Dog and Cat Brushes by Coat Type (2026): Slicker, Pin, Comb and Rubber Curry

Pick a brush by coat, not by breed name. For a smooth, short coat, a rubber brush and a bristle brush; for a dense or double coat, a slicker brush, then a bristle brush; for a long, silky coat, a daily slicker session; for a curly doodle or poodle coat, a slicker plus a metal comb that reaches the skin. For cats, a metal comb covers most coats, with a rubber brush for short fur. This page sorts the tools by coat type using the ASPCA's grooming routines and the makers' own descriptions, then says when a tangle has become a job for a groomer or your vet.

How we chose: we did not test these brushes; we matched each coat type to the tools the ASPCA names, and kept only brushes and combs sold by Amazon.com or the brand's own store and in stock on September 28, 2026.

Which tool for which coat

Prices are Amazon's, as of the time shown, and subject to change. Details

For a thick undercoat, you also need a deshedding tool or rake. Those have their own page: our guide to deshedding brushes and undercoat tools covers FURminator's weight-and-hair-length sizes and how often to use one.

The four tools, in plain terms

• Slicker brush: a flat or curved pad of fine, bent wire pins. It pulls out tangles and loose hair from dense, long and curly coats. Use short, light strokes; the wire can scratch if you press.
• Pin brush: longer, straighter pins, usually with rounded tips, on a cushioned pad. It detangles and smooths a long, flowing coat but does not reach deep into a dense one.
• Bristle brush: natural or nylon bristles packed close together. It lifts dead hair and dirt off a short coat and finishes longer coats after the slicker.
• Metal comb: a steel comb, often with wide teeth at one end and fine teeth at the other (the "greyhound" style). Running it down to the skin is how you find the tangles a brush glides over.

A rubber curry brush or rubber cat brush is a fifth tool: soft rubber nubs that loosen dead hair and dirt from short coats, and work in the bath too.

Dogs: brush by coat type

The ASPCA's dog grooming tips set out a routine for each coat. We have kept its wording and added the tool from the table.

Smooth, short coat. The ASPCA says to "brush once a week. Use a rubber brush to loosen dead skin and dirt and follow with bristle brush to remove dead hair." The AKC Double-Sided brush gives you the bristle side; for the rubber step, the rubber curry in our deshedding guide does the job.

Short, dense fur: "brushing once a week is fine. Use a slicker brush to remove tangles and catch dead hair with a bristle brush." The Andis slicker covers the first step. If the undercoat comes out in clumps each spring and fall, add an undercoat tool once or twice a week, as the deshedding guide explains.

Long, silky coat: "she'll need daily attention. Every day you'll need to remove tangles with a slicker brush. Next, brush her coat with a bristle brush." The BioSilk pin brush is a softer finishing brush for coats that flow rather than curl.

Long hair prone to matting: the ASPCA says to "set up a daily grooming routine to remove tangles and prevent mats. Gently tease out tangles with a slicker brush, and then brush your pet with a bristle brush."

Doodles and poodle mixes: slicker, then comb

A curly or wavy coat holds on to loose hair, and Freshly Bailey's listing for its Greyhound Comb says the comb reaches "deep into the coat to lift loose hair that brushes miss." The same listing names the spots where early mats start: "ears, legs, tail, and armpits."

The routine is two tools. Go over each section with the Andis slicker, then run the Freshly Bailey Greyhound Comb from the skin outward. Where the comb catches, you have found a tangle the slicker missed. Work it loose with the wide teeth, then check again with the fine teeth.

Do not reach for a deshedding blade on these coats. FURminator says in its FAQ that its undercoat tool "should not be used on non-shedding breeds or on pets with particularly sensitive skin." Our FURminator vs Hertzko comparison goes through when a slicker is the better buy.

Cats: comb first, rubber for short fur

Most cats groom themselves, but brushing still helps. The ASPCA's cat grooming tips say "one or two brushings per week" keep a cat's coat healthy, and warn that "neglecting to brush your kitty's coat can lead to painful tangles and a bellyful of hair."

Short-haired cats. The ASPCA's routine: "With a metal comb, work the brush through your cat's fur from head to tail," always in the direction the hair grows, and "a rubber brush can be especially effective for removing dead hair on cats with short fur." The FURminator rubber brush is that second tool. The Freshly Bailey long and curly comb works as the metal comb on a short coat too.

Long-haired cats. These need more time. The ASPCA says long-haired cats that live indoors "shed throughout the year and need grooming sessions every few days to prevent tangles." It suggests starting with the belly and legs, combing the fur upward. For a knot, its advice is to tease it apart with your fingers and, if that fails, "try using a mat-splitter." Keep the Petmate JW GripSoft slicker for the fluffy areas and the Freshly Bailey comb for checking down to the skin.

Pro tip: keep sessions short and stop before the cat does. A few minutes of combing the back and sides while the cat is relaxed, then the belly on another day, gets further than one long session that ends in a scratch.

Mats: when to stop brushing

A small tangle comes out with a slicker and a comb. A dense, felted mat that sits against the skin does not, and pulling at it hurts. Here is where the sources draw the line:

• For dogs, the ASPCA says that if "matting is particularly dense, you may try clipping the hair, taking care not to come near the skin." Skin under a mat is easy to cut, so if you cannot see a gap between mat and skin, do not use scissors.
• For cats with severe matting, the ASPCA points you to "a professional groomer or a veterinarian."
• Freshly Bailey's own mat method for its comb is slow and gentle: hold the mat firmly and use the tip of the comb to separate hairs, "without pulling pet's skin."

A professional groomer can clip a matted coat short and start again. If the skin under a mat is red, wet or smells, or your pet cries when you touch the spot, ask your vet first. This page is general information, not veterinary advice (more on that).

What we left out

The Hertzko Self Cleaning Slicker Brush was sold only by a third-party storefront (BullzEyeDeals) when we checked. Chris Christensen slickers, pin brushes and combs were listed through a reseller called Groomers Pro, not a Chris Christensen store. The KONG ZoomGroom rubber brushes and Coastal Safari pin brushes, slickers and rakes were also sold only by third-party sellers, and the Paw Brothers greyhound comb that Amazon.com sells was out of stock. All of these may be fine tools; we could not confirm who was shipping them.

Recalls: we found no CPSC recall of any brush or comb on this page in our pet recall list. Two brand-level notes: in 2025 the CPSC announced a Petmate recall of Pet Zone laser pointer and LED ball toys over button-cell batteries, and in 2024 a recall of FURminator deShedding Ultra Premium Dog Conditioner. Neither is a brush.

Grooming sessions are also a good time to check nails; see our guide to dog nail clippers and grinders. New to all this? The new puppy checklist and new kitten checklist cover what to buy first.

Frequently Asked Questions

What brush should I use on a short-haired dog?

A rubber brush, then a bristle brush, once a week. That is the ASPCA's routine for smooth, short coats: the rubber brush loosens dead skin and dirt, and the bristle brush removes the dead hair.

Is a slicker brush safe for cats?

Yes, used lightly. A small slicker such as the Petmate JW GripSoft is sold for cats, but its wire pins can scratch thin skin if you press, so use short, gentle strokes and let the comb find the tangles.

What is the difference between a slicker and a pin brush?

A slicker has short, fine, bent wires packed tightly to pull out tangles and loose hair; a pin brush has longer, straighter pins with rounded tips that smooth and detangle a long coat. Dense and curly coats need the slicker; flowing coats finish well with a pin brush.

How do I stop my doodle from matting?

Brush section by section with a slicker, then run a metal comb from the skin outward so you find the tangles the brush missed. Pay attention to the ears, legs, tail and armpits, the spots Freshly Bailey's comb listing flags.

Should I cut out a mat myself?

Only if you can see clear space between the mat and the skin. The ASPCA says dense mats on dogs can be clipped "taking care not to come near the skin," and sends owners of badly matted cats to a groomer or a veterinarian.

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PetProofLab is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. We did not test these brushes; features are the makers' own, from their listings and sites.