Good brushes to stop mats

[MaudesMum]

Long-haired, cross, bitey cat, who's never really accepted being brushed! Now she's getting older, she's getting matted areas, which I'm waging a constant battle against. She is, however, getting more willing to accept brushing as long as it is on her terms, as part of a "stroke me" session. I need to find something which can get deep enough into her fur to stop the matts before they get too well established. Any ideas??

Zoom groom? I've used one on brush hating animals before and they've been ace.

With the dog one I can get more fluff out of my parent's collie than they can with a whole array of expensive brushes and whilst he tries to escape their brushes he's normally rolling around on the floor with his tongue lolling out for me!

They don't remove the fur though just loosen so I find you need to use both hands and one pass with the zoom groom and then stroke in the same place and the fur falls out into your hand.

It has points rather than bristles and they go quite deep into the fur and the cat version is quite small so hides in your palm quite nicely.

You need a metal comb and a kids tangle teaser. I give my Persians a going over with the tangle teaser every few days and the metal comb every couple of weeks. She also goes to a groomer about every 3 months to keep on top of it. Getting a hygiene trim is also essential, to avoid cling nuts! Also getting under their armpits shaved helps as well.

Zoom grooms are great for short hair. But not for long hair. But it will help her get used to brushing.

Oh and furminators aren't great either on long hair.

That's really helpful everyone. @Toddlerteaplease - although she's relaxed a bit in her old age, I could only get her to a groomer if sedated! Last time she was at the vet, she managed to attack two staff - and that was after she'd had an anaesthetic ...

I took my friends very grumpy cat to a groomer and she was d good as gold!

Our old boy is a short hair, but its incredibly thick and dense, and at almost 20 he's now getting mats for the first time in his life. He likes being combed rather than brushed, and his coat has improved since we added green lipped mussel powder to his food. Brand name is yumove, and its targeted more to arthritic joints, but what a difference its made to his coat. He's silky! I open a capsule and sprinkle it on his wet food. Our vet put us onto it.

I use salmon oil for my pair, but might try the middle powder.