Fur that grows long between the pads turns a paw into a slipper, and on laminate or tiles it takes away the grip a dog or cat relies on to stop and turn. Older animals feel it first and it is a common reason a confident dog suddenly starts skating in the hallway and refusing to come through it. The fur also mats into hard little knots that trap grit, so a trim between the pads is one of the few grooming jobs that changes how an animal moves around the house.

Doing it at home needs a small head and a quiet motor rather than a powerful clipper. The blade head here is rounded so it sits against the skin between the pads without a corner to catch, and the body is compact enough to steer round the shape of a paw with one hand while you hold the foot with the other. Low vibration and quiet running matter as much as the cut, because most pets object to the noise long before they object to the trimming. It runs cordless.

• Rounded blade head for the gap between the pads
• Quiet, low-vibration running
• Cordless
• Compact body, one-handed use
• Two options: clear grey-white or lemon green
• Both come with a knife head package

On what it will and will not do. This is a pad trimmer, not a body clipper. It will not take on a matted coat or a full summer clip, and pushing it into thick fur will stall it.

Who it's for: Owners tidying paws between professional grooms, especially those with an older pet slipping on hard floors.