Half the hair on your sofa was already loose in your pet's coat before it got there, and a ten-minute comb-through two or three times a week removes far more of it than any amount of hoovering afterwards. The pins on this one are rounded at the tips rather than cut flat, so they travel through the coat and part tangles without scraping at the skin underneath.

Rounded metal pins are the small detail that decides whether a pet will tolerate being groomed at all. A sharp tip catches, the animal flinches, and the whole session turns into a wrestling match, whereas a rounded one glides. The handle is shaped to be held steady through a full session rather than gripped tightly, which you notice when working through a chest or the backs of the legs. It rinses clean under a tap and should be dried before it is put away.

• Rounded metal pins that lift out loose hair and knots
• Handheld comb with a shaped grip
• Suits cats and dogs with short or medium coats
• Leaves the coat fluffier, softer and free of tangles
• Rinse clean after use and dry before storing
• Regular use means noticeably less hair around the house

One correction worth making. This item circulates online as a flea and insect repellent comb. What we have is a grooming comb. Combing regularly does help you spot fleas early, and dirt and loose hair come out with it, but nothing here repels or treats an infestation. If you have fleas in the house, you need a proper treatment from your vet, not a comb.

Who it's for: Owners of short- and medium-coated cats and dogs who want a simple, inexpensive comb for regular de-shedding sessions at home.