Grooming a cat is a negotiation, and the brush is the opening offer. Some cats love it, some tolerate it, and some treat the whole experience as a personal insult. The Burt's Bees for Pets slicker brush is built for that negotiation, with fine angled bristles designed to lift loose fur and prevent matting without scratching a sensitive skin. I have spent a month grooming a long haired rescue cat and a short haired dog with it, and it has earned a permanent spot in the drawer.
The product is simple in concept. A slicker brush uses a bed of fine wire bristles bent at an angle, which reaches through the top coat to pull loose undercoat fur to the surface. Used daily, it keeps the coat smooth and reduces the amount of hair that ends up on furniture.
Before the details, the disclosure. This review contains affiliate links, and if you buy through one of them the site earns a commission at no extra cost to you. That does not affect what I recommend, and this brush was tested exactly like any other grooming tool.
Design and Build
The brush has a comfortable, ergonomic handle that fits in the hand without cramping during a longer grooming session. The head is a broad, slightly curved pad of fine bristles set into a padded base, and the whole unit feels lighter than it looks, which matters when a cat decides to cooperate for five minutes and not a second more.
The bristles are the star of the design. They are fine enough to reach deep into the coat but end in smooth rounded tips that glide over the skin rather than raking it. That is the difference between a grooming tool a cat tolerates and one it flees from.
Build quality is solid for the price. The bristles are firmly seated in the pad, none pulled loose during a month of daily use, and the handle shows no cracks or flex under pressure. The brush rinses clean under warm water after a session, which keeps it ready for the next day.
Key Features
The angled fine bristles are the core feature, and they do two jobs at once. First, they lift loose fur from the undercoat before it sheds onto the couch. Second, by removing loose hair and tangles early, they prevent the small knots that grow into full mats if left alone.
The daily grooming focus is worth calling out. This brush is designed for regular use, not the occasional emergency detangling session. The gentle bristles make daily brushing a five minute routine that keeps the coat smooth and distributes natural oils through the fur.
The brand carries the Burt's Bees name, which brings a natural positioning to the product line, and the brush itself is free of the sharp, aggressive features that some cheap slickers use. It is a thoughtful, animal friendly tool rather than a punishing one.
Real-World Performance
The rescue cat in our house is the real test. She tolerates grooming in short sessions, and a brush that hurts ends the session immediately. The Burt's Bees slicker glided through her long fur without snagging, and by the second week she stopped flinching when the brush came out. That is the clearest evidence the bristles are gentle.
Fur removal was impressive. A session on the long haired cat produced a visible clump of loose undercoat, fur that would otherwise have ended up on the couch and the carpet. On the short haired dog, the brush caught the loose topcoat hair that a simple comb misses, which cut down noticeably on shedding around the house.
Matting prevention worked as advertised. Where a small tangle formed behind the cat's ears, daily brushing kept it from tightening into a knot that would need shaving. The angled bristles worked through the loose material around the tangle without pulling at the skin.
The one limitation is for heavy existing mats. If a mat has already tightened close to the skin, a slicker brush is not the right tool; you need a dematting comb or a professional groomer. This brush excels at prevention, not at rescuing a coat that is already badly matted.
The long term effect on the house became obvious by the third week. The amount of fur on the couch cushions and the bedroom carpet dropped noticeably, because the daily sessions were capturing the loose hair before it could shed around the home. For anyone with a long haired cat, that is the real return on a grooming routine, and it is the kind of result that does not show up on the first use but compounds day after day.
The dog warmed to the brush faster than the cat, which is not surprising given the difference in temperament, but the contrast is worth noting. Where the cat allows only short sessions, the short haired dog would lean into the brushing for several minutes at a time. The brush handled both coat types without adjustment, which makes it a practical single tool for a household that owns more than one pet.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Fine bristles with smooth tips are gentle on sensitive skin
- Removes loose undercoat fur effectively in daily sessions
- Daily use prevents small tangles from becoming mats
- Comfortable handle for longer grooming sessions
- Easy to rinse clean after each use
Cons:
- Not effective on tight mats already close to the skin
- Fur collects in the bristle bed and must be pulled out
- Small size suits cats and small dogs better than large breeds
How It Compares
Slicker brushes come in a few flavors, and the choice depends on coat type and how sensitive the pet is. I set the Burt's Bees brush against a standard wire slicker and a self cleaning slicker with a push button.
| Feature | Burt's Bees Slicker | Standard Wire Slicker | Self Cleaning Slicker |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bristle fineness | Fine, rounded tips | Fine to coarse | Fine to coarse |
| Gentleness on skin | Very gentle | Depends on bristle tip | Depends on bristle tip |
| Cleaning | Pull fur by hand | Pull fur by hand | Push button release |
| Best for | Sensitive cats, daily grooming | General coats | Heavy shedders |
| Build quality | Solid | Varies | Varies |
The standard wire slicker can remove fur aggressively, but on a sensitive cat that aggression backfires. The self cleaning brush speeds up fur removal but adds moving parts that can break. The Burt's Bees brush prioritizes gentleness and daily comfort, which is the right trade for the fussy pet it is designed for.
Who Should Buy It
Buy this brush if you have a cat or a small dog that is sensitive to grooming, if you want a daily brushing routine that keeps shedding down, or if you are trying to stop small tangles from becoming mats. It is a natural fit for long haired cats that need consistent coat care.
Skip it if your pet already has tight mats that need professional attention, or if you groom a large breed that needs a bigger, coarser tool. For daily, gentle grooming, this brush earns its place. You can check the current price for the Burt's Bees for Pets slicker brush on Amazon if it sounds right for your pet.
How We Test
I used the Burt's Bees slicker brush for one month on two animals: a long haired rescue cat with sensitive skin and a short haired dog. I groomed daily in short sessions, tracked how much fur each session removed, and watched how the cat reacted over the month.
I also tested the brush on a small developing tangle behind the cat's ears to confirm it could manage minor matting before it tightened. For a broader guide to keeping a coat healthy, the American Kennel Club guide to brushing a dog's coat explains why daily brushing prevents the problems this brush targets.
The Burt's Bees for Pets slicker brush listing on Amazon shows current pricing and available bundles.
Burt's Bees Pet Brush: Questions People Ask
How do I use the Burt's Bees slicker brush on my cat?
Brush in short, gentle strokes in the direction of the coat, working section by section. The fine bristles lift loose fur without scratching the skin.
Does the slicker brush help prevent matting?
Daily brushing keeps the coat free of loose undercoat and tangles, which is the most reliable way to prevent mats from forming in the first place.
Is the Burt's Bees brush gentle enough for a sensitive cat?
The angled fine bristles end in smooth tips, and with light pressure the brush is gentle on the skin, which is why it worked well on a rescue cat in testing.
How do I clean the slicker brush after grooming?
You pull the collected fur from between the bristles by hand or with a comb, then rinse the head under warm water and let it dry.
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