Shaking their head is something every cat will do at some point or another. Without hands to scratch an itch, it’s one way to relieve an irritation. But repeated or vigorous head shaking may suggest more serious problems inside your cat’s ears, nose or mouth.

Head shaking in cats is a vigorous and deliberate action. It’s very different from head tremors, which are involuntary and less violent. The usual trigger will be irritation inside or on the ear(s). It may be accompanied by rolling, pawing or rubbing and usually lasts only a short time. Always talk to a vet if head shaking is ongoing, violent or accompanied by other symptoms, like pain or balance problems.

 

What to do

What to do if your cat is shaking their head

Check for obvious causes and clues as to why your cat is shaking their head:

• Check for grass seeds, paper or other foreign bodies in the ear.
• Check for discharge, redness or a smell at the entrance to the ear.
• Feel for heat or swelling in the pinna (ear flap) itself.
• Check if one or both ears are affected.
• Check nostrils for discharge or foreign material.
• If your cat allows, lift their lips and check their gums and mouth for gingivitis, foreign bodies or dental problems.

Talk to a vet if your cat is head-shaking without a visible cause.

Joii vets are online to take your calls 24/7.

 

Causes

Common reasons why cats shake their heads

The most common causes of head shaking in cats include:

• Ear infections
• Ear mites, harvest mites, and occasionally fleas
• Polyps and growths inside the ear
• Bites, cuts and stings
• Allergies and allergic reactions
• Cat bite abscess or hot spot on the face
• Foreign bodies – ears, nose, and mouth
• Water in the ear after bathing or showering

 

When to worry

When to worry about head-shaking in cats

Call a vet if your cat is:

• Constantly shaking their head, such that it’s interfering with normal activity
• Eating less or having difficulty eating
• Becoming lethargic
• Developing a head tilt, unsteadiness, or balance problems
• Sneezing repeatedly, having nose bleeds

Call a vet immediately if your cat is:

• Having breathing difficulties with head shaking and facial swelling
• Unable to stand
• Having a fit or seizure
• In pain and vocalising

 

Prevention

How to reduce the risks of head-shaking in cats

There are things you can do to prevent the problems that lead to your cat shaking their head.

These include:

• Keeping the ears clean – check weekly and use a mild cleanser or olive oil to clean and prevent build-up of wax.
• Checking for grass, grass seeds and gravel regularly – especially if your cat goes outdoors.
• Trimming long, feathery hair that’s likely to trap and funnel foreign bodies into the ear.
• Keeping up to date with regular parasite preventives – for all pets in the household.
• Identifying and treating allergies as soon as possible.
• Cleaning your cat’s teeth and attending regular vet or vet nurse check-ups.

 

Diagnosis

Things to look out for if your cat starts shaking their head

The following symptoms give clues to underlying causes needing specific treatment and/or investigation:

• Shaking their head repeatedly while also overgrooming body and legs may indicate allergies, mites, or stress.
• Presence of tiny red dots in hairs at the base of the ear (also on the paws and tail): harvest mites.
• Developing a hot, swollen ear: aural haematoma, infected cut or bite wound.
• Drooling saliva with head shaking: suggests mouth irritation.
• Developing facial swelling on one or both sides of face: allergic reaction or tooth abscess.
• Nasal discharge with head-shaking: suggests problems inside your cat’s nose.
• Having balance problems and/or jerky eye movements suggests a brain or balance disorder: caused by middle or inner ear infections or vestibular disease.

 

Home treatment

How to help a cat who’s shaking their head at home

Always see a vet if your cat has severe or ongoing head shaking, facial swelling, painful ears or any of the symptoms listed above under the section “When to worry…”

For simpler cases or until you see a vet, the following may bring your cat relief, but only if they are comfortable letting you do so safely:

• Remove any visible foreign objects.
• Try to clean inside the ears if there is visible wax or discharge present – use boiled cooled water, weak chamomile tea or a vet-approved cleanser.
• Clean wounds, scratches and burst abscesses with warm salt water (1 teaspoon salt to 500ml boiled cooled water).
• Keep your cat as cool and calm as possible to minimise irritation.
• Use a cooling compress to soothe a hot sore ear.
• Prevent further trauma with a cone collar, to stop scratching and rubbing directly.

 

Vet treatment

What’s the vet treatment for head-shaking in cats?

Vet treatments for head-shaking in cats will depend on the cause, but could include the following:

Prescription medicines

Treatment drops, solutions and ointments:

• Dissolving and clearing out heavy build-up of wax.
• Treating underlying causes of irritation: antibiotic, antifungal, anti-parasitic, anti-inflammatory drops.
• Soothing the ear: anti-inflammatory drops.

Injections:

• Steroids and antihistamines: for sudden allergic reactions and swellings.
• Painkillers
• Antibiotics: for severe infections, bite wounds and deep cuts.

Medicines by mouth:

• Antibiotics: for severe and deep ear infections, middle or inner ear infections.
• Anti-inflammatory medicines: steroids and non-steroidal painkillers.

Parasite treatments and preventives

• Treatments effective against ear mites, fleas, and ticks: spot-on and/or tablets, depending on range of action.
• Frontline spray: harvest mites.

Special (prescription) diets

• To identify and treat food allergies: Hills Prescription Diet z/d®, Hills Prescription Diet d/d®,  Purina HA®. Royal Canin® Feline Anallergenic.

Veterinary procedures

Some causes of head shaking will require a simple procedure or more complex surgery:

• Usually means sedation or general anaesthetic.
• Removing foreign bodies from deep inside the ear, nose or mouth.
• Flushing a painful mucky ear clean and instilling treatment solutions directly.
• Draining and treating an aural haematoma or abscess.
• Removing growths or polyps.
• Cleaning painful wounds and cuts – stitching where appropriate.

In most of these cases, the vet will also advise a cone collar to prevent further injury to the ear from shaking or rubbing. At least until things are completely settled.

 

Risk

What makes my cat more likely to start head-shaking?

Cats who are at more risk of head-shaking include those who:

• Have long hair: trap foreign bodies, prone to getting hot, sweaty ear canals.
• Suffer from allergies.
• Hunt small prey: ear mites, ticks and fleas.
• Roam in long grass or woodland and love exploring undergrowth and bushes.
• Live with other cats and/or are entire males: ear mites, scratches, bites, abscesses.
• Older cats: vestibular disease, growths, and dental disease.

 

What else can look like head-shaking in cats?

• Head tremors: less intense than head shaking and not usually conscious. Causes include neurological (nerve/brain) problems, toxins, low blood sugar, hypocalcaemia (low calcium), pain, infections (FIV, FeLV, Toxoplasmosis, FIP), idiopathic tremor (unknown cause), and age.
• Seizures: usually other parts of the body also involved
• Shaking off water, debris, and loose dirt.