How to brush a cat and cut down on hairballs

Why and how often

A cat swallows loose hair as it grooms. Most of it passes through the gut, but some collects in the stomach and comes back up as a hairball. The more dead hair you brush out, the less your cat swallows.

A short-haired cat needs brushing once or twice a week, more during the moult. A long-haired cat, such as a Persian or a Maine Coon, needs brushing down to the skin every day, because its coat mats quickly. An older or overweight cat can no longer reach its back and the area around its tail, so it needs your help most of all.

What you need

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Step by step

Pick a calm moment Brush when your cat is relaxed, for example after a meal or when it comes for a cuddle. Start where it likes being stroked: the cheeks and back.
Brush with the lie of the coat Stroke a short coat from head to tail with a soft brush or mitt. Comb a long coat in layers, first with the wide teeth, then the narrow ones, right down to the skin.
Remember the armpits and belly On long-haired cats the coat mats fastest in the armpits, on the belly, behind the ears and on the back legs. Brush these spots especially gently.
Do not cut mats yourself Tease a small mat apart with your fingers, holding it close to the skin. A cat's skin is very thin and easily cut, so leave large mats stuck to the skin to a groomer or vet.
Stop while your cat still enjoys it Your cat will show you when it has had enough: the tail starts to twitch or the skin on its back ripples. Stop before that, give a treat and carry on another day.
Keep track of hairballs Note how often your cat brings up a hairball. The odd hairball is a normal part of cat life, but if they become more frequent, talk to your vet.

When to stop and see a vet

Stop if brushing hurts, or your cat hisses or tries to bite: a wound can hide under a mat. See a vet if your cat vomits often or retches without bringing anything up, has stopped eating, struggles to pass stools, is losing hair in patches, grooms so much that bald patches appear or, on the contrary, has stopped grooming altogether.