Grooming a shedding Burmese in a small flat

Cats are particular about being groomed — the right tool makes the difference between a cat that tolerates it and one that bolts under the sofa. Coat type plays a big role in what's actually useful, so it helps to know what you're working with before jumping to recommendations. Is your cat short-haired or long-haired, how do they feel about being groomed, and is the main goal tackling shedding, dealing with tangles, or just general upkeep?

A Burmese with a relaxed temperament and a shedding problem in a small space — that's actually a really solvable combination. Before I point you toward something specific, can you tell me how she tends to react when you stroke her back and sides firmly? Some older cats develop a bit of sensitivity around the lower back or flanks, and that changes what kind of tool will work well without turning grooming into a wrestling match.

That's exactly what I needed to know. If she pulls away from any snagging sensation, you want something that removes loose hair without any drag on the skin — and for a short-haired cat who tolerates touch well, a grooming glove is genuinely the best fit. I'd go with the Furminator Grooming Glove. It has soft rubber tips that work through the coat as you stroke her, so from her perspective it just feels like being petted. For a short-coated Burmese it pulls out the dead undercoat efficiently without any of the scratching sensation you get from a bristle brush or a fine-toothed comb. In a small flat where hair accumulates fast, using it for five minutes every two or three days will make a noticeable difference to what ends up on your sofa.

Just one thing worth keeping in mind: older cats can have slightly thinner or more sensitive skin than they did at five or six, so start gently and let her set the pace in the first few sessions. With the glove this is easy because the pressure is entirely in your hand — you're in full control. Also worth doing a quick check across her coat as you go. At ten, Burmese can occasionally develop small lumps or dry patches that are easy to miss until you're running your hands over them regularly. Grooming becomes a useful health check at that age, not just a hair-management exercise.

Good choice. Keep sessions short to start — even three minutes counts — and you'll likely find she starts anticipating it rather than avoiding it. Given how much hair you're seeing now, you should notice the furniture situation improving within the first week or two once you're doing it regularly.