I'm really hoping for some advice or reassurance here. My cat, Whiskers, has been shaking her head a lot lately, and I'm starting to get worried. At first, I thought maybe she had an ear infection or something, but I've checked her ears, and they look perfectly healthy—no redness or discharge. She doesn’t seem to be in any pain when I touch them either. But the head shaking is frequent enough that I can’t just ignore it anymore. I’m not sure if there’s something I’m missing or if it could be something outside of her ears making her uncomfortable. Have any of you experienced this with your cats? I just want to make sure my little fluff ball is okay. Any insights would be super appreciated. Thanks!
Hi there! It sounds like your kitty's frequent head shaking is concerning you. While it might not seem like there's anything wrong with her ears on the outside, there are several reasons why this might be happening.
One possibility is that she might have an itch or irritation on the inside of her ears that you can’t see. This could be due to allergies, ear mites, or even a small amount of debris. Sometimes cats also experience discomfort caused by foreign bodies or wax buildup deeper in the ear canal.
If she’s also sneezing, rubbing her face, or scratching her ears, these could be signs of allergies. However, if she's shaking her head frequently and it continues for more than a day or two, or if you notice any redness, discharge, or a foul odor coming from her ears, it’s important to have her checked out by a vet.
For now, you might try gently cleaning the outer part of her ears with a damp cloth to remove any potential irritants, but be very careful not to insert anything into the ear canal.
If the head shaking persists or you notice any other troubling signs, I recommend booking a video consult with one of our vets at Dial A Vet. They'll be able to guide you through what to do next and ensure your cat gets the care she needs. Take care!
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