Shorthairs need only a rubber brush or soft bristle brush once or twice weekly, while longhairs need comb-plus-slicker sessions daily to prevent mats.
Slickers fluff and loosen shallow tangles, metal combs verify you reached the skin, and rubber brushes suit sensitive cats that hate stiff tools.
Never yank mats: tease them apart from the edges with fingers or a dematting tool, and leave large skin-tight mats to a professional groomer.
Brushing doubles as a skin check, so dander, black specks, bald patches, or fierce resistance at one spot should prompt a vet exam for skin disease or pain.
