Taking care of eyes and ears

Whenever you groom your cat, be sure and check its eyes and ears. Some long-haired cats often need help clearing out kitty sleep from the corners of their eyes. If the eyes appear dirty, you can clean them gently with a moist cotton swab. Use a different swab for each eye. If there seems to be a lot of discharge, or if the eyes appear red, see your vet for advice. If your cat's ears seem dirty, they can be wiped out with a piece of gauze. Never poke anything inside the ear, either yours or your cat's. The eardrum is delicate and easily damaged. If you see a lot of dark wax in your cat's ears, that's a sign of ear mites. Your vet can prescribe special ear drops to treat the condition.