# Dog and Cat Brushes by Coat Type (2026): Slicker, Pin, Comb and Rubber Curry > Which brush each coat needs, from smooth and double coats to doodles, silky coats and long-haired cats, with the ASPCA's brushing routine and when mats need a groomer. - Source: https://petprooflab.com/grooming-health/dog-and-cat-brushes-by-coat-type - Publisher: PetProofLab (https://petprooflab.com) - Published: 2026-09-28 - Category: grooming-health - Tags: dog brushes, cat brushes, slicker brush, pin brush, greyhound comb, matting, doodle grooming - Method: picks chosen from Amazon listings and brand specs; not hands-on tested; current Amazon prices are on the page; content checked 2026-09-28. - Quick answer: Match the brush to the coat. The ASPCA's routine: a rubber brush then a bristle brush for smooth, short coats; a slicker then a bristle brush for short, dense fur; and a daily slicker and bristle session for long, silky coats. Curly doodle and poodle coats need a slicker plus a metal comb that reaches the skin. For cats, the ASPCA suggests a metal comb, with a rubber brush for short fur. Dense mats are a job for a groomer or vet, not a brush. ## Key takeaways - Smooth, short coat: rubber brush to loosen dead hair and dirt, then a bristle brush, once a week, per the ASPCA. - Short, dense or double coat: slicker brush for tangles, then a bristle brush; an undercoat tool is a separate, once- or twice-a-week job. - Long, silky coat: the ASPCA says daily attention with a slicker, then a bristle brush. - Curly and doodle coats: slicker, then a metal comb run down to the skin to find hidden tangles. - Cats: a metal comb head to tail, a rubber brush for short fur, and grooming every few days for long-haired indoor cats. ## Products (chosen from listings, not tested) 1. **Andis Stainless-Steel Slicker Brush, Medium** (details: https://petprooflab.com/grooming-health/dog-and-cat-brushes-by-coat-type#product-B0CNYCRSBX) — The everyday slicker for dense, long and curly coats, and the first step before a comb. - Pros: Long, curved stainless-steel wire bristles for tangles, debris and loose hair, per the listing; Listed for all breeds and fur lengths, on dogs and cats; Sold by Amazon.com - Cons: No retracting pins; you pull the hair off by hand or with a comb 2. **BioSilk for Pets Detangling Pin Brush for Dogs** (details: https://petprooflab.com/grooming-health/dog-and-cat-brushes-by-coat-type#product-B083YVT9VJ) — A gentle finishing brush for a long, silky or flowing coat. - Pros: Pin brush meant to remove knots and tangles with less pulling, per the listing; Listed for dogs of all sizes with short, medium or long coats; Sold by Amazon.com - Cons: A pin brush smooths and detangles the top of the coat; it will not reach tight undercoat mats 3. **AKC Double-Sided Grooming Brush, Bristle and Pin** (details: https://petprooflab.com/grooming-health/dog-and-cat-brushes-by-coat-type#product-B0FKT4S659) — The bristle brush for a smooth or short coat, with a pin side for the odd tangle. - Pros: Soft bristles on one side, stainless-steel pins with rounded tips on the other, per the listing; For dogs and cats; the bristle side is the finishing step the ASPCA describes; Sold by Amazon.com - Cons: The listing's last bullet describes puppy pads, not a brush, so rely on the product photos and the first four bullets 4. **Freshly Bailey Greyhound Comb for Dogs** (details: https://petprooflab.com/grooming-health/dog-and-cat-brushes-by-coat-type#product-B0FZXK5RZJ) — The comb to run through a curly coat after the slicker, down to the skin. - Pros: 7.5 in metal comb with wide and fine teeth on one spine, per the listing; Made for doodles, poodles and poodle mixes; rounded tips; Sold by Freshly Bailey, the brand's own store - Cons: A comb finds and loosens tangles; it will not remove a solid mat 5. **Freshly Bailey Grooming Comb for Long and Curly Hair** (details: https://petprooflab.com/grooming-health/dog-and-cat-brushes-by-coat-type#product-B0892VKMGN) — The metal comb for a long-haired cat, and a second comb for a doodle household. - Pros: Long and short stainless-steel teeth with rounded heads, per the listing; Listed for long- or short-haired cats and for doodle and poodle-mix dogs; Sold by Freshly Bailey - Cons: The listing's mat method (isolating hairs with the comb tip) takes patience on a cat that will not sit still 6. **Petmate JW GripSoft Cat Brush** (details: https://petprooflab.com/grooming-health/dog-and-cat-brushes-by-coat-type#product-B0002DK0A0) — A cat-sized slicker for long-haired and heavy-shedding cats. - Pros: Small slicker with a rounded head for hard-to-reach areas on cats and kittens, per the listing; Metal teeth in two lengths to loosen matted fur; Sold by Amazon.com - Cons: Stock was limited when we checked; wire teeth need a light hand on thin cat skin 7. **FURminator Hair Collection Rubber Brush for Cats** (details: https://petprooflab.com/grooming-health/dog-and-cat-brushes-by-coat-type#product-B096WP7YXR) — The rubber brush the ASPCA suggests for a short-haired cat. - Pros: Rubber bristles that build a static charge to lift loose hair, per the listing; Works on short or long, wet or dry hair; also cleans upholstery; Sold by Amazon.com - Cons: Stock was limited when we checked; a rubber brush lifts surface hair and will not work out tangles 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 | Coat | What the ASPCA or maker says to use | Pick on this page | Sold by | Amazon price | |---|---|---|---|---| | Dense, long or curly (dogs and cats) | Slicker brush for tangles | [Andis Stainless-Steel Slicker, Medium](https://petprooflab.com/grooming-health/dog-and-cat-brushes-by-coat-type#product-B0CNYCRSBX) | Amazon.com | see the current Amazon price on the page | | Long, silky | Slicker, then a finishing brush | [BioSilk Detangling Pin Brush](https://petprooflab.com/grooming-health/dog-and-cat-brushes-by-coat-type#product-B083YVT9VJ) | Amazon.com | see the current Amazon price on the page | | Smooth, short | Rubber brush, then bristle brush | [AKC Bristle and Pin Brush](https://petprooflab.com/grooming-health/dog-and-cat-brushes-by-coat-type#product-B0FKT4S659) | Amazon.com | see the current Amazon price on the page | | Curly, doodle, poodle | Metal comb after the slicker | [Freshly Bailey Greyhound Comb](https://petprooflab.com/grooming-health/dog-and-cat-brushes-by-coat-type#product-B0FZXK5RZJ) | Freshly Bailey | see the current Amazon price on the page | | Long-haired cat | Metal comb | [Freshly Bailey Long and Curly Comb](https://petprooflab.com/grooming-health/dog-and-cat-brushes-by-coat-type#product-B0892VKMGN) | Freshly Bailey | see the current Amazon price on the page | | Long-haired or heavy-shedding cat | Small slicker | [Petmate JW GripSoft Cat Brush](https://petprooflab.com/grooming-health/dog-and-cat-brushes-by-coat-type#product-B0002DK0A0) | Amazon.com | see the current Amazon price on the page | | Short-haired cat | Rubber brush | [FURminator Rubber Brush for Cats](https://petprooflab.com/grooming-health/dog-and-cat-brushes-by-coat-type#product-B096WP7YXR) | Amazon.com | see the current Amazon price on the page | 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](https://petprooflab.com/grooming-health/best-deshedding-brushes) covers FURminator's weight-and-hair-length sizes and how often to use one. For hair that has already reached the sofa, our [pet hair removal guide](https://petprooflab.com/potty-cleaning/pet-hair-removal-tools) sorts rollers, rubber brooms and vacuums by surface. ## 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. Our [dog shampoo guide](https://petprooflab.com/grooming-health/dog-shampoo) covers what to wash with and how often the ASPCA says to bathe. ## Dogs: brush by coat type The ASPCA's [dog grooming tips](https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/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](https://petprooflab.com/grooming-health/best-deshedding-brushes) 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](https://www.furminator.com/tips-and-info/faqs) that its undercoat tool "should not be used on non-shedding breeds or on pets with particularly sensitive skin." Our [FURminator vs Hertzko comparison](https://petprooflab.com/grooming-health/furminator-vs-hertzko) 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](https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/cat-care/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](https://petprooflab.com/about#veterinary)). ## 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](https://petprooflab.com/recalls). Two brand-level notes: in 2025 the CPSC announced a [Petmate recall of Pet Zone laser pointer and LED ball toys](https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2025/Petmate-Recalls-Pet-Zone-Pet-Toys-Due-to-Risk-of-Serious-Injury-or-Death-from-Ingestion-Hazard-Violation-of-Mandatory-Standard-for-Consumer-Products-with-Button-Cell-Batteries-Sold-Exclusively-at-Menards) over button-cell batteries, and in 2024 a [recall of FURminator deShedding Ultra Premium Dog Conditioner](https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2024/Spectrum-Brands-Pet-Care-Recalls-Pet-Fur-deShedding-Conditioner-Due-to-Risk-of-Exposure-to-Bacteria). Neither is a brush. Grooming sessions are also a good time to check nails; see our guide to [dog nail clippers and grinders](https://petprooflab.com/grooming-health/dog-nail-clippers-and-grinders). New to all this? The [new puppy checklist](https://petprooflab.com/life-stages/new-puppy-checklist) and [new kitten checklist](https://petprooflab.com/life-stages/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. --- *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.* ## Sources - ASPCA: [Dog grooming tips](https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/dog-grooming-tips) - furminator.com: [FAQ](https://www.furminator.com/tips-and-info/faqs) - ASPCA: [Cat grooming tips](https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/cat-care/cat-grooming-tips) - U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: [Petmate recall of Pet Zone laser pointer and LED ball toys](https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2025/Petmate-Recalls-Pet-Zone-Pet-Toys-Due-to-Risk-of-Serious-Injury-or-Death-from-Ingestion-Hazard-Violation-of-Mandatory-Standard-for-Consumer-Products-with-Button-Cell-Batteries-Sold-Exclusively-at-Menards) - U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission: [Recall of FURminator deShedding Ultra Premium Dog Conditioner](https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls/2024/Spectrum-Brands-Pet-Care-Recalls-Pet-Fur-deShedding-Conditioner-Due-to-Risk-of-Exposure-to-Bacteria) --- Last updated: 2026-09-28 Canonical URL: https://petprooflab.com/grooming-health/dog-and-cat-brushes-by-coat-type How to cite: "Dog and Cat Brushes by Coat Type (2026): Slicker, Pin, Comb and Rubber Curry", PetProofLab, https://petprooflab.com/grooming-health/dog-and-cat-brushes-by-coat-type (checked 2026-09-28). Disclosure: as an Amazon Associate PetProofLab earns from qualifying purchases. Safety information summarizes public guidance and is not medical advice.