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WANT MORE EASY DIYS? Find out how to add pop-ups, pleating, and fringe to your presents at realsimple. com/wrap.

JUST ROLL WITH IT

You need something malleable to wrap a gift with curves. Enter crepe-paper streamers, which, like an elastic bandage, have the flexibility to conform to any form. Start anywhere and overlap the layers until your gift is covered, then secure with clear tape. If you end up with spherical shapes, it’s simple to turn them into a snowman: Using hot glue, adhere the spheres to one another and add construction-paper accents (eyes, mouth, nose, buttons), then tie on a streamer scarf.

The vets willsee younow

LETTHE FUR FLY!ANSWERSTOYOUR HAIRIEST PET QUESTIONS.

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Q.

Catitude adjustment

Our kitten is skittish, especially around new people. How can we help her relax?

L.L., viaFacebook

A. You can’t always transform a taciturn cat into a social butterfly, but you can ease her anxiety. Give her a cat tree or another perch in the living room (or wherever guests gather), and offer an item that soothes her—a pinch of catnip, a motorized toy— when visitors stop by. “You’re not asking her to interact with people—just to comfortably coexist,” says veterinary behaviorist Lisa Radosta. If she scampers off, don’t chase her, says veterinarian Andy Roark: “You won’t make progress unless she can be social on her own terms.” Some cats do turn out to be unwavering introverts, notes Roark, but most will become calmer around company within a few months if you take the same approach each time.

Q.

Plucky streak Why does my parrot pull out his feathers?

S.J., viaFacebook

A. A bird can get so ruffled by a change in his environment—a new pet at home, say, or even a new cage—that he will pluck feathers as a calming mechanism, says avian veterinarian Alexandra Adamcak. Distraction can help. Try offering a foraging toy that has your bird work to retrieve food and treats (Foraging System, $12, drsfoster smith.com). “It reduces the time he has to dedicate to anxious behaviors,” says Adamcak. Book a vet visit if the plucking doesn’t let up. This could be a sign of dermatitis or parasites or another medical issue. Depending on the diagnosis, the doctor may advise taking the (caged) bird outside for 15 minutes of sunlight a day and switching to a nutrient-rich pellet diet (Premium Daily Diet, $7 for 1.25 pounds, lafeber. com). Says Adamcak, “The healthier the bird is physically and mentally, the less likely he is to destroy feathers.”

Written by Sarah Grossbart Photograph by James Day

THE PET EXPERTS

ALEXANDRA ADAMCAK, D.V.M.,

All Creatures Animal Hospital, East Amherst, New York.

GAYLEO’KONSKI, D.V.M.,

Morris Animal Hospital, Granger, Indiana.

LISA RADOSTA, D.V.M.,

Florida Veterinary Behavior Service, West Palm Beach, Florida.

ANDY ROARK, D.V.M.,

Cleveland Park Hospital, Greenville, South Carolina.

Q.

Rough patch

The folds on my fouryear-old bulldog get irritated and smell bad. We wipe them with unscented baby wipes every day, but it’s no help. Any better ideas?

N.P., viaFacebook

A. This irritation is common among bulldogs, whose folds trap moisture, creating an environment for bacteria and yeast to grow, says veterinarian Gayle O’Konski. Regular baby wipes aren’t the answer. They leave the skin wet, so they can exacerbate the problem. But medicated wipes, which are alcohol-based, will treat the dermatitis and dry quickly. Twice a day, gently clean both sides of the folds using a product that contains the antifungal miconazole (like Micona Hex + Triz Wipes; $11 for 50, amazon. com). The process takes only a few minutes, but if your pooch gets squirmy, you can settle her with a spoonful of peanut butter as you clean. After 10 days, the redness should clear, but it’s best to continue doing wipe-downs once a week to prevent future flare-ups.