To easily endure the winter cold, people have been breeding animals with long hair since ancient times. Nowadays, the production of woolen products has been put on an industrial scale. The demand for environmentally friendly and warm clothes made from natural wool is high. If you keep goats or sheep on your farm, you can prepare such a valuable product yourself. And for these purposes you will probably need a wool comb.
Wool comb
Slicker, aka slicker:
The most cruel tool for cats. Remember: the bent teeth of a slicker have a strictly limited use: to lift the fur on the collar, pants and tail. You can’t use it constantly, as it tears out the undercoat, but does not comb through the fur, much less tangles. Not suitable for short-haired dogs - sharp teeth injure the skin. If possible, choose a slicker brush with blunt or ball-protected teeth.
How often should you use a cat brush for grooming?
In order not to harm the health of the animal’s coat, it is important to know how often you can use the device for combing out fur:
- during shedding, the tool is used 2-3 times a week;
- for long-haired cats, procedures should be carried out 3-5 times a week;
- Smooth coat grooming is carried out 3 times a week.
Attention! If your pet's fur is too long, you should buy a special spray at the pet store that makes combing easier. After all, not a single brush will be able to comb out tangles efficiently and quickly if they are too hard and varied in shape.
If the animal bathes too often, after water procedures it is necessary to comb it to avoid tangling of hairs. How much does such a device cost? Typically, prices for combs vary between 100-500 rubles, which depends on the number of teeth and the purpose of the tool.
Colt cutters:
For different lengths of wool, there are different lengths of teeth-blades. Using a mat cutter, you need to comb the wool in the place of the mat, pointing the blades down.
grooming
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What is important to pay attention to when purchasing
To avoid the cat’s reflex to the sound of a comb, it is important to pay attention to some nuances when purchasing a device. These include:
- the thicker a pet’s fur is, the more frequent the teeth should be (it doesn’t matter what type of tool it is – a brush, comb, comb or slicker);
- For short wool, short teeth are used, and for long wool, large ones;
- the steel used to make the comb must be of high quality and not oxidize when in contact with moisture;
- To prevent the wool from becoming electrified, it is recommended to choose only natural brushes made from high-quality materials.
Looking at the photos of combing devices, you can choose the right tool for caring for your pet.
Methods of spinning wool
Yarn is a textile thread consisting of fibers connected and twisted together. The process of producing yarn from fleece or fluff is called spinning. Three spinning methods are considered the most common.
Thread structure depending on the spinning method
Grebennoy
Or worsted. Used for long fibers, at least 8 cm in size. The yarn is smooth, thin and of high quality. It repels water well and is not abrasion-resistant. The thread is distinguished by its shine, smooth structure and strength. There are ring and spindleless comb spinning systems. During the manufacturing process, it is necessary to carefully monitor the direction of the fibers: they must be straight and parallel to each other. To improve the properties of the yarn, the thread is doubled or twisted.
An ancient method of spinning using a spindle
Cardan
Suitable for medium length fibers. The thread is tensile, uniform, but has protruding remains of short fibers in its structure. The process of making cardan yarn eliminates combing.
Hardware
Otherwise - cloth. Yarn that is loose and uneven in thickness is produced from short fibers. Characterized by strong hairiness. The advantages of this method are the cost-effectiveness and speed of obtaining the thread. Wool is not formed into ribbons, and the fiber is immediately processed into roving. Suitable for blended yarns.
Sheep wool with guard (dark) fibers
Wool, fluff and undercoat obtained from domestic animals are spun using combed, half-combed and machine spinning methods. Cardan is used for cotton and synthetic staple fibers. The half-comb is somewhat similar to the cardan one. It also eliminates the combing step and is suitable for medium length fibers.
Basic spinning operations
| Stage | Description | Combed spinning | Hardware spinning |
| Loosening | Dividing the fleece into small pieces to make it uniform and clear it of debris. | + | + |
| chattering | Applying frequent, sharp and small blows in order to knock out the guard hairs from the coat. During the fraying process, the fibers are oiled to improve their mobility. | + | + |
| Tweezing and mixing | Connecting fibers from different batches. This ensures overall product homogeneity. | + | |
| Carding (carded) | Separating small shreds along the fibers. Allows you to isolate the remaining small impurities. | + | + |
| Preparing for combing | Straightening fibers in one direction. Necessary to reduce the risk of long threads breaking. | + | |
| Combing | Separating and distributing fibers into one tape, removing foreign impurities. It is combing that separates the long and strong fiber from the shorter and split one. | + | |
| Alignment and Extrusion | The fibers are given an even appearance, without frizz or curls. | + | |
| Preventing | Drawing out a ribbon of fibers into a roving. | + | |
| Spinning | Thinning of the roving followed by twisting and winding onto the package. | + | + |
How to choose a cat combing tool
If you decide to buy a furminator, then you need to make a choice based on several factors:
- wool length (tooth length);
- size of the animal (coverage area);
- the material from which the handle is made (plastic or rubberized);
- tool design;
- the presence of a FURejector button for removing hair from the blade (only on Deluxe Furminators, i.e. the highest quality).
When choosing a brush, you need to take into account your pet’s preferences.
If everything is clear with the length of the blades, then questions may remain related to the coverage area. This refers to the size of the animal, because the width of the furminator comb itself depends on this. In addition, there are also arc-shaped nozzles. There are several sizes of furminator:
- X-Small (for small animals and kittens, comb width - 3.2 cm);
- Small (for medium cats up to 6 kg, comb width - from 3.3 cm to 4.5 cm);
- Medium (for large animals from 6 kg to 20 kg, comb width - from 4.5 cm to 7 cm);
- Large (for large cats, comb width - 10 cm);
- X-Large (comb width - 12–13, not applicable for cats).
Original furminators are also divided into 2 classes: deluxe and classic. The only difference is the presence of the FURejector button on the first one.
On one side of the Furminator Deluxe there is a comb, and on the other there is a gray button for removing hair from the blades
Combs, brushes and other combs are chosen according to the same principle: quality, price and design. There are several subtleties that will help you make the right choice:
- The most expensive comb does not have to be the best.
- If you choose a brush, apply it to your cheek (the teeth should not prick).
- If you are going to buy a brush/mitten/attachment with rubber teeth, try running it discreetly through your hair (they should not “cling” to the rubber).
- You can ask the seller for a certificate of conformity (such a document must be attached to a branded product).
- Inspect the comb visually (there should be no burrs or cracks on it, the teeth should not be bent, if there are drops, they should be on each tooth).
- When purchasing a comb, inspect the row of teeth in the light (the gap between the teeth should be absolutely clean, they should be strictly parallel to each other).
When I choose a device whose structure is not completely clear to me, I carefully study the packaging. Sellers don't like it very much, but I try to scrutinize all the fine print. It is important for me that the packaging indicates the contact phone number and website of the distributor - a person or organization engaged in large purchases of goods from the manufacturer for the purpose of further sale (what if a defect is discovered and I have to return the goods). Also, if I buy an expensive device, I check with the seller about the possibility of an exchange or return. Most merchants say that once the package is opened, returns are not possible.
Video: how to choose a comb for a cat
Review of popular models
In addition to the original Furminator, there are also trimmers from other manufacturers. There are many of them, but let's look at a few of them. One of the most popular brands in Russia is Trixie Heimtierbedarf GmbH & Co KG (Trixie). This German company has been producing pet products for over 40 years. The manufacturer offers its trimmers as a universal anti-shedding product. The operating principle of this device is the same as that of trimmers of other brands. The developers named the following properties as advantages:
- the device helps to comb and cut tangles;
- the nozzle can be easily changed using a built-in mechanism;
- stainless steel blade;
- plastic handle with anti-slip rubber coating.
Trixie is about 2 times cheaper than Furminator. This trimmer has a button to change the attachment. And although the manufacturer claims that the blades are sharp enough and made of stainless steel, they still have to be replaced. Moreover, the instructions for use do not mention the shelf life of the blades. In practice, a replacement nozzle is installed after about a year. The cat owner should purchase a replacement attachment as the blades become dull. The price of a new comb with blades is not much different from the cost of the trimmer itself.
The Trixie trimmer has a modest design (this is due to the fact that trimmers are not the main product of this manufacturer)
Another alternative to the original furminator is the Foolee trimmer. The French manufacturer boasts a wide range of combs, brushes and trimmers for cats. The main advantages of furminators of this brand are the following qualities:
- the nozzle can be changed as the blades become dull;
- wool is removed from the blades by pressing an additional button;
- any model of the Foolee trimmer is equipped with a handle of an unusual, comfortable shape;
- All Foolee devices have a non-standard design (unusual shape, bright color).
And although the manufacturer pays more attention to the appearance of the device than to other parameters, the price of the French Furminator is one of the highest. Foolee offers trimmers and other grooming tools for pets of all sizes. You can purchase a trimmer for cats with different hair lengths. The device is beautiful and safe, but subsequent treatment of the wool with a slicker is necessary.
All Foolee trimmers have a striking design
Another brand, HelloPet, is a product of a Taiwanese manufacturer (founded in 1969). The official distributor in Russia is. Buyers are offered devices in an affordable price range. The simple design does not detract from the functionality of the devices. In addition to furminators of different sizes, HelloPet produces rake furminators. By the way, the Taiwanese manufacturer clearly distinguishes between the concepts of “trimmer” (a machine for cutting hair) and “furminator” (a comb with a blade), and uses only steel and plastic as materials. There are several types of HelloPet comb trimmers:
- small furminator - 43 teeth;
- medium furminator - 65 teeth;
- large furminator - 79 teeth;
- super-large furminator - 97 teeth.
The greater the number of teeth, the wider the surface area being machined. Typically, for medium-sized domestic cats (up to 5 kg), the smallest Furminator is chosen.
A distinctive feature of HelloPet trimmers is the presence of many small nuances in each model. For example, a furminator rake is equipped with teeth that can rotate. This device is convenient to use for caring for unruly animals. Large furminators (79 teeth) are equipped with a button for removing combed wool.
All Hellopet furminators have a handle with a pattern in the form of paw prints (this is the official logo of the manufacturer)
After reading reviews and studying different types of furminators, I decided to buy the most budget-friendly device, although my cat does not shed much (a massage mitten is enough for us). I went to two pet stores. On display there are original devices and cheaper options from Chinese manufacturers. I didn’t find HelloPet in any of these stores. Perhaps the brand is not one of the well-promoted brands. And, most likely, the affordable price is explained precisely by this, and not by low quality.
