Loose undercoat does not just end up on the floor - a lot of it gets swallowed during self-grooming, which is where hairballs actually come from. Getting the loose hair out with a tool before the animal does it itself is the more direct fix.

FURminator's Undercoat deShedding Tool for Small Animals is built around a stainless steel deShedding edge, designed to reach through the topcoat and remove loose hair and undercoat without damaging the topcoat or cutting the skin - a claim FURminator make specifically about correct use. The manufacturer's own guidance is 10 to 20 minutes of use a week, and the tool has an ergonomic handle, a FURejector button to release collected hair, a skin guard that glides over the skin to prevent digging in at the edges, and an edge guard that protects the tool's teeth in storage.

• Stainless steel deShedding edge
• FURminator's own guidance: use 10-20 minutes a week
• FURejector button releases collected hair
• Skin guard designed to prevent digging in at the edges
• Edge guard protects the blade in storage
• Ergonomic handle

One thing worth knowing. FURminator's "removes up to 99% of loose hair" figure is theirs, from testing conditions we haven't been given detail on, so treat it as a headline rather than a guarantee for every coat type and every session.

Who it's for: owners of small animals with a noticeable undercoat who are willing to give it a short, regular weekly session rather than an occasional big groom.