Thread: Maine Coon Grooming Basics

I am new to Maine Coon ownership. I have recently bought the new Furminator to help with shedding, a matting comb and a flea comb.

I am told to keep mats from forming and to keep his hair in shape, I need to groom him every day - at least once or twice. But I have had a lot of people say that using the Furminator everyday is bad and can irritate their skin. People tell me that I need to only use a slicker brush during my grooming sessions and only use the Furminator 2 times a week or so.

I want to know what your thoughts are on this and what your ideals of Maine Coon grooming is.

Thank you.

My Buddy is a rescue coonie and had bad fur probs. I have had these dealt with at groomers and vets. Since I have followed the advice I was given on here and groom a few times a day in short bursts. I don't use a furminator or any other costly brushes etc. I admit I use a nit comb on Buddy, not much to attack, can hide it in my hand during cuddles and no more knots. Others will have their own ways of dealing

A word of caution, the furminator is addictive you get carried away, Hectors tail is starting to come back to its former fluffy duster now! A quick going over once a month or so is all I use it now. Apart from that I use a slicker and I am also a nit comb user too.

My three only get random grooming with their "normal" comb (a Furminator Kitten comb) and a more studied brush about once a week. I only use the real Furminator on them occasionally. Maybe because they don't go out and they groom each other - without furballs yet, thankfully - they seem to be quite well fluffied up without knots. Only actually found one proper knot on Bertie so far and none on the other two at all.

But yeah, the Furminator only occasionally to remove dense hair - a normal comb just to keep the fur smooth and detangled.

I only use a normal cat-comb on both Storm and Benji, Benji is knot-free but Storm gets them in his armpits. Trying to comb him without a fight is a challenge though, either he gets overly playful and ends up scratching your hand to pieces playing "catch and kill" with the comb, or if you distract him and comb him he gets annoyed when he realises what you are up to :p

I used the furminator only once on one of mine & hated how it left the coat feeling & hated even more the feel of the new coat growing back so it was banished from the house.I have an assortment of combs,a good plain stainless steel with open teeth one end & closed the other,great for a quick comb through that is more of a bonding fun session than anything else a moulting comb that gets in & removes dead hair for "that time"of year & good old slicker brush that they love because it seems as if the fierce looking teeth on that stimulates the skin for them,I very often just gently go through their coats with that when they are laying on my lap of an evening & they purr like mad,of course when it comes to getting ready for shows it is used with a bit more vigour. I have also got a de matting comb but with curved teeth not flat,that is what I used on China rip after the disaster with the furminator with lot better results,only cat that it is used on now is daughters black boy when he comes for his hols,he is the only other cat in the group with a dense coat that matts like China's used too.