Best budget grooming tool for multiple shorthair cats

Five shorthairs — you're basically running a small grooming operation, and buying five separate tools or spending a fortune on fancy kit isn't realistic. Cats are particular about being groomed, and the right tool makes the difference between one that tolerates a session and one that bolts under the sofa. With shorthairs, coat type is fairly consistent, so at least you're not juggling different grooming needs. To point you toward something genuinely cost-effective: how tolerant are your cats of being brushed, and is your main concern shedding, general coat maintenance, or a bit of both?

That's the best-case scenario for grooming — tolerant cats and a clear goal. For shedding on shorthairs, the tool that actually moves the needle is a rubber grooming glove rather than a brush. One pair of Gorilla Grip Pet Grooming Gloves does the job across all five cats, costs around £10-12 on Amazon UK, and because it feels more like being petted than groomed, tolerant cats almost always accept it without the wriggling escalating. You get loose undercoat off efficiently, it works on furniture and bedding too, and one pair will last you a long time. No separate tools per cat, no expensive refills.

On shorthairs they're genuinely effective for deshedding, not just a surface tidy. The rubber nodules grip loose undercoat well, especially if you do a session when the cat is relaxed and warm. You won't pull out as much in one pass as a metal deshedding comb would, but across five cats who all cooperate, you can do quick 3-5 minute sessions regularly and keep on top of the shed without it becoming a battle. The fur also balls up on the glove and peels off cleanly, which makes the whole thing faster. For your situation — volume, budget, cooperative cats — it's the most sensible buy.

Two pairs is a smart call if you're doing all five in a sitting. They rinse clean quickly under a tap and dry fast, but having a spare means you're never mid-session with a wet glove. At the price point, two pairs is still well under what you'd spend on almost any dedicated grooming brush, so it makes sense.