I use a special brush. It didn't cost too much in today's prices and can be found at Walmart for around 7 or 8 dollars. I haven't checked the pet stores for their prices on this type of brush. It's a plastic type brush with soft, thick bristles of a type of a bendable plastic. The tips are again coated with another layer of a plastic that thickens the tips and rounds them out. It almost acts likes it's massaging their skin as I brush their coats and all my cats love it.
Here's a picture of Gypsum begging seriously for that brush to start doing it's work.
I bought the brush a year ago but didn't really start trying to brush the cats until last summer. Gypsum took to it the best, quickly setting up a routine that I had to follow through on. The others like it, too, but not enough to set up their own daily routine. Gypsum hasn't skipped a day since the middle of last September -- unless we're out of town for a day or two.
It took them a bit to learn what the brush was about. At first they didn't want it to touch them so I didn't get more than a stroke or two down their back before they'd move out of reach. I'd wait a few days then try again. Soon they realized what it was doing and how it felt and they decided it wasn't so bad after all and really did feel good. They particularly like being brushed around by their cheeks and the top of their head, then I can move down their back and sides. It took a little longer before any of them allowed me to brush their bellies, and even then I can only get in 1 or 2 strokes before they turn over or move on ...or grab my hand in rough play.
Since I don't have any long haired cats to brush, I can't tell you how well this brush works on long haired cats. I'm only using it on short haired cats who really don't need much brushing at all since most brushing is aimed at keeping long hair from tangling and creating mats. I've had long haired cats in the past but never this type of brush. I think I used a comb at that time. However, this brush does help some with the shorthairs constant shedding.
If you've never brushed a cat, it's most pleasant for them if you brush in the direction their fur is growing, normally front to back. I occasionally will "back-brush" them, ie, brush in the opposite direction as this can catch some of the loose fur that is still clinging. They barely tolerate this, so finish with the normal direction.
About Gypsum's routine: He usually comes in soon after his breakfast, walks under my chair, gets between my feet as I sit staring at the computer, and looks at me. He'll then give me a meow if I haven't noticed him yet. If that doesn't work, he'll sit on his haunches and reach up and gently grab my right arm with his paws. If that does't work, he'll pull down on my arm. That usually works. Then I start brushing and he starts purring and rubbing and positioning his body for the spots he wants brushed. This will continue for about 5 or more minutes or until 1 of us tires.
Later in the day when he comes in, if he's not too serious about a brushing, he'll just come in, sit between my legs and meow. If I don't respond immediately, he leaves and comes back later. He's fast about leaving, too. I will think it's only been seconds since that last meow and when I turn around to look for him, he's not in sight.
If I stop when he thinks he's in the middle of a brushing session, he will do the routine in the picture above, grabbing my hand, "kissing" it with a lick. If that isn't enough, he'll start "love nibbles", those tiny little nips with his front teeth. That usually sways me as those little nibbles can turn into slightly stronger nibbles that have some pressure in them! He will be purring the whole time. Sometimes I will stop the brushing and just give his body a total massage. He loves that, too.
Sometimes, Butch will come in while Gypsum is being brushed. He'll want to be brushed, too. He's not into a daily routine but when he does want that brush, he'll push Gypsum aside. His brushing will last up to 10 minutes if I can last that long. He prefers to get on the table next to me for his brushing and rolls around in ecstasy as I brush his entire body. Of course, he purrs constantly and louder than Gypsum while this is going on.
Diamond and Goldie are not on a routine of any sorts, maybe once a week. Both like their head done for the most par; the body, not so much. Rainey rarely will sit for more than a couple of swipes of the brush but then she's also not heavy into being petted either.
There is an album on Rainey's Cat Daze page on Facebook of the brushing routine that Gypsum goes through if you'd like to see more pictures. Just click on photos, then albums under the header photo. It's titled "Gypsum likes the brush."
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