Please help, plant attack

[Filbert]

I was recently given a plant as a present. In the lasy couple of months, a white woolly substance has appeared on and under the leaves. Does anybody know what it is and how to get rid of it? It has to be safe as I have a cat...

[Emily Ball]

Could it be an infestation of mealy bugs?  According to my trusty gardening book, they are small pink insects covered with woolly or mealy white wax on leaves. Scrape some off and have a look at it under a magnifying glass. The only other thing I can think of is botrytis, or grey mould . If it turns out to be mealy bugs the soil will be affected too. At any rate, your local garden centre or DIY store will have an appropriate insecticide.