The ORIGINAL by SleekEZ is the best deshedding tool for most homes, because it comes in sizes for both cats and dogs. The 5-inch Medium is for animals from 20 to 500 pounds, and the 2.5-inch Small is for pets under 20 pounds. Its blade of tiny wave-pattern teeth pulls out loose hair, but SleekEZ says it isn’t for mats. If your dog’s coat tangles, or you want a different tool type, the other four picks cover a blade-free comb, a rake, a slicker and a rubber brush.

The right tool depends on the coat. Wahl’s rake is made for loose undercoat and mats, Andis’s slicker for loose hair and tangles, and KONG’s rubber brush for dry brushing and shampooing. Each maker below says which coats or pets its tool is for, and some say what it can’t do.

This is desk research, not a hands-on test. Tool types, size ranges and coat guidance come from each maker’s own product page.

Quick Picks

Tool Type Coat or pet (maker) Size range (maker) Mats and tangles (maker)
SleekEZ ORIGINAL, 5 in / 2.5 in Wave-tooth blade Any shedding animal 5 in: 20 to 500 lb; 2.5 in: under 20 lb Not for detangling or mats
Hartz Fur Fetcher Micro combs, no metal blades Dogs; heavy and seasonal shedders Not published Not stated
Wahl 2-in-1 rake Double row rake plus shedding blade Double-coated, medium to long coats Not published Designed to untangle mats
Andis Medium Firm Slicker Medium firm slicker pins Regular brushing Not published Moderate tangles
Search Amazon for KONG ZoomGroom Boysenberry Rubber fingers, dry or wet Dogs; Cat ZoomGroom for all cats Dog Large: 30 to 65 lb Not stated

Four tools link to exact Amazon listings sold by Amazon.com or the brand’s own store when checked. Both KONG brushes are search links because third-party sellers held the listings.

How We Chose

Each pick needed a maker page that names the tool type and the coats or pets it’s meant for. We then picked one tool for each common job: removing loose hair on any size of pet, deshedding a heavy-shedding dog without metal blades, working through a long double coat with mats, brushing out tangles, and grooming a dog dry or in the bath.

1. The ORIGINAL by SleekEZ: Best for Dogs and Cats of Any Size

Why it stands out

SleekEZ’s Medium product page says the tool is built from “teeny, tiny teeth configured in a unique tooth and wave pattern” that grab the tips of loose hairs. SleekEZ says the 5-inch Medium is “ideal for all shedding animals between 20 and 500 lbs.” The 2.5-inch Small is, per its page , for animals under 20 pounds, including cats, rabbits, ferrets and small dogs.

SleekEZ also says it works on furniture, pet bedding and carpeting. Hair collects along the blade and then falls to the ground, so there’s nothing to pull off the tool. SleekEZ says both sizes are made in the USA. The weight ranges are a guide: the Small’s page adds that “size is just a preference.”

The catch

SleekEZ is blunt about the limit: “This product is not for detangling or removing mats. It does not clip or shave the hair.” A coat that tangles needs a rake or slicker as well.

Best for

Homes with a cat and a dog, or anyone who wants one tool for loose hair on the pet and on the couch.

2. Hartz Groomer’s Best Fur Fetcher: Best Blade-Free Deshedder for Dogs

Why it stands out

The Fur Fetcher is a deshedding tool made for dogs. Hartz’s product page says it “ditches harsh metal blades and utilizes micro combs,” and that it removes loose fur from the undercoat “without harming the delicate skin and top coat.” Hartz pitches it for seasonal coat changes and “the most extreme year round shedders,” and claims it removes three times more fur than brushing alone. That figure is Hartz’s own claim, not an independent measurement. The handle is ergonomic, per Hartz.

The catch

Hartz doesn’t publish dimensions, a weight range or coat lengths, and it doesn’t say whether the tool works on mats. This version is made for dogs.

Best for

A heavy-shedding dog, for owners who’d rather not use a metal blade.

3. Wahl 2-in-1 Double Row Rake with Shedding Blade: Best for Long Double Coats With Mats

Why it stands out

The Wahl 2-in-1 has two working sides: a double row rake and a shedding blade. Wahl’s product page says it’s “designed to untangle mats and remove loose undercoat” and that it “works best for doubled coated medium to long coated dogs.” Wahl describes it as a soft-grip tool.

That makes it the pick here for coats that tangle as well as shed. It covers the job SleekEZ says its tool can’t do.

The catch

Wahl says it works best on dogs with medium to long double coats, and its page doesn’t mention cats. It also doesn’t list dimensions or a size range.

Best for

Double-coated dogs with medium or long coats that mat as well as shed.

4. Andis Medium Firm Slicker Brush: Best for Loose Hair Plus Tangles

Why it stands out

Andis’s product page says the Medium Firm Slicker removes “loose hair and tougher tangles.” Its medium firm pins provide “added effectiveness for removing loose hair and moderate tangles,” and Andis says it’s a step up from soft slicker brushes “without excessive harshness.” Andis calls it a fit for regular brushing as well as more thorough sessions.

The model number is 68565. Amazon’s listing calls it the Andis 68565 Stainless-Steel Slicker Brush, Medium.

The catch

Andis’s page doesn’t give dimensions, pin length or which coats it suits. It’s built for moderate tangles, not heavy matting.

Best for

Medium and long coats that need regular brushing to keep tangles down.

5. KONG ZoomGroom: Best Rubber Brush for Bath Time

Why it stands out

The ZoomGroom is a rubber brush (Search Amazon for KONG ZoomGroom Boysenberry ). KONG’s product page says its 3/4-inch rubber fingers “reach through the coat,” that it’s “great for shampooing & dry use,” and that it “attracts hair like a magnet.” KONG’s instructions are to brush gently in a circular motion, and to apply shampoo to the brush at bath time. The Large size is listed for dogs between 30 and 65 pounds, and it’s made of thermoplastic elastomer (TPE).

For cats, KONG makes a one-size Cat ZoomGroom (Search Amazon for KONG Cat ZoomGroom ). KONG says it “is effective for all cats and coat types.”

The catch

KONG doesn’t say the ZoomGroom works on undercoat or tangles, so it isn’t a substitute for a rake or slicker on a coat that mats. KONG’s warning on the Cat ZoomGroom page says to supervise and to discontinue use if the brush is damaged.

Best for

Dogs at bath time, and cats of any coat type with the Cat ZoomGroom.

How to Choose

Match the tool to the coat. Wahl says its rake works best on double-coated dogs with medium to long coats, and Andis built its slicker for loose hair and moderate tangles. KONG’s rubber brush is meant for brushing and shampooing. SleekEZ says its tool works on any animal, with the size chosen by weight.

Check for mats first. If the coat tangles, start with a tool the maker says handles it: the Wahl rake for mats, or the Andis slicker for moderate tangles. SleekEZ says its tool isn’t for detangling or mats. Hartz and KONG don’t say either way.

Size by the pet, where the maker lists one. SleekEZ splits its sizes at 20 pounds, and KONG lists the Large ZoomGroom for 30 to 65 pounds. Hartz, Wahl and Andis don’t publish size ranges.

Plan for the bath. Only the KONG ZoomGroom is sold for use with shampoo. If you’re also choosing a shampoo, our dog shampoo guide compares five.

Deal with the hair that’s already loose. For hair on the couch, see our ChomChom Roller review , and for floors, our vacuums for pet hair . For a fur-covered dog bed, see how to remove pet hair from a dog bed cover .

FAQ

Can a deshedding tool remove mats?

Not all of them. SleekEZ says its tool is not for detangling or removing mats. Wahl designed its 2-in-1 rake to untangle mats and remove loose undercoat, and Andis says its Medium Firm Slicker handles moderate tangles.

What’s the best deshedding brush for a cat?

Of these picks, two are made for cats. SleekEZ sells a 2.5-inch Small for animals under 20 pounds, and KONG says its rubber Cat ZoomGroom is effective for all cats and coat types.

Sources