FURminator Adjustable deMatter Tool Review (2026)
For the mats your brush can't fix — short of shaving them off.
MyPawAdvisor Verdict
FURminator deMatter
★★★★★4.31,000+ Amazon reviews
$12–$20
on Amazon
The Adjustable deMatter does exactly what it promises: it turns 'we might have to shave this' mats back into brushable coat, for less than the cost of one groomer visit. It demands patience and proper technique, but with both, it's the best mat-recovery tool we've tested at home.
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Quick Specs
Our Review
Every owner of a long-haired or curly-coated dog knows the moment: you find a mat behind the ear that's gone past 'brush it out' and is headed toward 'shave it off.' The FURminator Adjustable deMatter Tool exists for exactly that window — mats that are too established for a slicker brush but not yet felted to the skin.
We tested it on the two classic matting victims in our test group: a doodle mix with chronic mats behind the ears and under the collar, and a long-haired cat with clumping along the britches. Used correctly, the deMatter broke down every mat we pointed it at without a single yelp — but 'used correctly' is doing real work in that sentence, and we'll show you the technique.
At $12–$20 it costs roughly one-fifth of a single professional dematting session. If your dog mats regularly, the math is not subtle.
What It Is and How It Cuts
The deMatter is not a brush — it's a row of stainless-steel teeth with cutting edges that slice through mats as you draw the tool across them. Instead of trying to pull a mat apart (painful) or rip it out (more painful), the teeth cut the mat into smaller sections that then brush out with a normal slicker. The adjustable design lets you adapt the tool to the coat you're working on, which matters because a fine-coated cat mat and a dense doodle mat need very different aggressiveness. The cutting edges face the mat, not the skin, but this is still the one FURminator tool where technique genuinely matters for safety.
The Technique That Makes It Painless
Here's the method that got us through every mat without a flinch: First, isolate the mat and hold it at its base, between the mat and the skin — your fingers take any tension, not the dog's skin. Second, work the deMatter through the outer edge of the mat with short, gentle strokes, not deep saw cuts. Third, as sections of the mat loosen, switch to a slicker brush and tease them out. Fourth, return to the deMatter for the next layer. A golf-ball-sized mat takes five to ten patient minutes this way. The single biggest mistake is treating it like a brush and dragging it through in long strokes — that transfers force to the skin and teaches your dog to fear the tool.
Our Test: Doodle Mats and Cat Britches
The doodle mix arrived with four established mats — two behind the ears, two under the collar line — each formed over roughly three weeks. The deMatter broke down all four across two sessions, and the slicker brush finished the job; no scissors, no shaving, no visible coat damage afterward. The long-haired cat was the harder test, since cat skin is thinner and less forgiving. Working in 60–90 second bursts across several evenings, the clumps along her britches came apart cleanly, and critically she never bolted — short sessions are the entire game with cats. Compare that with our previous approach (scissors and prayer) and the tool sells itself.
What It Won't Fix: Know When You Need a Groomer
Be realistic about the tool's ceiling. A mat you can still wiggle your fingers under is fixable at home. A felted pelt — matting fused into a solid sheet tight against the skin, often hiding moisture or irritation underneath — is a groomer-or-vet job, full stop. Forcing any dematting tool through pelted fur is painful and can tear skin. Likewise, if your dog's mats keep returning weekly, the tool is treating a symptom: the coat needs more frequent brushing (or a shorter cut) rather than better mat surgery. The deMatter is for the occasional established mat, not as a substitute for routine coat maintenance.
deMatter vs. Grooming Rake: Which One Do You Need?
These two get confused constantly. The Grooming Rake is preventive — its rotating teeth keep dense undercoat from packing and matting in the first place, used as part of a regular routine. The deMatter is corrective — it cuts apart mats that already exist. If your dog is double-coated and sheds heavily, you'll use the rake fifty times for every one deMatter session. If your dog is curly- or silky-coated (doodles, Shih Tzus, Yorkies, long-haired cats), matting rather than shedding is the enemy, and the deMatter is the more important tool. Many long-coat households genuinely need both.
Pros & Cons
✅ What We Love
- ✓Cuts through established mats a brush can't touch
- ✓Adjustable design adapts to different coats and mat severity
- ✓Costs a fraction of one professional dematting session
- ✓Works on both dogs and cats with the right technique
- ✓Saves coats that would otherwise need shaving
⚠️ Watch Out For
- ✕Technique-dependent — careless use can be uncomfortable or unsafe
- ✕Useless on felted pelts tight to the skin (groomer territory)
- ✕Cutting edges dull over years of heavy use
- ✕Not a routine-maintenance tool — it sits idle if you brush regularly
Who Should Buy This?
👍 Perfect For
Owners of mat-prone coats — doodles, Shih Tzus, Yorkies, collies, and long-haired cats — who want to fix occasional mats at home before they become shave-downs.
👎 Not Ideal If
Owners of short-coated dogs (mats aren't your problem), anyone facing fully felted pelts (see a groomer), or anyone unwilling to learn the hold-the-base technique.
Alternatives to Consider
FURminator Grooming Rake
The preventive tool — stops dense undercoat from matting in the first place
FURminator deShedding Tool
For shedding rather than matting — the right tool if loose undercoat is your real problem
Safari De-Matting Comb
Budget dematting comb with serrated blades — similar idea, less refined
Best for Mats
FURminator Adjustable deMatter Tool
★★★★★4.3The Adjustable deMatter does exactly what it promises: it turns 'we might have to shave this' mats back into brushable coat, for less than the cost of one groomer visit. It demands patience and proper technique, but with both, it's the best mat-recovery tool we've tested at home.
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MyPawAdvisor Editorial Team
Our reviews are based on hands-on testing, ingredient and material analysis, veterinary input, and aggregated owner review data from 10,000+ verified purchasers. We only recommend products we would use ourselves.