Why Does My Cat Keep Shaking Its Head?

Daily Care πŸ“… August 9, 2026 πŸ‘ 7608

πŸ“ Summary

Frequent head shaking signals a physical problem, most often an ear condition - mites, infection, or debris. Check the ears and treat early.

1 Why Cats Shake Their Heads

1. Ear mites make the ears intensely itchy, so the cat shakes its head; you’ll see oily dark-brown debris and frequent scratching. Clean the ears daily with an ear-cleaning solution if mites are present. Fungal infection can also cause hair loss; it resembles mites but the ears aren’t itchy and have little odor – the cat shakes mainly from excess earwax.

2. Water in the ears, usually after a bath; dry gently with a cotton ball without damaging the canal.

3. Nasal problems – a cat with rhinitis has congestion and discharge and shakes its head trying to clear it.

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