Generally speaking, taking care of cats requires a lot of time and patience in terms of their sensitivity to parasites and fleas. It is a sad fact that if fleas are not promptly found and treated, they can inflict more worrying nuisances on your little pets other than virtually irritating itches.
One of the most popular treatment methods trusted by pet owners is using a high-quality flea comb. Regarding the variety of combs available on the market, customers may get puzzled as to which choice is the best. So, we are here to help you with our reviews of the best flea combs for cats.
What Is a Flea Comb for Cats?
Flea combs are finely toothed tools used to spot out and remove fleas from your pets’ body. The distance between teeth is far narrower in comparison with that of human hair combs.
This serves as a simple yet effective way to do pet fur, particularly those with sensitive skin that easily gets irritated by chemicals found in other flea treatment products. Flea combs are also great tools to help your pet get rid of hairball.
Our Reviews of Best Flea Combs for Cats
1.Safari Flea Comb
On the top of the suggestion list for you comes the Safari flea comb. It is divided into two different categories based on the number of rows: single-row for cats and double-row for dogs with longer hair.
This single-row kind of comb is suitable for various-sized cats. With a lightweight design, it can certainly live up to the expectations of customers in terms of portability and efficiency.
Highly recommended by experts in grooming, Safari flea comb helps find out fleas and eggs from early stages for removal, thereby keeping the condition of cat skin under strict control. With the aid of an extended handle, nits and other debris are easily taken out of your pet body. During the process, make sure to comb with great care the areas around ears, the base of tail and nape of the neck, which are usually hidden by thick fur and thus, left neglected by owners.
It is advisable that the tool is utilized after the application of flea powder or shampoos to maximize its effectiveness. (flea powder is suitable for those unable to be bathed or still too young to accept flea drops). This will save comb teeth from damages caused by any tangle or knot blended with smooth fur. At regular intervals, try to soak the comb into mild detergent or soapy water resolution (as instructed in the enclosed handbook) to cleanse the tool and wash fleas out at the same time. Due to the narrow distance between teeth, the fact that fleeces get stuck in between is unavoidable.
As an all-natural alternative, the comb had better be used on a daily basis to instantly prevent any sign of re-infestation.
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2,Oster Animal Care Comb
The Oster Animal Care comb & Protect Flea Comb for Cats is well-known for its ergonomic design to serve the purpose of removing fleas in dogs and cats. With closely-placed teeth made of metal, which is the most durable and dependable material of all, the tool is committed to picking up fleas quickly out of even dense coats. In addition to short-haired cats, this kind of comb also works well on long-haired ones with even taking out foxtails, dirt, etc.
Like Safari flea comb, it is also light in weight, easy to use and suitable for carrying around. Besides, the comb can be neatly laid within the palm of one hand, causing no obstacle to moving the tool freely around the pet for a complete hair grooming.
One special feature that can be easily found out is that the teeth are particularly made to turn 90 degrees away from the skin, which means to maintain the parallel position with the skin during the combing process. Thanks to this special structure, your pets are ensured perfect protection from being raked as other kinds of metal combs. They can be put at great ease to enjoy grooming without feeing any touch of inconvenience.
Though made of metal, the prongs are not too sharp and short enough to touch the skin and run smoothly along the whole body. From my own experience, after using the comb, my cat’ fur becomes shinier and healthier-looking. Even parts of the undercoat can be removed by using an Oster Animal Care comb during the shedding season in the summer.
Contrary to its Safari counterpart, the comb has no handle, which is pretty uncomfortable at first use but will turn out easy to hold by either hand later on.
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3.Honbay Double-Sided Flea Combs
A typical product made of plastic that can’t be counted out is Honbay double-sized flea comb. Unlike most combs coming in single packages, it is normally wrapped up in a pack of 4 pieces with different colors including green, white, orange and blue. These are all bright colors, which proves extremely helpful in identifying fleas and skin related problems as quickly as possible. Based on the fur color of your furry friend, you can choose one of the most suitable color in sharp contrast to enhance the efficiency of the grooming process.
One special thing about Honbay is that each comb has two sides which are fit for change while grooming the pet, thereby relieving pressure on each side.
Normally, plastic teeth are not thinly made enough and the distances between them are not close enough to be unable to see the light through them. But it’s not applicable to products by Honbay. Based on my own experience, just after a long period of use do the comb teeth begin to spread.
However, bear in mind that a plastic comb is likely to electrify the pet in contact with its hair. Therefore, it should be used with great caution in the event of dry weather with low humidity.
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4.Pet Republique Cat Flea Comb
Coming next in the list is a flea comb produced by the Pet Republique brand, which is committed to donating 15% of its total profits to the American Animal Rescue Society. This is a non-profit organization serving to shelter abandoned dogs and cats. Therefore, any purchase from this trademark is undoubtedly an indication of joining hands in protecting animals.
Comprised of exquisite and flexible pins, this kind of flea comb is popular among pet owners due to its verified efficiency in removing flea debris, ticks, dandruff flakes and mites, thereby keeping your pets well-groomed. In addition, it helps to reduce stray pet hair scattered on the floor or furniture, which proves essential for households having small kids or animal-fur sensitive members. For long-furred cats, knots, matting and shedding can be considerably lessened with the aid of the Pet Republique flea comb.
The handle is designed ergonomically with sinking-printed patterns of cat paws, making it easy to hold and keep under control during the grooming process.
About the bristles, they are made with the proper hardness and resistance to reduce damages to the cat body while still effectively catching and wiping off fleas. The teeth are made closely together so that fleas and their eggs stand little chances of escaping or being omitted.
This product is really worth a try and it definitely works up to your satisfaction with practical effectiveness and great comfort for your pet. Most of the customers agree on its suitability for both short and long-haired cats.
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5.Flea Comb with Double Row of Teeth
The flea comb with double row of teeth appears one of the most expensive tools on this list, but it stands to reason to give it a try considering its beneficial structure.
One striking feature that makes this comb stand out from the rest is a double row of closely-spaced teeth. In comparison with single row combs, it certainly just takes double row ones half the time to clean out fleas, eggs, debris and dust. Moreover, upon combing, even if a flea survives the first row, it can by no means continue avoiding the second tightly knit row. Thus, the comb turns out for much help in eliminating fleas.
Hertzko also pays attention to rounding tooth ends to give cats the most possibly comfortable experience of getting hair combed. When it comes to hair grooming, some breeds are highly sensitive to being scratched. They easily get irritated and won’t accept this kind of treatment once they feel unsafe. As a result, Hertzko flea combs are non-invasive and safe options to choose from.
In addition, teeth are made of stainless steel which is able to stand the test of time without any sign of rust. It is also feasible to sanitize the comb after each use.
Besides effectively removing fleas, the manufacturer promises to give pets a soft and shiny coat along with facilitating blood circulation for enhanced health.
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6.Li'l Pals Double Side Comb
If you are seeking a product with flea reduction and fur detangling functions in combination, here comes Li'l Pals double side comb.
Unlike other tools made up of a closely-spaced tooth row, a Li’l Pals comb is constituted by 32 closely-spaced teeth made of stainless steel on one side and 17 others on the other side. This feature certainly satisfies pet owners’ demands for removing tangles blended in cat fur before picking fleas out. Normally, when using a flea comb, you need to resort to a grooming one beforehand to prevent damages of tangles and mats possible causing to the former. However, this is not the case with the product by Li’l Pals when both functions are included in just one comb.
It features flexible pins and durable plastic tips that are designed to match the contour of the cat body for perfect grooming.
Additionally, this comb also works well with straightening and smoothing whiskers and hair around the eye, ear and mouth regions of your cat. Regular brushing is proved to boost the generation of natural oil and at the same time distribute it evenly on cat fur for a shiny and healthy finish. Thoroughly understanding this wonderful benefit, a Li'l Pals double side comb is available to keep a fresh and clean appearance of your little furry friend.
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7.Sentry Flea Comb for Cats
Sentry flea comb for cats comes as the lightweight and least costly comb to remove fleas and their eggs in this list.
With an ergonomically designed handle, this tool is committed to offering a comfortable grip to users no matter you are a left-handed or right-handed person. Besides, well-spaced teeth enable easy access to fleas and rule out any chances of fleas hiding in between.
One thing special about this comb is its stylish purple coat. Contrary to some products which have a black background against the black color of fleas, this purple color of this comb is really impressive when sliding through cat fur. This is inclined to facilitate the detection of fleas considering the increased visibility of them when getting stuck in the spaces between comb teeth. Concurrently, the purple-colored frame also makes it possible to spot the tool when it is blended with others in a drawer or cabinet, which can save pet owners time and effort.
Like other options above-mentioned, this kind of comb is comparatively easy to use and doesn’t require many attempts in doing the cleaning afterward. Assure that you keep a bucket of warm water within reach in order to soak the comb into after each turn of combing. By this way can caught fleas and eggs be totally killed.
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8. Epilady Electric Flea Comb
If you find it annoying to comb your cat hair manually, an Epilady electric flea comb offers an alternative option for your consideration. Among electricity-run devices available on the market, it is judged as the best one in terms of pet-friendliness, easy use and efficiency.
This comb is powered by electricity and then releases a discharge to kill fleas and their eggs without harming your pets. It is powerful enough to eliminate about 3 or 4 fleas in one stroke. Once blocked by dead fleas, it will stop buzzing immediately. In this case, you just need to utilize the flip-flap switch to activate the automatic cleaning of the comb head via the retraction mechanism back into the comb. When all the debris is cleared out, the device starts working again.
With an ergonomic design, it is much easy to keep the comb under great control. Using the electric flea comb is rather simple, merely including holding it at a 45-degree angle while sliding through the pet fur.
Moreover, the teeth is coated with a layer of ceramics intending to prevent tangles and blockages. A cleaning brush is also enclosed in the product package to help you wipe out fleas stuck in between the teeth.
Remember to utilize the device on dry hair only to avoid possible electrocution. For animals with very long thick hair, it is advisable that you should remove knots and tangles by using a grooming comb prior to this flea zapper. Besides, those diagnosed with epilepsy or cardiovascular diseases are warned against handling this device without doctor consultations.
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Things to Consider for Buying the Best Flea Combs for Cats
Teeth
A comb with close teeth together will increase the chances of catching fleas and their eggs.
In terms of material, teeth made of plastic run greater risks of suffering accidents at one point or another. The plastic though lightweight is likely to bend if it isn’t rough and durable enough, causing difficulties in grabbing larvae and eggs from the skin.
Meanwhile, stainless steel teeth exhibit higher resistance to human impacts than plastic-made ones. They can work to your satisfaction upon catching adults and eggs alike when coupled with the perfect closeness and orientation.
Also, keep in mind that double-row combs are more efficient in getting rid of parasites while single-row ones are more favored by long-haired cats.
Handle
Combing cats’ fur is not as easy as you might think considering they are not ready to stand still for you until you finish the grooming work. Therefore, a rubber or plastic handle, or in other words non-slip one, is likely to make it much easier to keep the comb under control.
A handle patterned with ridges or soft pins is highly advisable to help maintain your hand’s position during the whole process.
There are several flea combs without handles but having more teeth and longer in length instead. However, you may find it difficult to hold them tightly due to metal materials, so try to refrain from using this kind of comb.
Size
The sizes of cat can vary greatly among different breeds, so it makes much sense to choose a comb suited for the body width and length of your furry friend.
It will clearly take up more time and greater effort to pick up all eggs and fleas from a big cat’s fur with a small comb only.
Price
The price of a comb normally falls into the range from $3 to around $40 based on its manually or automatically operated characteristic.
Tips for Using Flea Combs for Cats
Prepare a bucket of hot and soapy water with a proper depth to prevent the caught fleas from escaping.
Find out a suitable place to do the combing. It is much better to do outdoors for fear of fleas jumping onto furniture. Otherwise, a well-lit indoor space is acceptable as long as there is a vacuum cleaner nearby.
Try to keep your cat sit on a solid surface.
Conclusion
There is one proverb saying that “Prevention is better than cure.” Therefore, it makes the most sense to look after your furry friends with a flea comb before the worst scenario happens.
Out of the list of best flea combs for cats above, we would suggest buying one from the Safari, which is both affordable and effective besides its unfailing effort to satisfy users. Or if you can afford an Epilady Electric Flea Comb, it can help save time spent on the grooming task while showing great effects at the same time.
So, what is your final decision? Let us know by leaving your comment below. Thanks for reading!
