A mat is not a tangle, and brushing harder is not the answer to one. Felted fur has to be broken up before anything can be combed through it, and that is what the blade side of this tool does: a row of curved blades that slice into the mat from its edge and open it up, working with the coat rather than dragging at the skin beneath it.

Flip it over and the second side is an undercoat rake for the everyday job of lifting the dead fluff that causes the next mat in the first place. The blade tips are rounded rather than pointed, which is the detail that makes it usable on a cat, and the handle is non-slip because dematting takes a steady, controlled pull rather than a hard one. Two sizes are offered, in blue or rose red.

• Blade side cuts into mats and knots
• Rake side lifts loose undercoat
• Rounded blade tips to protect the skin
• Non-slip handle for controlled strokes
• Two sizes, in blue or rose red
• 110g to 130g depending on size

Work small, and stop when it pulls. Hold the fur between the mat and the skin with your free hand so any tension goes into your fingers rather than the dog, and take a mat apart over several passes instead of one. Blades are still blades: a mat felted flat to the skin, or one on the belly or behind the ears, is a job for a groomer with clippers, and there is no shame in booking that.

Who it's for: Owners of long or thick-coated dogs and cats who groom between professional appointments and want one tool covering both mats and moulting.