Mats do not comb out. Once the undercoat has felted into a solid pad against the skin, pulling at it with an ordinary comb hurts, and the animal remembers it the next time you pick up a brush. The dematting side of this rake carries curved stainless blades that cut through the mat rather than dragging it, which is the difference between a two-minute job and a struggle neither of you enjoys.

Turn it over and the second side has more closely set teeth for thinning loose undercoat, which is the stage before matting and the one that keeps hair off your sofa. Both sides are stainless steel, and that matters more than it sounds: plated teeth blunt and pit with use, and a blunt dematting blade tears at hair instead of slicing it. The handle has a non-slip grip so you can work with a light hand rather than gripping hard and pulling.

• Two working sides: dematting blades and a finer deshedding rake
• Stainless steel teeth throughout
• Non-slip handle for controlled, light-pressure strokes
• Suits cats and dogs across most coat types
• Choice of orange or green

On using it safely. These are blades, not blunt pins. Work in short strokes, hold the hair at the root so you are not pulling on skin, and always go with the lie of the coat. Never use the cutting side on a cat's belly, armpits or behind the ears, where the skin is thin and lifts away from the body far more easily than you expect. If a mat sits tight against the skin, a groomer with clippers is the kinder answer.

Who it's for: Owners of double-coated or long-haired cats and dogs who want to catch tangles at home before they turn into a clipping job.