A cat’s head shaking may be a sign of a medical condition that requires attention from a veterinarian and can range in severity from minor to deadly.
Whether it’s an underlying ear infection or a more serious ailment, get to the bottom of the issue immediately soon and consult with your veterinarian so that you can start treatment and your cat can start to feel better.
Ear infections and ear mites
Cats can get ear infections, much as dogs. The most frequent of all potential reasons of head shaking is actually a cat’s ear infection. The first thing the veterinarian will do when you bring your cat in for head shaking is look inside your cat’s ear canals with an otoscope. They can then determine whether or not the tympanic membrane, also known as the ear drum, is intact and evaluate any potential ear canal inflammation. Because some hearing aids may poison the inner ear, taking this precaution is essential.
After being able to evaluate the state of your cat’s ear drums, your veterinarian will take samples of the ear fluid. Then they will use a microscope to look at these swabs. On the scope, your veterinarian may see ear mites, yeast that is just starting to grow, or one of two types of bacteria: cocci (circle-shaped bacteria) or rod-shaped bacteria. Although not extremely common, the ectoparasite Otodectes cynotis is more frequently observed in cats than in dogs. Your cat might toss his head in relief if they cause a severe itching sensation. Depending on what can be seen under a microscope and whether or not your cat’s ear drums are intact, your veterinarian will decide which drug is most effective to treat the underlying infection or ear mite infestation.
Allergies
Unfortunately, allergies may strike cats just like they affect humans. Cat allergies are most usually characterized by intense scratching around the head, neck, and ears, as well as sporadically head shaking. Cat allergies can originate from touch, inhalation, food, insects (especially flea bites), or other factors. In addition to offering medication to relieve itching, your veterinarian will also want to try to determine what is causing the allergy. They might wish to start your cat on a separate, monthly topical flea prevention regimen regardless of how likely it is for them. They might also want to switch your cat’s diet to a prescription, hydrolyzed food in order to carry out a strict food trial. Food trials are very strict; only the suggested food may enter your cat’s mouth for six to eight weeks. This includes snacks, meals for people, and flavored vitamins. But completing a meals trial successfully will reveal for definite whether or not your cat has a food allergy, assuming you can stick with it and if your doctor advises it.
Polyps
Cats can sometimes develop feline inflammatory polyps, also called ear polyps. These cat-specific benign tumors originate in the middle or outer ear mucous membranes. Depending on where it is, ear polyp symptoms can include nasal discharge, ear infections, head tilting, drooping eyelids, and coughing. The only effective treatment for polyps is surgical excision.
Bite Virus
Cats are more likely to get bug bites since they are natural predators; these bites often affect the face and paws. Only the bite site will be affected in some cats, who may exhibit symptoms like head shaking, swelling, inflammation, itching, and hives. If your veterinarian thinks your cat was bitten by an insect, they may prescribe steroids or antihistamines to reduce the swelling. Rarely, your cat may get an anaphylactic reaction that requires immediate veterinary attention.
Hematoma Hearing
Aural (ear) hematomas, also referred to as “pillow hearing,” are more likely to form as a result of continuous head shaking than for other reasons. A cat (or dog) runs the risk of rupturing one or more of the small blood vessels in their ear pinna (flap) if they move their head violently enough for whatever reason. Due to the blood it collects, the pinna swells up and takes on the appearance of a pillow when this happens.
If your cat suddenly develops an aural hematoma, your veterinarian will be able to go over your treatment choices with you and help you determine which would be best. If your cat is a suitable candidate and the fluid isn’t causing too much discomfort, your veterinarian may decide to drain it off. Your veterinarian may take additional steps to try to prevent fluid reaccumulation, such as giving you steroids to reduce inflammation, bandaging your ear, or using cold laser therapy. Since there will now be an empty space, the fluid is likely to reaccumulate. Your cat’s ear may wrinkle as it heals if your veterinarian decides to take this course of action. The health of your cat won’t be impacted by this; it’s only a cosmetic problem. Some people also assert that it adds character. If your cat develops a larger hematoma, your veterinarian may opt to operate. If this keeps happening, your veterinarian will make an incision to drain the fluid and then stitch the pinna together in a certain way to stop it from filling up again before it has a chance to heal and scar. If this happens frequently, it will be necessary to do this. Crinkling of the ear is a less common adverse effect if your veterinarian opts for surgery as the course of treatment.
For a variety of reasons, cats may shake their heads. Even if a true ear infection is not the cause, schedule a visit with your normal veterinarian right away to have your cat’s head shaking examined. Even if they were, over-the-counter ear drops might not be useful for your cat’s particular infection and could have unfavorable effects like deafness if the ear drum is injured.
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