Q: If your cat is scratching its ears a lot, if you spot signs of infection, or if the cat's itching has caused it to injure itself, then it needs veterinary care. Make an appointment with your veterinarian and take the cat in. Discuss the cat's symptoms with the veterinarian and allow them to do an exam. After the vet does the exam, discuss your cat's diagnosis. Itchy ears can have a variety of causes, including ear mites, ear infections, and polyps or growths. In severe cases of ear disease, your veterinarian may suggest sedating your cat so that they can do a thorough exam. Your veterinarian may suggest that the cat get its ears cleaned at the veterinary office or by you at home. If you are told to clean them at home, your veterinarian should give you very clear instructions and they should provide you with cleaner or the name of a product they recommend. Use a specific cleaner made for cats' ears. Clean very carefully, as cleaning that is too rough can damage the cat's eardrums or inner ear. Never stick a cotton swab or any other item into your cat's ear canal. Don't clean your cat's ears before taking it to the vet. The vet may need to get a sample of the discharge to determine the cause of the itching. In some cases, cleaning the cat's ears will remove the dirt and debris that was causing irritations, and thus will be all that is needed to treat the itching. If your veterinarian has found polyps or other growths in your cat's ear, they are likely to suggest removal. This type of surgical procedure will require that your cat be put under anesthesia and it will need pre and post surgery care from you. Other procedures your cat may have to undergo at the veterinary office include removal of foreign bodies and stitches to close up wounds or trauma. If you are told to put medicated drops into your cat's ears as part of its treatment, you will need to take care when applying them. Hold your cat on your lap and gently fold back one of its ears with one of your hands. Then use your other hand to quickly drop the prescribed number of drops into your cat's ear. Once the drops are in, fold the ear all the way back over to close up the ear and hold on to your cat. Once the drops are in your cat's ears, you need to be quick about closing up the ear canal and holding onto your cat. If the cat gets away, it will shake its head a lot, which will dislodge the medicine from the ear canal. In addition to drops, your veterinarian may prescribe other medications and provide suggestions for care during recovery. Follow these directions so that your cat cat make a speedy recovery. In many cases, you will need to put a cone on your cat to prevent it from itching its ears and further injuring itself. Your doctor may prescribe oral antibiotics in addition to medicated drops if your cat's infection is especially bad or it has traveled beyond the cat's ears.
A: Have the cat seen by a veterinarian. Have the cat's ears cleaned. Allow veterinary procedures to be performed. Put drops in your cat's ears. Follow additional treatment suggestions.

Q: Crosswalks and corners exist for a reason. Many adults put themselves at greater risk by scurrying across the street whenever they want. That's a very dangerous lesson to show a child, so guide them to the crossing zones even if you have to go out of your way a little. Getting to rule the crosswalk lines is fun and makes you more visible to motorists. Model good behavior by always using crosswalks yourself. If you witness someone else crossing improperly, remind your child that this is incorrect and dangerous. If you have younger children, hold their hand while you cross. Instruct older children to cross when you do. Crosswalk lights can be tricky for younger children. When they see the the blinking hand pop up, they may freeze in the middle of the street. That's why you're there to guide them. Play games with them such as "I Spy" or "Guess the meaning of the sign." For example, you can ask, "What does this sign mean? Should we stop or walk?" Praise them for getting it right. "Look left, right, left." Your parents probably hammered a similar song into your head when you were young. Before you step into the street, have them look for any danger. Continue looking and listening even after you begin crossing. Cars that appear distant may reach you faster than expected. Drivers make mistakes too, so it's up to you and your child to protect yourself by waiting until the coast is clear before crossing. Try asking the child what they should do during different situations. At a crosswalk, expect them to answer with something like "I stop and look both ways." Eventually, they'll be able to say this back in their own words, proving that they understand. Listening while crossing is almost as important as looking. Newer cars and hybrids can be very quiet. A road is an ever-changing place. Even a situation that appears safe can quickly develop into an accident. Have your child search out the eyes of drivers they approach. Drivers you look in the eye are more likely to stop. Your child will soon recognize drivers who aren't paying attention. Some vehicles, such as those with tinted windows, make eye contact impossible, but it's always worth trying. Anyone who has been in the presence of a young child knows how much they enjoy running ahead of you. Many children also lack the attention span required to get across the street promptly. At least until age six, lead them by the hand. Grab your teenager too when they're too distracted to be street safe. This is a golden opportunity to let them decide when it's safe to cross. Ask them "is it safe?" and don't move until they say yes. This can also be helpful for developmentally disabled children. Besides driveways, parked cars are a leading cause of accidents. This sounds weird, but think about it. It's very difficult to see someone when they come out from between two cars. Even adults make this mistake, but children are much smaller and harder to see. It's very important your child knows to go to a street crossing! Never try to scare children with street dangers. Instead, calmly explain them so they learn the lessons rather than get distracted by your tone.
A:
Have children always cross at a crosswalk. Remind your child to stop and look both ways before crossing. Have children make eye contact with drivers while crossing. Hold a young child's hand as they cross. Explain the danger of crossing between parked cars.