Steam brush?

[Draco]

A steam brush for cats keep popping up on facebook feed, and I am curious about it for Dali. His fur is still scruffy over a month since I took him home. he has that "old cat greasy fur", despite better diet and daily brushing- I assume scruffy because of poor nutrition in his past. I'm not sure if he's grooming himself properly and he does smell a little. Not bad, but old cat smell I guess?

But I'm wondering how well these steam brushes work? I considered giving Dali a bath to see if it'll help his fur- something I really don't want to do. Anyone ever use the steam brush? How does it work for you for a semi-long hair cat?

Amazon.com

 

[susanm9006]

I don’t know. If it is hot enough to steam, it seems it would be hot enough to burn a cat. I wouldn’t take that chance.

 

[FeebysOwner]

I personally would probably not resort to a steam brush. It's possible that his improved diet could take longer to make any difference. I agree that bathing is not really a good idea and think you should continue with the daily brushings. But, you might consider getting some unscented hypo-allergenic wipes to help with the smell as well as another measure of grooming in general. Getting into a good grooming mode on his own might also be something that may take some time too.

I presume he has had full scale blood work done (that includes a chemistry panel), just to make sure he isn't deficient in any vitamins/minerals?

 

[Kris107]

I agree with others - I would not get the steam brush. I'd get his health as good as it can be so hopefully he'd groom himself a bit more. When my cat started looking a bit rough (due to age), I use a boar bristle brush and just water to wipe.

 

[Draco]

yea, I was wondering if the steam would be too hot. Okay nixing that idea!
I ordered some waterless shampoo.
I do have wipes but it doesn't seem to be doing much.

 

[iPappy]

I read a bit about the steam brush, and it says " Note: The steam cat brush only converts water into mist and does not heat it." So that's a plus. I have never heard of a steam brush before, but one thing I know some cats hate is being dry brushed because static shocks hurt.
We have groomed cats which include a bath, and most of those cats were long haired cats that had that greasy feel to them with an abundance of coat and shedding that was helped by a bath. Bathing is only done on an as needed basis, which is usually once or twice a year, if that.
Is Dali able to groom himself all over, or does he struggle to get to certain areas (back, rear end)? Since you've only had Dali a month, I'd be hesitant to try bathing him as he's come so far. If you attempt it, I would strongly encourage you to make sure Dali is OK with the sound and feel of water on him before adding any shampoo. For now though, I'd probably focus more on his diet and give it a bit more time to see if things improve.

 

[Caspers Human]

If it's not heated, it's not steam. It's probably an ultrasonic mister like those cool mist humidifiers you can buy. This time, it's been put into a cat brush. It sounds like an interesting idea but I'm still not sold. That somebody would call it "steam" when, in reality, it is a cool mister sets off alarm bells for me. The seller lied with the very first word out of their mouth. Not a good way to start out!

First off, try to find that product anywhere else but Amazon or some other backwater website, probably an Amazon affiliate. I couldn't find any company website that says, "We make this product for you to buy." Any product made by a company who won't tell you who they are isn't a company I want to do business with. Its probably cheap Chinesium that will break fifteen minutes after you start using it.

Second, it's rechargeable via USB port. They give you a charging cable but they don't give you a charging unit. The USB port is in a place that makes it inconvenient to use if it's plugged in. That means you can't use it while it's connected to a charger. (i.e. "pass through mode.")

Third, nobody said that it is ultrasonic. There is no way to make real steam without heating water. Water takes several minutes to heat and this product produces water vapor as soon as it's turned on. The only way to do that is with an ultrasonic emitter. Why is this important? Because cats can hear ultrasonic sound. I don't know what frequency the thing uses to make water into mist but, if a cat can hear that sound, she probably won't like it.

The idea sounds interesting but, IMO, this is a cheapo product, sold by some fly-by-night outfit whose only purpose is to take your money.

Why couldn't you use a regular cat brush and a wet cloth to groom your cat? It'd do the same thing, it'd be a lot cheaper, it wouldn't break and your cat will probably like it better.

 

[Draco]

I mean, his fur is better than what it was when I first took him home. It's still that old cat feel.
His diet is improved, I've been giving him vitamins too. I guess it takes time.
I brush him every night with both slicker and comb, and I do wipe him down with pet wipes.

He grooms, but he's a pathetic groomer. He mostly grooms his tail. Rembrandt grooms his head. I don't know if he's uncomfortable or if he is just a lazy groomer. He can reach his butt, he's not a fatty. I think he's just lazy lol

I was just looking for a little more to help his fur. The steam brush and the videos looked promising, though I bet those videos are staged. I was curious if anyone had actually tried it.

 

[iPappy]

If you try the steam brush, let me know what you think. I have never heard of it!
If you're seeing improvements, that's promising. I can't remember the exact timeline but I read somewhere that coat can take close to 6 months to completely improve. Was Dali neutered shortly before you got him? I've found sometimes anesthetic can be absolute hell on some coats. It comes back with time.

 

[Draco]

If you try the steam brush, let me know what you think. I have never heard of it!
If you're seeing improvements, that's promising. I can't remember the exact timeline but I read somewhere that coat can take close to 6 months to completely improve. Was Dali neutered shortly before you got him? I've found sometimes anesthetic can be absolute hell on some coats. It comes back with time.

According to the adoption papers, he was neutered quite recently in October. I adopted them in November. I didn't know anesthetics could cause coat dulling. It surprised me to find the boys had been neutered so late in their lives. Then again, they did come from a hoarder house, and hoarders generally don't fix their animals sadly.

I guess I gotta be patient as his coat comes back. At least Rembrandt's looking really nice and soft, his tail's so fluffy!

Knowing the steam brush isn't hot, I want to do more research before purchasing. It seems a lot of people haven't heard of it before which makes it harder to get personal reviews.

 

[iPappy]

I can't recall it happening to puppies or kittens that much. But I remember Lila had a dull feeling coat after spaying. (She wasn't spayed as a baby because her health was not the best, and the vet and I opted to wait until she was a bit stronger.) Livie was 13 months old, and her coat felt kind of straw-like and she shed a lot more than she used to for awhile after. Both of their coats felt kind of dry and lost that sheen, but it was temporary. Both of them had the problem resolved with time, and Lila especially has a coat that's almost rabbit-like in softness and sheen!
There's also the chance that Dali doesn't carry the same type of coat as Rembrandt, and might never have the same fullness or sheen no matter what. But if you're seeing improvements just after a month, I'm going to guess that the improvements will continue! Goofy and Sarah never had the same type of coat despite being brother and sister. Goofy's coat was longer, thicker, plusher, and he shed like a Siberian Husky living in the desert. Sarah had a very close, short coat with very little undercoat at all and was not a big shedder. Coat genetics are crazy!

 

[Caspers Human]

Our youngest, Elliot, has soft fur because he wants us to pet him all the time. I mean ALL the time! If there's an unoccupied lap to be found anywhere in the house, he'll be on it. If he's not on your lap, he's laying beside you on the sofa. If he's not there, he'll probably be snuggled up in bed with you.

When we got him, his fur was greasy and course. He had lived outdoors for about half a year. He had a hidey hole under our back porch and he had taken up residence there. When we brought him inside, he was about a year old but hadn't been neutered yet. I think we got him snipped just in the nick of time. He had a very strong musty smell about him and his fur was greasy, especially right in that spot on his butt, above his tail. His hormones were working overtime!

We brought him in, got him neutered and chipped. He got all his shots. We de-flead him and got all the ticks off. He had a bunch of cuts and scratches and a cut on his head that had become infected. We had it done all in one shot.

Elliot has been an indoor cat for almost two years (come April) and you'd almost never know it was the same cat we brought inside!

I'd say that it might take a while for your cat's fur to shape up but don't despair. Give him enough time and I bet you won't recognize him as the same cat either!

 

[silent meowlook]

Is he grooming himself?

 

[Draco]

Thanks for your stories, you two! I'm learning something new about the effects of fur after spaying/neutering. Who knew. Guess it makes sense when a medicine effects the body.

He doesn't shed. Fur doesn't come out when I pet him and not a whole lot comes out when brushing. (unlike Cassie's, ugh). I mean, I see fur tumbleweeds, and it appears to be Rembrandt's fur. I brush them both daily so they don't shed so much.

Time is what he needs, I'm just impatient and want them looking their best lol.
Side note, they both need a sanitary shave. Need to find a place that will do them both, no way I can shave them on my own without help.

 

[Caspers Human]

He doesn't shed.

Our cats don't seem to shed but every time Casper's Girl-Human runs the vacuum cleaner she picks up enough fur to make a whole, new cat!

 

[iPappy]

Cassie sounds like Goofy. This was 15 minutes of combing on him, despite doing so every week! Despite his shedding, I miss that boy like crazy.

Another thought--if you're using a furminator, I'd stop using it completely as those brushes are actually clipper blades attached onto a handle. They cut the coat. I've seen some dogs with some serious (sometimes irreversable) coat damage from those things.

 

[Draco]

Dang, that's a heck of a lot of fur! More than Cassie's for sure. Goofy wins! He's a beautiful kitty too.
I always have to take Cassie outside to brush her. The birds are happy to take her fur for their nests.

I haven't used the furminator since I brought them home. I only use it if I see excess shedding, there's no point in using it otherwise. Always a good advice to give!
I use the greyhound comb and slicker brush. mostly the slicker, and the comb for any knots and tangles.

 

[Alldara]

It took about a year of being on good food for his hair to sort itself with daily brushing.

You can use a dampened toothbrush to groom him and it will encourage him to groom also since it feels like a cat tongue. And just tell him he's a good boy when he grooms.

He's older so I'd there a chance he has arthritis?

 

[Caspers Human]

iPappy - Go get some knitting needles or a crochet hook! You've also got enough fur, there, to knit another cat!

Elliot didn't groom very much when we first brought him in. When he lived outdoors, his fur was pretty icky so he probably didn't want to lick himself with all that dirt and grease in his fur. Would you want to? Yuck!

Since he's been indoors, Elliot has started grooming himself. He's not a fastidious groomer like Casper but he does do it, little by little.

Maybe her learned by watching Casper? I don't know... Maybe...