Your cat may shake their head to counter a random tickle or rip off a piece of food such as when they’re pulling a chunk of meat apart. This behavior is normal in felines, but incessant shaking or trembling isn’t. If your cat has a constant itch or appears to be trembling, you should take them to the vet for treatment. Don’t try to diagnose the problem yourself. They could have something lodged in their ear or have an infection that needs medicine.

Ear infection

Both inner ear and outer ear infections cause pain and discomfort due to inflammation. Many cats will shake their head and scratch their ears to remove debris and fluid from the ear canal. Outer ear infections affect the ear flap, also called the pinna, and can be very itchy and painful. Yeast growth usually causes the problem, but other potential causes of ear infections include foreign objects, ear mite infestations, or bacteria. Ear infections are commonly treated with topical medications, in addition to oral or injectable antibiotics.

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Since ear infections can be caused by various things, you should always take your cat to the vet so they can determine what caused the problem and give your cat the right treatment. After they examine your cat, they’ll likely need to clean their ears before sending you home with medicine.

Ear mites

Ear mites (Otodectes cynotis) are a type of ectoparasite that can live in your cat’s ears. Black specks that look like coffee grounds in your cat’s ears signify the problem. A cat may shake its head or vigorously scratch the visible portion of their ears (ear pinna) with their paws to try to relieve the itch.

Thankfully, ear mites are easily treatable with medicine from a vet. Your vet may clean your cat’s ears first and then prescribe ear drops that will kill the mites. Ear mites are fairly common in outdoor cats and even indoor kittens. Unfortunately, they’re highly contagious and can infest other parts of the body. If you have multiple pets, you may want to take them all to the vet at once to be treated for ear mites.

Aural hematoma

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An aural hematoma Trusted Source Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine Veterinary school. Go to source develops when small blood vessels in between the cartilage of the ear flap and the skin burst, resulting in swelling or what’s known as “cauliflower ear.” Your cat may develop an aural hematoma as a secondary issue if they’ve been shaking or scratching their head too much, such as from a flea allergy or from an ear infection. Also known as “pillow ear,” an aural hematoma is extremely painful to your cat and can even cause hearing loss depending on the severity.

Your vet may recommend draining the hematoma with a needle for minor cases. However, if the pinna is swollen badly enough to obstruct the ear canal, surgery may be a better option. Your cat’s ear may appear crinkly after healing from an aural hematoma, but this is merely a cosmetic concern.

Foreign bodies

Your cat may have a seed or other foreign material lodged in their ear, causing them to shake it to try and remove it. If there is a foreign body lodged in your cat’s ear canal, they’ll likely need to be sedated so that it can be removed.

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