Best Undercoat Rake – Buyer’s Guide

Caring for cats and dogs requires a lot of love and attention, true. However, there are some rather mundane tasks involved in the process. One of these tasks focuses on helping these pets to groom themselves. Cats and dogs with long coats especially need help in keeping everything tangle free. At some times, a simple pet hair comb or brush will not do the trick. Therefore, going with the best undercoat rake is a far better deal. Here is a look at five such undercoat rakes that work best for dogs and cats.

Best Undercoat Rake

1. GoPets Dematting Comb – Professional Grooming Rake for Cats & Dogs

GoPets Dematting Comb comes with two sides. These two sides overlap one another to provide the best combing experience possible. There are also different numbers of teeth on each side, so one side can be used on smaller animals while the other can be used on larger ones. It possesses professional quality, and it can be used either on cats or dogs. This rake does not have any painful edges even though the teeth are sharp, so it will not harm animals. Application of this comb can be rather gentle, which is great for animals whose coats tend to matt up regularly.

The entire top of the rake measures 3.5 inches across, from bolt to bolt. These bolts can be loosened for cleaning teeth or for replacing them over time. Additionally, the entire length of the whole tool is 7.5 inches, which makes it easy to balance in hand. Since it only weighs about 3.5 ounces, it is also rather light to hold as well. The handle is covered in silicone and filled with a moldable gel. For the sake of comfort and frequent use, this handle has been designed with ergonomics in mind. While the handle is not too thick, it is thick enough for people with arthritis to grasp it with confidence when grooming their pets.

2. DM EZ 2– Easy Pet Grooming Undercoat Rake

DM EZ 2’s Easy Pet Grooming Undercoat Rake is a great de-shedding tool for both cats and dogs. Unlike GoPets’ model, it does not have two sides for teeth. Therefore, the teeth only go in one direction. The row of teeth is made from stainless steel, meaning they will be durable enough to stand up to the biggest tangles and mats. The teeth measure three inches across, which makes it plenty wide enough for larger patches of mats and tangles. At the same time, it is small enough to fit into tight places, like around genitalia. Speaking of treating this area, animals are not in danger of facing cuts to their skin, which means this rake is safe for any part of the body. Furthermore, it can be used on smaller cats and dogs, including kittens and puppies.

Pet owners do not have to worry about ruining their cats or dogs’ top coat, either. Even though this rake reaches deep into the undercoat, it will not destroy the top coat. If anything, the rake will remove any mats and tangles from that coat as well. Furthermore, pet owners do not have to wait for tangles, knots, and mats to form before they decide to use this tool. It is gentle enough to simply be used for de-shedding purposes during certain times of the year. In this aspect, it is a bit more thorough than a typical comb or brush.

The handle for this rake is also ergonomic in design. Instead of being gel covered in silicone like the previous model, the handle is covered in rubber stripping. This stripping makes for a sturdy grip in most cases. However, holding the handle for too long can cause sweat to build up, so the handle or the hand using it might need to be wiped off periodically for longer instances of use.

3. Mars Coat King Double Wide Stainless Steel with Wooden Handle – Best Pet Stripper

Mars Coat King offers a double wide pet stripper attached to a wooden handle. This tool comes in various sizes with different numbers of blades. The three options are 12 blades, 18 blades, 23 blades, and 30 blades. The more blades this tool has, the more finely it will comb through patches of tangles and mats. Mars Coat King does more than just comb out mats and remove dead fur. It will also trim out the undercoat as well, all while leaving the top coat intact. It can unravel tangles and undo mats with ease. Not much pressure needs to be used when removing tangled fur. Additionally, it can even work on animals with thicker coats, like Cocker Spaniels and Afghan Hounds. Cats that have double coats will also be able to receive relief from mats and tangles with this rake.

Even though it works to strip out dead fur, Mars Coat King’s model will leave living hair behind. Therefore, coats are left looking sleek and shiny after each treatment. The teeth on this comb are soft enough to be used on cats and dogs routinely, especially during shedding months where mats are more prone to happen. Hence, using this tool on a regular basis will also minimize the number of hairballs a cat or dog might incur during shedding season.

Stainless steel comprises the materials for the teeth on this model. The wooden handle screws right into the stainless steel teeth’s fork connection, making for a sturdy handle that will not easily come apart. However, the wooden handle is thinner than the handles on both of the previous models. With this situation being the case, pet owners who have arthritis might not be able to grip the handle as firmly or for nearly as long. The company also does not make a grip attachment for the handle, so purchasing this item might not be a great idea for people who do not grip onto items well. This handle is great for short-term use, though.

4. Mars Coat King Original Stainless Steel Pet Stripper with Wooden Handle– Best Detangle Coats

Mars Coat King also makes another stripper with much thinner teeth and a longer handle. The teeth are still made from stainless steel, and the handle is still made of wood. This version also comes with far many blade choices. These choices include six blades, ten blades, 12 blades, 16 blades, and 20 blades. The teeth are much thinner, which means they are great for working at larger matted areas on cats and dogs. Instead of working as a normal rake, this model works more like a stripper. Hence, it can cut through matted and tangled fur much easier than a typical rake. On the six blade option, the teeth are set rather far apart, which means it can be used on pets with shorter fur as well.

The teeth on this model are also curved, which means they will not dig into cats or dogs’ skin and leave scratches behind. Additionally, edges of the teeth have been blunted and rounded for an added safety measure. Even though sharp teeth are not being used, added pressure to operate the tool is not necessary. The teeth should glide through fur with ease and comfort for both pet owner and their pet. Such construction focuses on removing as much dead fur from the undercoat as possible while leaving live, attached furs in place. As with previous models, this one by Mars Coat King does not destroy top coats while attempting to clean out the undercoat.

As mentioned previously, the teeth on this stripper are double wide. The entire length of the teeth measures approximately 3.3 inches across. The handle itself measures 7.8 inches vertically, including the teeth attachment. One benefit to this stripper, though, is its weight. It only weighs 0.3 ounces, even with the metal and wood construction. Hence, it can be held by people who cannot grasp onto heavy items with ease.

5. Paws Pamper Extra Wide Undercoat Rake – 20 Blade

Paws Pamper also offers an extra-wide undercoat rake for dogs and cats. This particular model comes with 20 blades. Furthermore, it follows similar construction to the Mars Coat King models. The metal teeth attach to a fork, which then in turn screws into the wooden handle. The teeth are made of stainless steel which has been rounded to avoid skin irritation and to prevent scratches from happening. After being brushed with this tool a few times for familiarity’s sake, cats and dogs do not fear being groomed with it in most cases.

The handle features a full tang and balanced construction, which is perfect for the lightweight of 4.8 ounces. Most people can grasp the thicker wooden handle on this model with ease, especially people who have arthritis. Additionally, the wooden handle is made of renewable materials, so it minimizes the use of raw materials, especially those containing fossil fuels. Because the handle is made of wood, it also possesses biodegradable possibilities. Not much of the same can be said about the stainless steel blades.

Bolts connect the teeth to the handle. Because of the wider width of the teeth portion of this rake, the bolts can be difficult to move around with the teeth in tight places. Therefore, this tool might be better suited for larger dogs than for smaller dogs and cats. At the same time, the bolts do come off for the sake of cleaning the teeth easier, or if the blades ever need to be replaced.

Best Undercoat Rake – Buyer’s Guide

There are many things to look for when purchasing the best undercoat rake for pets. First and foremost, pet owners need to consider the ergonomic design of the handle. This statement is especially true for pet owners who have arthritis or who cannot otherwise grip thin, hard handles easily. However, pet owners should not sacrifice solid construction for ergonomics. In cases where this arrangement does happen, the teeth can come loose from the handle, as in with the DM EZ 2 model.

The size of the cat or dog being groomed also needs to be considered. Some models like the Paws Pamper plus come with extra wide teeth and blades, which means they might not fit into tight corners as easily as other models. More narrow designs such as the GoPets Dematting Comb work best on smaller animals. This statement is especially true when pet owners attempt to attack tangles and mats in areas close to under legs and genital areas.

Above all, pet owners need to consider the comfort of their pet when using one of these tools. While most of them do not pull on fur as much as typical combs and brushes might when attacking mats and tangles, this tool might require a little bit of force on extra matted areas. Therefore, pet owners need to use a careful touch with all of these tools. When it comes to using the two stripper tools by Mars Coat King, this statement is especially true. Though the blades are rounded and blunted, they can still be a bit rough on skin, should the tool dig too deeply into an undercoat.

Also in regards to the stripper tools by Mars Coat King, customers need to understand that these rakes are not cutting tools. They will not cut through mats and tangles with a pair of scissors would. All the same, they need to be used with care and a gentle touch. In this case, patience goes a long, long way when working out large mats.

Conclusion

When it comes to finding the right grooming rake for a cat or dog, there are only really five options to pick from. The ones noted above are made of solid construction that does not break easily with use, which will minimize pain and discomfort for pets. They are meant to do more than a comb and brush typically would, especially on animals with longer fur.

About author
Hello everyone, my name is Adam. I was that kid who brought home cats, birds, dogs, hamsters, rabbits, and whatever else I could catch. Throughout my life, I have always been very passionate about pets. I look forward to sharing my knowledge and experience with you!