Why Is My Cat Shaking Its Head?

A cat that has suddenly taken to shaking its head incessantly may have a medical condition that could range from minor to serious. Whether the issue is an underlying ear infection or a more serious problem, you will want to get to the bottom of it quickly and consult your veterinarian so that you can begin treatment and your cat can start to feel some relief.

Ear Infections and Ear Mites

Cats do get ear infections, just as dogs do. In fact, of all the reasons for head shaking in a cat, an ear infection is the most common cause. When you bring your cat to the vet for head shaking, your vet will first visualize your cat's ear canals with the aid of an otoscope. This allows them to evaluate any potential inflammation within the canal as well as to determine whether the tympanic membrane, also known as the ear drum, is intact or not. This step is important as some ear medications can be toxic to the inner ear.

Once your vet has been able to check the status of your cat's ear drums, they will take samples of the discharge from your cat's ears. From there, they will microscopically evaluate these swabs. On the scope, your vet may see either cocci (circle-shaped) or rod-shaped bacteria, budding yeast, or ear mites.

Depending on what is seen on the microscope (and whether or not your cat's ear drums are intact), your vet will determine what medicine to give to treat the underlying infection or ear mite infestation.

Allergies

Just like us, cats can be the unfortunate sufferers of allergies. In cats, allergies can arise either from contact, inhalation, food, or insects (especially flea bites) and most often manifest as intense itching around the head, neck, ears, and can include head shaking.

Your vet may prescribe medications to give some itch relief but will also want to try to figure out the underlying allergen causing the problem. If fleas or flea dirt are seen, a different monthly topical flea preventative may be recommended. If a food allergy is suspected, switching your cat's diet to a limited-ingredient or hydrolyzed food to perform a strict food trial can determine if that is the problem.

Food trials are incredibly strict—nothing can pass your cat's lips except the prescribed food for six to eight weeks. This includes treats, people food, and flavored supplements. If you're able to stick with it, successfully completing a food trial will definitively diagnose whether or not your cat suffers from a food allergy.

Polyps

Cats can sometimes develop ear polyps, also called feline inflammatory polyps. These are benign growths that originate from the surface of a cat's middle ear, outer ear, or nasal cavity. The symptoms of a polyp will vary depending on where it is located, but can include:

• Head shaking
• Scratching at ears
• Sneezing
• Head tilt
• Drooping eyelid
• Abnormal eye movement
• Noisy breathing
• Ear infection
• Nasal or ocular discharge

Polyps can only be effectively treated by surgical removal.

Insect Bites

Cats, being natural predators, are prone to getting insect bites, mostly on the face and paws. Some cats will have a reaction localized to the site of the bite that can include swelling, inflammation, itching, hives, and also head shaking. If your vet suspects that your cat was the recipient of an insect bite, they might give antihistamines or steroids to treat the inflammation. On rarer instances, your cat may experience an anaphylactic reaction and this requires immediate veterinary attention.

Aural Hematoma

An aural (ear) hematoma, sometimes referred to as "pillow ear," isn't so much a reason for head shaking as much as it is something that can happen as a consequence of excessive head shaking. There are a number of small blood vessels within the ear pinna (flap) and if a cat (or dog) shakes its head hard enough, for any reason, they run the risk of bursting one of more of these blood vessels. When this happens, the pinna fills with blood and takes on a puffy, pillow-like appearance.

If your cat suddenly develops an aural hematoma, your vet will be able to discuss treatment options with you and determine which would be best. If your vet thinks your cat would be a good candidate for it—it isn't causing too much discomfort—they may elect to drain the fluid off. The fluid is likely to build back up again because there is now an empty space, so additional steps your vet may take to try to prevent reaccumulation of fluid include giving steroids to reduce inflammation, bandaging the ear (poorly tolerated by most cats), or using cold laser therapy. Your cat's ear may crinkle down as it heals if your vet elects for this treatment option. This is merely a cosmetic concern and won't be of any medical concern for your cat. (Plus, some may argue, a crinkled ear adds some character.)

If your cat has a more extensive hematoma, your vet may elect for surgical intervention to prevent scarring that could narrow the ear canal. If this is the case, your vet will make an incision to drain out the fluid, then will use a pattern of suturing to tack the pinna together such that it cannot fill back up before it has a chance to scar in and heal. Crinkling of the ear is a less common treatment complication if your vet elects for a surgical repair, but the pinna may not sit in the normal position after a hematoma resolves no matter the treatment.