Grooming

Dog and cat grooming tools for at-home care

Good at-home dog grooming supplies and cat grooming tools cover four jobs: loose undercoat, tangles, nails and quick cleanups between baths. Start with the tool that matches your pet's coat, then add the rest as you need them.

Which tool for which coat

Short single coats

A short coat without a dense undercoat needs only a light brush-down. The mist brush suits short-haired dogs and cats, and large wipes handle paws and quick cleanups. The de-shedding tool is made for double coats, so skip it here.

Double coats

Double-coated dogs and cats have a soft undercoat under a longer topcoat, and most of the hair on your floors starts there. Grooming tools for double-coated dogs should reach that layer, which is what the JESPET De-Shedding Tool is made for. It comes in small and large sizes.

Its stainless-steel edge works beneath the outer hair and catches undercoat that has already come loose. Use light, short strokes in the direction the hair grows and clear the edge as it fills. For hair that has already escaped, see our pet hair removal tools and how to get dog hair out of carpet.

Medium, long or silky coats

The Sakabase Curved Slicker Brush has a curved head, so more of its fine, firm pins meet the coat on each stroke. It suits dogs and cats with medium to long hair. Work in sections, and ease out a mat by holding it close to the skin and brushing the tips first. A mat that sits tight against the skin is a job for a professional groomer.

Short-haired and long-haired cats

For a short-haired cat, the mist brush picks up loose hair with soft silicone pins. If you need a brush for long-haired cats, the Sakabase slicker works through medium and long fur, and a cat with a dense double coat can also use the de-shedding tool. Keep sessions short and stop before your cat gets restless.

Slicker brush or de-shedding tool: what each one does

A slicker brush has many fine, firm pins that work through tangles and lift loose hair from medium and long coats. A de-shedding tool has a stainless-steel edge that reaches through the topcoat to catch loose undercoat, so it is made for double coats only.

A long double coat often benefits from both: the slicker for tangles first, then the de-shedding tool for the undercoat. Our guide on choosing between a slicker brush and a deshedding tool goes into more detail.

Nail care at home with a quiet, rechargeable grinder

The Quiet Rechargeable Pet Nail Grinder shortens nails in small passes rather than cutting them, so the edge comes out smooth. It has two speeds, USB charging and a guard with openings sized for dogs, cats, rabbits and other small pets. Introduce it slowly, one or two nails at a time, with a reward in between.

Hold long paw fur back from the grinding head, touch each nail for a second or two at a time and stop well short of the quick. Use the lower speed for small or thin nails. If you cannot tell where the quick begins, ask your veterinarian or groomer to show you.

A lick mat such as the SodaPup Jigsaw Lick Mat can keep a pet busy while you work. See what to put on a lick mat for ideas, and stay with your pet while they use it.

A mist brush for cats and short-haired dogs

Despite its name, the 3-in-1 Steam Grooming Brush puts out a fine water mist, not steam, from a small refillable tank. The damp mist holds loose hair and dander on the soft silicone pins, so less of it settles on furniture. It is rechargeable and made for cats and short-haired dogs.

Use short strokes that follow the coat, and pull the collected hair off the pins when you finish. You will find it with other cat essentials too.

Large wipes for eyes, ears, paws and coat between baths

Mr. Peanut's Naturals Pet Wipes are thick 6 × 10 in wipes, 150 per container, made in the USA with natural ingredients. Each one is large enough for tear stains around the eyes, ears, paws and a quick pass over the coat. Keep a container by the door, and see our routine for cleaning dog paws after a walk. For more mess control, browse our clean-up supplies.

A simple weekly grooming routine

• Brush short coats about once a week and long coats two or three times a week.
• Give a double coat a weekly brush-down, and two or three short de-shedding sessions a week in shedding season.
• Check nails weekly, and grind a little when you hear them click on hard floors.
• Wipe paws after muddy walks.
• Clear hair from the brush or edge after each session.

Grooming is also a good time to look over your pet's skin and coat. Ask your veterinarian about bald patches, irritated skin, a sudden change in shedding or a split or bleeding nail.

Free standard shipping and 30-day returns

Every order ships free by standard shipping to the 48 contiguous states and Washington, DC. Items leave U.S. warehouses within 1–2 business days and usually arrive 2–5 business days later. We do not ship to Alaska, Hawaii, U.S. territories, APO/FPO addresses or outside the U.S.

You have 30 days from delivery to return an item. For change-of-mind returns, you pay return postage and a 15% restocking fee applies. Damaged, defective or wrong items reported within 7 days are replaced or refunded in full. See our shipping details and return policy.

Grooming questions

Short answers to common grooming questions are below. For longer how-tos, browse our pet care guides.

What grooming tools do I need to groom my dog at home?

Most dogs need three things: a brush that suits their coat, a way to keep nails short and something for quick cleanups. In practice, that means a slicker brush for medium or long hair or a de-shedding tool for a double coat, plus a nail grinder and a pack of pet wipes. A short-haired dog can use the mist brush in place of either brush.

What is the difference between a slicker brush and a deshedding tool?

A slicker brush detangles medium and long coats with fine pins. A de-shedding tool removes loose undercoat from double coats with a steel edge. Some long double coats need both.

Can I use the same brush on my dog and my cat?

Often, yes. Our grooming tools suit a coat type, not a species: the slicker for medium to long hair, the de-shedding tool for double coats and the mist brush for cats and short-haired dogs. Clear the hair off the pins or edge before switching pets.

Is a nail grinder better than nail clippers?

Neither suits every pet. A grinder works gradually and leaves a rounded edge, which some pets accept more calmly; clippers are quicker. Whichever you use, take off a little at a time and stay clear of the quick.

Do steam brushes for cats actually work?

Yes, for one job: catching loose hair. Despite the name, ours releases a fine water mist, not steam, which keeps loose hair and dander on the pins instead of letting it drift into the air. It does not wash the coat. Start with short sessions so your cat can get used to the mist.

Can pet wipes replace a bath?

No. Wipes are for the days between baths, such as muddy paws after a walk, tear stains, ears and a quick wipe of the coat. A pet that has rolled in something or smells even after a wipe-down still needs a bath. If your pet has skin concerns, ask your veterinarian how often to bathe them.