There are a variety of factors that might contribute to a pet shaking its head. Cats often shake their heads for the same reason you’re thinking of: after becoming wet, such as after a bath or swim, the entire body shakes. On the other hand, if a cat shakes its head constantly or often for no apparent cause, this behavior is abnormal and might be a sign of an ear issue. So, let’s discuss why cats shake their heads.
In most cases, the abnormal cat head shanking is subjected to the following factors:
- Ear infections
- Insect Bites
- Allergies
- Aural Hematoma
Factors causing head shaking:
1.Ear infections
You should anticipate that your cat will move its head regularly if it suffers from an ear infection. Even though these illnesses do not occur very commonly, when they do, they can cause your cat a great deal of pain/discomfort.
Ear infections can affect the ear’s outer and innermost parts, including the ear canal.
Otitis externa is the medical term for an infection that affects the external portion of the ear. Infections in the external auditory canal are almost never life-threatening. Infestations by mites, bacteria, and yeast are the most common causes of these conditions. However, when the infection spreads further into the body, it becomes increasingly dangerous.
2.Insect Bites
When cats are allowed to live their lives outside unsupervised or when they come into contact with another cat who does so, they increase their risk of getting bitten by insects. There is a good chance that such insects will bite them on the paws and the heads. These insect bites have the potential to result in inflammation, swelling, stinging, and hives. Your cat will shake their head and paw excessively if they have the need to lick the bites it received.
In order to alleviate the irritation, your veterinarian may prescribe antihistamines for your cat. In extremely unusual instances, your cat may also experience an allergic response to the bite; in such instances, immediate veterinarian care is required.
3.Allergies
Some of our canine companions suffer from allergies similar to those of people, which can be caused by environmental factors as well as uncontrolled parasites like fleas and ticks. Dogs are also susceptible to developing food allergies, although this condition is far less common.
It’s probably time to make an appointment for allergy testing if your dog is constantly shaking his head and has a variety of other symptoms as well, such as continuous paw licking, scratching at hot places, diarrhea, and rashes.
4.Aural Hematoma
The condition known as “Pillow Ear,” which is an aural hematoma, is not the cause of head shaking. Hematoma is caused by shaking the head violently over an extended period of time. The pinna of a cat’s ear, also known as the ear flap, is covered in blood vessels all over its surface. When cats shake their heads too vigorously, one or more of their blood vessels might burst. This results in blood collecting inside the pinna, giving the ear the appearance of being stuffed with a pillow.
Excessive head shaking is another risk factor for developing hematoma in felines. However, surgery is a necessary part of the therapy. In the vast majority of instances, a veterinarian will make an incision in the pinna in order to drain the fluid that has accumulated in it. Despite this, there is still a possibility that the pinna will get clogged once more with blood. Veterinary professionals would stitch it up in such a way that, while it was healing, the pinna would not get clogged with blood.
Conclusion
Ear allergies, aural hematoma, infections, and ear mites are the most common causes of your cat’s head shaking. If you notice that your cat is constantly shaking his head, you should make an appointment with the veterinarian as soon as possible.
