Himalayan cats are a cross between Persian and Siamese breeds, from which they get their long, thick coats and piercing blue eyes.
If you’re the proud owner of one of these gorgeous cats, you’ll probably already know that they’re a little more high-maintenance than your average domestic shorthair.
One of the most important things to be prepared for when taking on a Himalayan cat is their regular grooming needs.
As with other long-haired cat breeds, the Himalayan can suffer from hair tangling and matting if their coats are not properly maintained.
Daily grooming helps to remove hairs as they shed, preventing the matting that occurs if these dead hairs are left to tangle themselves in your cat’s coat.
To ensure effective grooming, it’s important to have the best possible tool for the job.
We’ve compiled the following list of the best brushes for Himalayan cats, along with a buyers guide and FAQ section to help you make the best decision for your feline companion’s grooming requirements.
In a rush to brush? Here’s our top pick:
Glendan Slicker Pet Grooming Brush
- Ergonomic handle design
- 360° brush head rotation
- Durable rubber and stainless steel construction
- Handle eyelet for hanging storage
- Protective massage particles on bristles
- 2 size and color options
1. Glendan Slicker Pet Grooming Brush
The ergonomic design of this brush facilitates the grooming process by ensuring a comfortable grip and access to even the most difficult to reach areas.
The comfort-grip, anti-slip rubber-coated handle enhances the brush’s ease-of-use. The handle’s eyelet allows you to easily hang the brush up for safe storage.
Meanwhile, the 360° rotation function of the brush head allows for brushing at any angle required for thorough and effective grooming.
Glendan’s Slicker Pet Grooming Brush features stainless steel bristles with massage particles on the ends. These particles serve several important functions.
They prevent the bristles from scratching your cat’s skin and also provide a gentle massaging action which increases circulation and minimizes the risk of skin disease.
Depending on the size of your Himalayan cat, you may require a slightly larger or smaller brush. Luckily, this brush is available in small and large size options. You even have the choice of baby pink or baby blue color options.
Pros
- Ergonomic handle
- 360° rotation
- Durable rubber and stainless steel construction
- Eyelet for hanging storage
- Massage particles on bristles protect skin and increase circulation
- 2 size and color options available
Cons
- The massage particles may slightly decrease the efficacy of loose hair removal
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2. Hertzko Self Cleaning Slicker Brush
Thanks to its comfort-grip, anti-slip handle with built-in thumb rest, this brush provides an ergonomic, user-friendly grooming experience. When it comes to storage, you can easily hang this brush up out of the way thanks to the convenient eyelet.
The fine wire bristles are durable and resistant to bending. They penetrate deep into thicker coats, removing loose hair and massaging the skin for improved circulation.
One of the best features of this brush is how easy it is to clean! The button at the top of the handle can be pushed to extend the bristles for brushing. Once enough hair has collected in the bristles, the button can be pushed again to retract them, allowing the hair to easily be removed from the brush.
The retractability of the bristles also allows for the brush to be stored safely without risking bending the bristles when the brush is not in use. This helps to extend the durability and longevity of the brush.
Pros
- Ergonomic handle
- Massaging fine wire bristles
- Easy-clean button function
- Bristle retraction for safe storage
- Eyelet for storage convenience
Cons
- Bristles may be too sharp for cats with sensitive skin
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3. Pat Your Pet 2 Sided Undercoat Rake for Cats & Dogs
The description of this brush as ‘2 sided’ refers to the fact that this brush has stainless steel ‘teeth’ on both sides. One side has 9 teeth while the other has 17.
The 9-toothed side of the brush is ideal to start the grooming process with for initial detangling. The 17-toothed side can then be used for brushing out loose hairs.
Whilst the ‘teeth’ of this brush might look a little intimidating, don’t worry – they have rounded edges, so you can groom away without worrying about scratching your cat’s skin. They also provide a therapeutic massaging action to promote healthy circulation.
This grooming tool isn’t just great for your cat – it’s also designed for your own comfort. The soft, anti-slip handle makes grooming easy and pain-free. Additionally, the stainless steel material used for the teeth facilitates easy cleaning while the eyelet allows for convenient storage.
As an added bonus, you’ll receive an adorable paw logo pet tag with the purchase of this brush which you can attach to your cat’s collar for identification purposes.
Pros
- Durable, rounded stainless steel teeth
- 9 or 17 teeth for different levels of grooming
- Massage action for healthy circulation
- Ergonomic design
- Eyelet for storage
- Easy to clean
- Includes paw logo collar tag
- Cons
Does not detangle quite as well as it removes shedding
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4. Chirpy Pets Dog & Cat Brush for Shedding
The 100 mm stainless steel blade comb is blunt enough to avoid scratching your cat, yet effective enough to remove 90% of shedding in a matter of minutes. The comb is also detachable from the handle of the brush using the quick-release button, making for easy cleaning.
This brush comes with a protective cover for the comb, which helps to improve its durability and longevity.
The comfortable, easy-grip handle enables ease-of-use and precise grooming for an enjoyable grooming experience that yields the best results. There is also a convenient eyelet at the end of the handle for easy storage.
The downside to this product is that, due to its blade-like comb design, it requires a little extra patience and care during use. The brush should be used very gently and slowly, and should not be used repeatedly over the same area or on particularly sensitive skin.
Pros
- Durable stainless steel blade comb
- Detachable comb for easy cleaning
- Protective comb cover included
- Ergonomic handle
- Eyelet for easy storage
Cons
- Works more slowly than some other brushes
- Not suitable for use on sensitive skin
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5. AtEase Accents Double-Sided Brush
The Double-Sided brush from AtEase Accents is made of naturally-sourced, compressed, two-tone bamboo. This material is eco-friendly, durable, and sustainable, allowing you to extend your love for your feline friend to the environment.
The 2-sided construction of this brush means that you can tailor your Himalayan’s grooming experience to whatever their coat needs.
With soft, nylon bristles on one side and metal, round-tipped bristles on the other, you can detangle and remove shedding from your cat’s coat in whatever way feels most comfortable and effective.
The bristles also stimulate circulation, remove dirt, and help to spread natural oils throughout the coat for optimal fur health.
The handle of the brush includes an eyelet for easy, out-of-the-way storage.
Pros
- Eco-friendly, durable bamboo material
- 2-sided design for multiple grooming options
- Soft nylon and firm metal bristles
- Bristles clean, improve circulation and distribute natural oils
- Eyelet for easy storage
Cons
- Some reports of bristles falling out after use
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Buyer’s Guide
Now that we’ve shown you all the best brushes on the market for grooming your Himalayan cat, you’ll need to consider a few factors to decide which one will suit you and your fur baby best.
Bristles and Teeth
The bristles of a brush are what will ultimately determine the quality of your cat’s grooming experience, so this is the first factor you should consider.
There are so many different types of bristle designs featured on cat brushes that this decision can be a tricky one.
The most common type of bristle for cat grooming brushes is a metal (usually stainless steel) bristle. This kind of bristle is extra durable and is great for penetrating deeply into your Himalayan cat’s long, thick coat.
The downside to metal bristles is that they have an increased risk of scratching, although this risk can be significantly reduced by the addition of rounded ‘particles’ to the ends of the bristles.
Beyond protecting your cat’s skin, these particles also help to increase circulation, promoting healthier skin and hair.
Nylon bristles are also an excellent choice. These bristles are softer and less likely to cause scratching and discomfort than other types of bristles. However, they may not be able to penetrate as deeply into your Himalayan’s coat, meaning they might be less effective.
Some brushes don’t have bristles at all but have ‘teeth’ instead. You may find teeth on ‘rake’, ‘blade’, or ‘comb’ style grooming brushes. Teeth have the advantage of being stronger and sturdier than most bristles, so they’re less likely to bend or break.
However, this can also be a disadvantage, since the teeth’s lack of flexibility may decrease their effectiveness and even increase the likelihood of scratching, especially for cats with sensitive skin.
2-sided brushes can give you the ‘best of both worlds’ by providing either more than one type of bristle or providing bristles or teeth in different quantities on each side. This design will allow you more choice and flexibility when it comes to grooming your Himalayan.
Handle
After the bristles and teeth, the next most important part of any cat grooming brush is the handle.
You ideally want the handle of your grooming brush to be as ergonomically designed as possible, especially for grooming a Himalayan cat.
This is because Himalayan’s have long, thick coats that take a long time to deshed, and this process needs to be repeated daily. Therefore, you’ll need a brush that you can comfortably use for extended periods of time.
Soft handles that have been designed to provide an easy, comfortable grip will help you to groom your Himalayan for hours on end if needed without discomfort. A thumb rest is also useful for stopping your hand from getting sore during grooming.
Ease-of-Use
Outside of the bristle and handle features we’ve already mentioned, there are a couple of other functions found in cat brushes that can significantly improve a grooming tool’s ease-of-use.
A retractable bristle function, for instance, can be a life-saver when it comes to cleaning the brush after use.
The ability to retract the brush’s bristles at the push of a button means you won’t have to waste time picking hair out of the brush. Instead, you can simply lower the bristles into the head of the brush and remove the hair from the exposed brush pad in no time at all.
A brush that allows you to detach the comb will also be easier to use in terms of cleaning. A detachable comb can be more easily and thoroughly cleaned between uses so you can ensure that you’re always grooming your Himalayan with the most sanitary tool possible.
Additionally, a rotatable brush head can make it a lot easier to achieve the perfect brushing angle for both your own and your cat’s comfort.
Storage
You might not immediately think of storage as an important factor for consideration with a tool as small as a cat grooming brush. However, storage can be instrumental in prolonging the longevity of the brush.
We’ve already talked about how retractable bristles can make a grooming brush easier to clean, but this feature is also useful for storage purposes. Retracting the bristles into the brush when not in use helps to keep them protected in storage, minimizing the risk of bending or breakage.
Another great storage feature that is often taken for granted is an eyelet in the brush’s handle. An eyelet provides a convenient way to store your brush between uses. Using the eyelet, you can hang up the brush so that it’s out of the way of any potential for damage.
Sustainability
While the rubber and plastic materials used in many cat brushes are useful for providing a comfortable, ergonomic grip, they aren’t so great for the environment.
If sustainability is important to you, consider opting for a grooming brush made of eco-friendly, sustainable materials, such as bamboo.
Not only is bamboo a strong and durable material but it also ensures that when your brush comes to the end of its long life, you can dispose of it responsibly without causing any harm to the environment.
Additional Features
Amongst our list of products, you’ll find a couple of additional features that will really improve the value of your purchase.
The inclusion of a protective cover will help to keep your brush’s bristles or teeth protected between uses, so if you’re concerned about product longevity, this is a good feature to keep in mind.
The idea of losing a pet is a source of great anxiety for many owners. If this is something that you’re worried about, why not solve two problems at once and get a brush for your Himalayan cat that includes a collar tag?
Pat Your Pet’s rake brush comes with a cute identification tag that you can have engraved with your contact details so your cat will never get lost for long.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I brush my Himalayan cat?
Having the right tools for grooming your Himalayan cat is only half of the process. You also need to know the correct technique for brushing a Himalayan cat to achieve the best results.
Brushing your Himalayan incorrectly won’t just affect the appearance of their coat – it can also cause discomfort and, if matting becomes severe, skin infections from accumulated dirt.
Before you get into the actual grooming, you should thoroughly check your cat’s fur for fleas, ticks, and lice. These tiny pests like to hide in long hair, so Himalayan cats will need a little extra attention in this area.
You should begin the grooming process by untangling any obvious tangles or knots. Do this gently, using your fingers to help if you need to.
Once the worst tangles have been dealt with, gently run your brush down the cat’s back, following the direction of the hair from neck to tail. This will remove loose shedding from your cat’s coat.
Don’t forget to very carefully repeat this process on your cat’s head, legs, tail, stomach, and chest, until the entire coat is tangle-free and deshedded.
Take care to avoid protruding bones, where brushing can be uncomfortable. Also avoid the eyes, ears, and nose when brushing your cat’s head area.
If you come across any tangles that are too severe to be dealt with using either the brush or your fingers, you may need to carefully cut this piece of hair away to avoid further matting.
