Grooming Maine Coon and Devon Rex together

A Maine Coon and a Devon Rex under one roof is a fantastic combination — and a genuinely tricky grooming puzzle, because those two coats couldn't be more different. The Coon has that thick, flowing double coat that mats and sheds heavily, while the Rex has that short, wavy, almost delicate coat that barely sheds at all and can be irritated by anything too firm. Cats are particular about being groomed — the right tool makes the difference between a cat that tolerates it and one that bolts — and coat type plays a huge role in what's actually useful. To find you one routine that works for both: how tolerant are each of them of being handled and brushed, and is the Maine Coon your main concern for shedding and detangling, or are you seeing coat issues with the Devon Rex too?

That's a really workable setup. With the Maine Coon being your main job and the Rex just needing a light touch, you can anchor the whole routine around one tool and use it differently for each cat. What I'd recommend is the Furminator deShedding Tool for cats — specifically the long-hair version for the Maine Coon. It's designed to get through the topcoat and pull out loose undercoat without cutting or damaging the guard hairs, which is exactly what a Maine Coon needs. For the Devon Rex, you'd use the same tool but very lightly, almost no pressure, just a couple of gentle strokes to pick up any loose hairs and give them the sensation of being groomed. The Rex's coat is fine and the skin is sensitive, so you're not really brushing it so much as including them in the ritual. Can I ask — does the Devon Rex have any skin sensitivity you've noticed, or is it more just a temperament thing with the twitchiness?

Good — that makes things simpler. Overstimulation in Rex cats is really common, they have that wiry nervous energy. The approach I'd suggest: do the Devon Rex first, thirty seconds max, very light passes with the Furminator held loosely, then let her go. She gets to feel included and you're done before she hits her limit. Then settle in with the Maine Coon and do a proper session — work section by section through that coat, especially under the armpits, behind the ears, and the ruff, which are the mat hotspots. The Furminator long-hair cat tool handles all of that. One tool, two very different sessions, both cats covered. It's on Amazon UK and well under £30 for the cat version.

Genuinely, for your situation, the Furminator does the heavy lifting. The one addition worth considering is a detangling spray for the Maine Coon — something like the Chris Christensen Ice on Ice detangler, which is safe for cats and makes working through any knots much easier without pulling. But that's only necessary if he's prone to matting. If you're keeping up with regular sessions and the coat stays relatively clear, you won't need it. Start with just the Furminator and see how you get on — you may find that's everything you need.