A mat is not a tangle that has got worse; it is felted hair that will not comb out, and pulling at it hurts. Cutting through it is the only realistic answer, and that is what the row of stainless-steel blades on this tool does. They slice the mat into sections small enough to lift away, rather than dragging the whole knot against skin that is already sore underneath it.

The other job is lifting loose undercoat, which is the weekly work that stops mats forming in the first place, and the comb teeth handle that. Stainless steel keeps an edge and does not rust in a damp bathroom cupboard. The blades are angled to reach down through the topcoat into the undercoat where the loose hair actually sits, and a button releases the collected fur in one go rather than leaving you picking it out by hand.

• Row of stainless-steel blades that cut through mats
• Comb teeth to lift loose undercoat
• Self-cleaning button releases the collected fur
• Angled blades reach down into the undercoat
• Suits long and short-haired cats and dogs
• Mint, yellow or ivory white

On mats close to the skin. Blades and skin do not mix, and a cat's skin in particular is thin and lifts with the coat, so work the outer edge of a mat and never push a blade flat against the body. If a mat is solid, tight to the skin, or anywhere near the armpits or groin, stop and book a groomer to clip it out. That is not a job for a comb.

Who it's for: Owners of long-coated or double-coated cats and dogs keeping on top of shedding between grooms.