the clipper company) has them. Chris Christensen's Buttercombs (shampoo manufacturer) are good ones I've been told and cost around $30. The best WERE the Original Greyhound combs handmade in Belgium. Sadly that company went out of business, but an English company, Ashley Craig, bought the molds and is now manufacturing greyhound combs for about $35. Whether these are actually better is a matter of opinion -- some claim the new ones are smoother through the coat, others claim the old ones are more durable. The point is, there is a greyhound comb to fit everyone's budget.
The reason you want a comb is simple -- you have to get through all that hair and down to the skin. A brush (slicker, bristle, pin) won't work and in fact, a brush often will make matters worse by dealing with only the last 1/2" of hair while the hair near the skin mats. This leaves the owner surprised when they finally discover the cat is one giant mat even though the outer layer is soft!
And that is about it... For years, I had 1 cheap greyhound comb and it was perfectly fine to keep my longhairs and persians in okay condition. Now if you want to, you can add a face comb for the legs and face and a pin bursh to floof the coat, but neither item is essential. Just the greyhound comb...
Now for my show cats, I have an oversized greyhound comb, 2 regular greyhound combs, a face comb, a flea comb, a fat-brat comb, a pin brush, eyebrow comb, and 2 sizes of slicker brushes -- each with a particular task or area of a cat to deal with. (I do believe some of the appeal of showing persians is buying all the tools to groom them!) If there is interest and we have time, I will gladly explain grooming a show persian.
Next up, how we will be using these tools.
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