What kind of brush /comb for grooming .

[margypops]

The brush I had last year was'nt very good and I found my Tweety's fur in everything, she also doesn't like to stand still, was wondering what kind of brush or comb or both do you guys use, we are coming up to the molting season..I think ..any tidbits would be welcome .

[FurballsMom]

Yep, they're that shape because of the shape of the digestive tract.  In America there is a good laxative that is grain free called Lax 'Aire.  It is very pallatable to most cats.  I never have to force the cat to take it.  She will lick it right off of the end of the tube.  I've given it to her in little dishes, but the little princess doesn't like to take the laxative this way.  As this cat has such a thick coat, even with lots of brushing she gets a hairball or two, so I will occasionally give the Lax 'Aire to Akira as a preventive measure.

You're right that occasionally vets have to remove bowel obstructions made by the swallowed hair balls, but this is generally very rare.  Thankfully, very rare.

[AppleBr]

A fur ball, despite the name is NOT a ball but something cilindrical made of licked and swallowed fur. Sometimes it cames in the middle of some vomit, sometimes they just spit that.
If the cat dont do that and the stuff dont go to intestine and pass by another place you have to help by giving especific products or in rare opportunities they can need veterinarian proceeds

[FurballsMom]

I believe that I did buy the replacement "brush" at Petsmart.  These things are great and I've yet to meet up with a cat that doesn't just love these shedding loops.  I'm not sure why it was hard for someone else to find at Petco, since when I was shopping around some time ago, I saw some there, too.  Ce la vie.  It has been quite a while since bought the replacement one.  For some reason the one with the leather handle that is in Akira's pictures posted on my profile came apart because of metal fatigue.  The one I got seems like it will have less of a chance of getting the metal fatigue so quickly as the one with the leather handle.  I just wish I could find a leather handled one, because, as in some of Akira's pictures, she was able to "hold" the "brush" with her paws.  It's just the cutest thing to me.  She would "hold" it and rub her whiskers on the teeth of the metal loop.  So, that picture is one of my favorite picture of my girl with all of her "jewelry".  I swear this cat would be a diva if she were a human.  LOL

Yep, it's that time of the year, as Jade so aptly put it.  LOL  Such is life.

[Jade59]

Margy, there is a pic right in the front of my album of mine (the brush) which is probably more what you'd find at either Petsmart or Petco.  I got mine at Petco.  In fact, let me friend you so you can see all of it if you'd like : )

[margypops]

So do Petsmart sell the shedding loop I will get that, I am also going to start adding the word Brush to our vocabulary,I have noticed the shedding stops in the winter but I think its time now ,I spy some white fur hanging around ...I did look at it on your pics furballs , thats a cute kitty you have her coat looks wonderful .AppleBr I didnt know what a fur ball was but she was spitting something up last year a couple of times .thank you brilliant gals ...

[Jade59]

Furballsmom...That's what mine is, too, a shedding loop.  Works great!  Thanks for your input and description in dealing with the undercoat.  Jade has a thick coat, too, and this thing works really well.  I agree about the comb pulling the fur.  I only use it on Jade when she's sleeping in the chair and relaxed, otherwise, she's not a big fan but has really come to love the shedding loop.  

Margy...you wouldn't normally see fleas unless there's a mass infestation, but Tweety being an outside kitty, you can count on there being fleas, especially where you live with all the dogs and critters.  I was just reading an article in my Cat Fancy mag on how even a totally indoor cat can get fleas since the larvae and eggs can be tracked in from outside on ones shoes.  I'm thinking of typing the article out for the forum.  It sure sounds like Tweety is liking the gal who willl stay at your home while you're away - I'm sure that puts your mind at ease.  

[AppleBr]

I use one ordinary cheap plastic rake.I used that religiously every day during the molting season cos my girls were spiting fur balls.
2 of then dont like so I had to do it when I had oportunity and many times that means while mother cat was licking them
She was getting more used to, but nowadays the fur is almost not falling so I became a little lazy and do it just eventually ( I feel guilty but laziness has been bigger :-) )

[FurballsMom]

My DSH loves the shedding loop I use on her.  I use the word brush.  If I say "brush" she comes running to me for her "brush".  It helps a lot, because it gets into the under coat.  This cat seems to have a double thick coat.  Using the shedding loop, which if you look at my pictures of my cat, you will see her old one that had a leather handle.  I haven't been able to find one with a leather handle again, but that's not the important part.  You'll see in the pictures just how much Akira loves her "brush".  This shedding tool really helps a lot in reducing how much cat hair I find around the apartment.  It's certainly worth checking into.  I find this shedding tool much easier to use on Akira than her flea comb.  I do have more than one flea comb, too.  The shedding tool doesn't "stick" like the flea comb does.

[margypops]

and thank you for the brush and comb ideas ..I never thought of a flea comb in fact I have'nt seen a flea on her , but I bet she has em its me thats short sighted LOl

[margypops]

Tweety did the same stayed in giving me dirty looks like I personally had made it rain , well we had more rain today than yesterday but less wind, so  she is hopping around outside ,earlier we had a gal come by who is going to house/tweety sit for me whilst I go the England in August ..Tweety actually walked up to her sniffed her boots a lot, and rubbed up against her legs ..I guess that was a good omen .I showed the gal  all round the house and Tweety has a table beside each window so she can look out when she is in the house , when we got to the bedroom there she was sitting up on the table by the bed peering out Such a spoilt kitty LOL.

[Jade59]

Hey Margy, I use both a flea comb and single edged curry comb/brush (thank you, Pip) on Jade.  The flea comb mainly down by the base of her tail and tail itself.  It often will catch live fleas which is the point.  The curry brush I got at Petco (go to my profile - I have a picture) works great without pulling the fur, but something you'd want to use outside as it's a bit of a mess, but does a very good job compared to the type of brushes that catch the fur like a human brush.  This brush will not pull the fur at all and Jade has come to really enjoy it.  

Jade used to be like Tweety - she'd never been brushed and wouldn't sit still so what I did was kind of hold her down gently at the base of her neck.  Not so hard, she can't move if she really wants to, but with some pressure so she knows I want her to sit still.    

Good luck, Margy!  How's Tweety doing in general?  Jade was not likin' all that rain and wind yesterday since it forced her to stay in.