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If you find yourself running short on time to groom your cat, consider putting the kitty to work on their own combing and brushing routine with a cat self-groomer. There are many self-groomers on the market, ranging from archways with bristles to wall and door attachments. Our cats tried some out—quite a few did a good job of keeping tangles and mats under control and reducing the need for serious grooming sessions.
Petstages Scratch and Groom
This bristle archway grooms your kitty all over! The sisal scratchable base helps attract them to the grooming area.
Tips for Grooming a Cat
Some cats need more grooming than others. You may have lucked out and gotten a cat like our bobtail, Tink. She has a short, fine coat that never needs even a quick combing. Or you may have a big furry fellow like Max, our part-Siberian, whose three layers of fur mat easily. As Max has gotten older and arthritic, he’s blown off grooming and needs to be taken to a groomer for a full session every four months. In between, we try to remember to work on him with the proper grooming tools.
If your cat enjoys getting brushed and combed, all you need is the right set of tools. Experts recommend starting with the Kong ZoomGroom, a soft rubber brush that massages hair to the surface. Remove loose fur with an undercoat cat comb and finish with a slicker brush.
But for cats who resist sitting still for a grooming session, these self-grooming devices are worth trying out.
Choosing the Best Cat Self-Groomer
Cat self-groomers may not get every area on your furry friend that needs brushing, but they can capture quite a bit of hair. And the fur that’s captured by the self-groomer is fur that is not ending up on your clothes or your sofa.
Some self-grooming devices are more effective than others—and those that appeal to one kitty are of no interest to other cats. Since most of these devices are relatively inexpensive, it’s worth trying one or two to see what works for your cat. We also included in our list of self-groomers a cat tree that incorporates a grooming arch—we think it’s a great multi-use solution. Whichever of these you choose should help reduce cat hair in your house and mats on your cat.
Petstages Scratch and Groom
This scratchpad-and-arch combo works surprisingly well, particularly with small to mid-size cats. Larger cats tend to move the base (which weighs 1.46 pounds) or pull the bristle archway out of the scratchpad—a few cat parents mentioned gluing the ends of the brush into the pad with epoxy to avoid that. What we like about the archway design is how it gives your kitty a chance to groom the top, sides, and back.
Petstages Scratch & Groom
This bristle archway grooms your kitty all over! The scratchable base helps attract them to the grooming area.
Catit Senses 2.0 Self-Groomer Cat Brush
This soft-bristle brush fits into a plastic base that attaches with adhesive strips (included) or screws to a wall. If you identify a doorway or corner where your cat already enjoys rubbing their face, that’s the ideal place to install it. This self-groomer comes with a packet of catnip—just sprinkle some into the inner compartment to stimulate your kitty’s interest. It’s easy to clean, too: take the gray brush out of its white base, clean, and replace.
Catit Senses 2.0 Self-Groomer Cat Brush
Simple and secure, this wall-mount self-groomer includes optional catnip to entice your cat.
Petmaker Self Grooming Cat Arch
While some buyers note that they needed to attach the brush more firmly to the base, most say that their cats are just wild about this arch. It lets your cat groom their back, sides, and head—a very enjoyable experience.
Petmaker Self Grooming Cat Arch
Nicely sized to entice your cat onto the carpeted base and through the archway.
Kong Connects Kitty Comber Cat Self-Groomer
Does your cat love rubbing up against the edge of your door? The Kong Connects Kitty Comber takes advantage of that by enabling you to transform that door into a sturdy self-grooming station. (The comber attaches like a slide-on doorstop—no tools are needed.) We like the clever cat shape, the attractive copper color, and the size of the 11-inch high comber. It enables a cat to groom from head to paw.
Kong Connects Kitty Comber Self-Groomer
Slip this doorstop onto any standard-size door and let the cat-grooming begin.
K&H Pet Products EZ Mount Self-Grooming Brush
Lightweight and soft, this space-saving grooming brush attaches via suction cups to non-porous surfaces—windows, painted doors, and even your refrigerator. The brush is 17 inches long, giving your cat plenty of area to rub against.
K&H Pet Products EZ Mount Self-Grooming Brush
This space-saving self-grooming brush attaches by suction cups to walls, doors, windows—any non-porous surface your cat will brush up against.
