Why is my kitten shaking their head?
A kitten shaking their head is usually telling you something is irritating their ear, and the most common causes in young kittens are ear mites or an ear infection. It is worth a vet check rather than waiting it out, since a simple otoscope examination is the only reliable way to tell what is actually going on.
Usually not urgent
This is common and often manageable at home — but see a vet if it persists, gets worse, or comes with other changes.
The short answer
Head shaking on its own, especially if it is frequent or comes with scratching at the ear, most often points to something irritating inside the ear canal rather than a behavioural quirk. In kittens, ear mites are a particularly common cause, since they spread easily between a queen and her litter or between kittens who have been in contact with other cats.
It is not something to diagnose from home. What looks like mites can also be a bacterial or yeast infection, wax build-up, or something physical like a grass seed or piece of debris in the ear, and each needs a different response, which is why a vet examination matters more than guessing from the outside.
Common causes
Ear mites are tiny parasites that live in the ear canal and are extremely common in kittens, often producing a dark, crumbly discharge that has been compared to coffee grounds, along with intense itching. They are easily passed between cats in the same household and need a specific treatment from your vet to clear properly.
Bacterial or yeast infections can develop on their own or alongside mites, and often bring a stronger smell, redness inside the ear, or a wetter discharge. Wax build-up is more straightforward and less concerning, but still worth a vet's opinion the first time you notice it, since it can look similar to the early stages of an infection.
Less commonly, something physical such as a grass seed or a piece of bedding can work its way into the ear canal and cause sudden, intense head shaking, usually affecting one ear rather than both.
Red flags that mean see a vet promptly
Book a vet visit if the head shaking is frequent, comes with scratching at the ear until it looks sore, or if you notice discharge, an unpleasant smell, redness, swelling, or your kitten crying when the ear is touched. A head tilt, loss of balance, or shaking affecting only one ear are also worth getting checked promptly.
A single brief shake with no other signs is less concerning, but if it continues over more than a day or two, or your kitten seems generally unsettled, it is still worth a call to your vet rather than waiting to see if it resolves on its own.
What happens at the vet, and what not to do at home
Your vet will look inside the ear with an otoscope, which is the only reliable way to tell mites, infection, wax and foreign objects apart, and may take a sample to check under a microscope if needed. Treatment differs completely depending on the cause, so a diagnosis genuinely matters here rather than being a formality.
Do not put any product into your kitten's ear, including human ear drops or home remedies, without your vet's direction, since the wrong treatment can worsen some conditions or mask what is actually going on when your vet does examine your kitten.
This is general information rather than veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your kitten. Once a cause has been identified and treated, routine, gentle ear cleaning as part of normal grooming can help keep things comfortable going forward.
Preventing it happening again
If your kitten is diagnosed with ear mites, your vet will likely recommend treating every cat and possibly dog in the household, since mites spread easily between pets who groom or sleep close together. Following the full course of treatment your vet prescribes, rather than stopping once symptoms improve, matters here, as an incomplete treatment can let mites return.
For kittens prone to wax build-up rather than mites or infection, your vet can show you how to clean the visible part of the ear safely at home using a product they recommend, without pushing anything down into the canal itself, which can push debris further in or damage the eardrum.
What can help
Things we stock that owners commonly use alongside a vet’s advice — not a substitute for it.
ANIGENE Pet Urine Eliminator 750ml – Citrus Fragrance
Breaks down urine crystals at the source rather than masking the smell — helps fully eliminate odours and reduce repeat marking behaviour.
£12.99
PowAir Odour Neutralising Gel Jar 400g — Pet Safe, Natural Formula
An open-jar odour neutraliser made from essential oils that quietly gets rid of pet smells for up to 60 days — no sprays, no fuss.
£12.99
PowAir Odour Neutralising Spray 250ml
A compact 250ml essential-oil-based spray that permanently neutralises pet odours at home, in the car, or anywhere smells arise — vegan and pet safe.
£10.99
Common questions
- How do I know if my kitten has ear mites?
- Signs include frequent head shaking, scratching at the ears, and a dark, crumbly discharge that is often compared to coffee grounds. Only a vet can confirm this with an otoscope examination, since other conditions can look similar from the outside.
- Can I clean my kitten's ears myself if I think they have mites?
- It is best to see a vet first rather than treating it yourself, since the wrong product can irritate the ear further or make it harder for your vet to see what is actually going on when they do examine your kitten. Your vet can also prescribe a treatment that actually clears mites rather than just cleaning around them.
- Is head shaking in kittens always serious?
- Not always, but it usually means something is bothering the ear and is worth checking rather than ignoring. A single brief shake with no other signs is less concerning than frequent shaking, scratching, discharge or any sign of pain, all of which point to a vet visit sooner rather than later.
- Can ear mites spread to other pets in the house?
- Yes, ear mites are easily passed between cats, and can also affect dogs, through close contact. If one kitten in a household is diagnosed with mites, your vet will usually advise checking and potentially treating other pets in the home too.
Related
Sources
Written against guidance published by UK veterinary and welfare organisations. Always confirm specifics with your own vet.
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.