A grooming glove has silicone nubs and lifts loose hair as you stroke, which most cats tolerate well. A slicker brush has fine steel pins on a cushioned pad, opens undercoat and small tangles, and removes far more hair per session.

Gloves suit cats that dislike brushes and short-haired coats kept on top of daily, since the session doubles as contact. Slickers suit shedding season and long coats, handling tangles, but pin pressure on skin needs care.

The trade-off is efficiency against comfort: gloves remove limited hair, do almost nothing for tangles, and the nubs can trap grime, while slickers are efficient but can scratch if pressed hard, and bent or dull pins need replacing.

Decide by coat length and tolerance: glove for short coats day to day, slicker for shedding season and long hair, used together. If brushing reveals dandruff, red spots, lumps or patchy loss, stop and see a veterinarian.