My two cats have started shaking their heads recently. I used a spot on flea treatment a week ago but it doesn't seem to have worked. Any ideas? The vet receptionist said with ear mites there will be brown wax and it will look inflamed. They look fine apart from a bit of head shaking.
I don't want an unnecessary vet visit (they go into spasms if I try to squish them into their cat boxes) but I don't want them to be driven bonkers.
Any thoughts much appreciated?
KW
RE: Pussy cats are shaking their heads
I don't think fleas go into ears, do they? Could it be a reaction to the flea product itself, I wonder, and not to any sort of insect?
Also, with no disrespect to your vet's receptionist, is she qualified to make a diagnosis, especially over the phone?
Sorry if this isn't very helpful, perhaps just observe for a day or two if they aren't TOO distressed, otherwise I'd recommend the cat boxes and a visit, I think 😀
Holistic
RE: Pussy cats are shaking their heads
Generally with ear mites your cats will be scratching their ears also, and the ear mites look like tiny granules of coffee.
It is more than likely an allergic reaction to the flea treatment you've used on them. Most of the spot on treatments are toxic to animals, regardless of what vets may tell you. They contain chemicals that either the animal will be allergic to soon after application, or the chemicals will accumulate in their bodies, and possibly leading to illness in the long term.
If you are interested in a natural flea prevention product, feel free to contact me, as I have been making natural remedies for animals for 3 years now.
Rosi
RE: Pussy cats are shaking their heads
I used a spot on flea treatment a week ago but it doesn't seem to have worked.
That suggests that your cats were shaking their heads BEFORE you used the flea treatment - were they?
If they were, the spot-on can't have been the cause (though it may not help - as Rosi says, most of these things are toxic), so it might well be ear mites, whichstart deep down in the ear, so brown wax and inflammation doesn't show immediately (also, most flea treatments don't kill ear mites).
Our three Maine Coons sometimes get grass seeds down their ears and that makes them shake their head - in serious cases, the seed may get lodged down there and may need to be removed under sedation but, fortunately, that's very rare.
And it's not always ears that make cats shake their heads; some teeth problems can make them do it too (usually accompanied by drooling), as can some nasal infections (usually accompanied by a discharge).
Like Holistic, I'd be inclined to observe for a while then get the cat boxes out if there's no improvement. [sm=sad2.gif]
Chris
RE: Pussy cats are shaking their heads
Cover the cat carriers with a blanket before putting cats in,then put the cats in and cover the front over,leave them in a quiet area for a little while till they settle.Then visit your vet, ear mites will drive them up the pole and around the twist. Also it's unlikely with it being both cats at same time, but ear abscess's are very nasty things, best get them looked at without delay, it's your fur kid at the end of the day but would you leave a child to suffer ear or tooth irritation?