Ear mites
Highly contagious mites cause intense itching and dark, coffee-ground discharge. Common in kittens and multi-pet households, ear mites spread quickly and require treatment of all contact animals.
Cat Symptom
My Cat Is Shaking Its Head — Expert Online Vet Help
Head shaking in cats usually points to ear discomfort — mites, infection, or allergies. Get a same-day video assessment and prescription ear treatment without a stressful clinic visit.
Licensed Vets
$65 Flat Fee
Same-Day Rx
24/7 Access
Monitor closely — consult a vet if symptoms persist
When to worry about head shaking
Expert online help when your cat is shaking its head
Licensed vet video assessment of your cat's ears and behavior
Same-day appointments — most seen within 1–3 hours
Prescriptions delivered next business day when appropriate
$65 flat fee — no memberships or hidden charges
Guidance on ear cleaning and medication application
Clear next steps you can follow at home
Head shaking in cats is almost always related to ear irritation. Ear mites, bacterial or yeast otitis, and allergies cause itching and inflammation inside the ear canal, prompting your cat to shake its head or scratch at its ears.
TelaVets connects you with a licensed veterinarian who can assess your cat's ears and head-shaking behavior via secure video — often the same day. You'll get a diagnosis and prescription ear treatment when clinically appropriate.
Signs to watch for when your cat is shaking its head
- Frequent head shaking or tilting
- Scratching at one or both ears
- Dark discharge or debris in ears
- Odor from the ears
- Redness or swelling of the ear flap
- Balance problems or walking in circles
- Sensitivity when ears are touched
- Hair loss around the ears from scratching
Common causes of shaking its head in cats
- Ear mites (Otodectes cynotis)
- Bacterial ear infection (otitis externa)
- Yeast (Malassezia) ear infection
- Allergies (environmental or food)
- Foreign body in ear canal
- Polyps in the ear canal
- Excessive ear wax buildup
- Moisture trapped after bathing
Why is my cat shaking its head?
Ear-related head shaking has specific causes that respond well to targeted treatment once identified.
Otitis (ear infection)
Bacterial and yeast infections develop when the ear canal becomes inflamed from allergies, moisture, or mites. Infected ears are painful, odorous, and need prescription medication.
Allergic ear disease
Chronic ear inflammation from food or environmental allergies causes recurring head shaking. Managing the underlying allergy prevents repeated ear infections.
How our vets assess this online
Our vets assess head shaking through a detailed video consultation — examining the ears and reviewing discharge, odor, and scratching behavior.
- Visual assessment of ear flap redness, swelling, and discharge on video
- Review of scratching frequency and head tilt
- Discussion of other pets, recent bathing, and allergy history
- Evaluation of balance and coordination
- Recommendations for ear cytology, mite treatment, or allergy workup when needed
Treatments we may recommend
Based on your cat's assessment, our licensed vets may recommend:
Prescription ear drops (antibiotic, antifungal, or steroid)
Ear mite treatment (Revolution, Advantage Multi)
Ear cleaning solution and technique guidance
Anti-itch medication for allergy-related ear disease
Oral antibiotics for severe infections
Allergy management plan for chronic otitis
Referral for ear flushing or polyp evaluation when in-person care is needed
All medications are prescribed only when clinically appropriate by a licensed veterinarian and dispensed through our FDA-compliant pharmacy.
Preventing head shaking in cats
Check ears weekly for odor, discharge, or redness
Keep ears dry after bathing — avoid getting water in the canal
Treat all household pets for ear mites simultaneously
Manage underlying allergies to prevent chronic ear infections
Use veterinary-recommended ear cleaners only — never insert cotton swabs deep into the canal
Why pet parents choose TelaVets
Licensed DVMs Only
Every consultation is with a licensed Doctor of Veterinary Medicine — not a chatbot or technician.
$65 Flat Fee
One transparent price covers your full video consultation and treatment plan. No facility fees or surprise charges.
Same-Day Appointments
Most pet parents are connected with a vet within 1–3 hours of booking, 7 days a week.
Next-Day Prescriptions
When medication is appropriate, prescriptions are issued same-day and delivered to your door next business day.
Stress-Free Home Visits
Your pet is assessed in their calm home environment, which often makes symptoms easier to evaluate on video.
Secure & Private
Encrypted video calls and HIPAA-compliant records keep your pet's health information protected.
How TelaVets works
Book your consultation
Pick a same-day or upcoming slot — appointments available 7 days a week.
Connect with a licensed vet
Your vet assesses your pet via secure video, asks detailed questions, and reviews their history.
Get your treatment plan
Receive a diagnosis, personalised care plan, and same-day prescriptions delivered next-day.
What Our Pet Parents Say
Join thousands of happy pet parents who trust TelaVets for their furry family members care
"Fantastic service! My dog gets extremely anxious at the vet, so having a virtual appointment from home was a game-changer. The vet was kind and helpful, and getting his medication delivered the next day made the whole process stress-free and more affordable than going to the clinic."
DL
David Long
Verified Pet Parent
"The vet I spoke with Dr. Ricksaw was very knowledgeable and nice. He took the time to go through all of my options and ideas with me. Reassured me that all we were doing for my dog's anxiety was good and gave me a couple of new ideas as well."
CH
Courtney Hughes
Verified Pet Parent
"I would definitely use them again. I'm cat sitting for 2 weeks and needed to see a vet. I was so worried about the kitten. I used Televets the cat got his prescription and all is good. Excellent service!"
M
Maria
Verified Pet Parent
"Dr Corey was amazing, helpful, compassionate and well versed. I would highly recommend using this. It is so much easier than trying to get a 3 legged cat into a carrier, take him to a doctor's office and stress him out, love it!!!"
JG
Jackie Gardner
Verified Pet Parent
"I had a TelaVets Zoom appointment and couldn't be more impressed. They spent a lot of time with me, walking through every option to help my cat recover from her skin issues. I've also reached out about getting her medication through Chewy.com, and they've been extremely helpful every step of the way."
LD
Lara Durand
Verified Pet Parent
"Dr. Moppin is a dedicated professional who truly cares about his furry patients and their humans, too! It's such a relief that Dr. Cole took the time to listen and address my concerns thoughtfully. Thank you for taking care of our cats 🐈"
WW
Wanida Walker
Verified Pet Parent
"This service was amazing! My dog ran out of his medication before we were able to get in with a new vet and they were able to help get him a short term supply quickly. I would definitely use them again!"
AT
Amanda Tobias
Verified Pet Parent
"Knowledgeable, professional caring provider! Needed urgent Vet care on a weekend and TeleVet kept me from having to miss a day of work, as well as half the price of local weekend options. Thank you!"
JH
Jana Humble
Verified Pet Parent
"Dr. McGinnis was very knowledgeable and listened to my cat's issues. She addressed the problem and may have come up with an answer after 5 years of trying with local vet practices."
MK
Marilyn Kerr
Verified Pet Parent
"Fantastic service! My dog gets extremely anxious at the vet, so having a virtual appointment from home was a game-changer. The vet was kind and helpful, and getting his medication delivered the next day made the whole process stress-free and more affordable than going to the clinic."
DL
David Long
Verified Pet Parent
"The vet I spoke with Dr. Ricksaw was very knowledgeable and nice. He took the time to go through all of my options and ideas with me. Reassured me that all we were doing for my dog's anxiety was good and gave me a couple of new ideas as well."
CH
Courtney Hughes
Verified Pet Parent
"I would definitely use them again. I'm cat sitting for 2 weeks and needed to see a vet. I was so worried about the kitten. I used Televets the cat got his prescription and all is good. Excellent service!"
M
Maria
Verified Pet Parent
"Dr Corey was amazing, helpful, compassionate and well versed. I would highly recommend using this. It is so much easier than trying to get a 3 legged cat into a carrier, take him to a doctor's office and stress him out, love it!!!"
JG
Jackie Gardner
Verified Pet Parent
"I had a TelaVets Zoom appointment and couldn't be more impressed. They spent a lot of time with me, walking through every option to help my cat recover from her skin issues. I've also reached out about getting her medication through Chewy.com, and they've been extremely helpful every step of the way."
LD
Lara Durand
Verified Pet Parent
"Dr. Moppin is a dedicated professional who truly cares about his furry patients and their humans, too! It's such a relief that Dr. Cole took the time to listen and address my concerns thoughtfully. Thank you for taking care of our cats 🐈"
WW
Wanida Walker
Verified Pet Parent
"This service was amazing! My dog ran out of his medication before we were able to get in with a new vet and they were able to help get him a short term supply quickly. I would definitely use them again!"
AT
Amanda Tobias
Verified Pet Parent
"Knowledgeable, professional caring provider! Needed urgent Vet care on a weekend and TeleVet kept me from having to miss a day of work, as well as half the price of local weekend options. Thank you!"
JH
Jana Humble
Verified Pet Parent
"Dr. McGinnis was very knowledgeable and listened to my cat's issues. She addressed the problem and may have come up with an answer after 5 years of trying with local vet practices."
MK
Marilyn Kerr
Verified Pet Parent
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Frequently asked questions about shaking its head in cats
shaking its head in cats can have many causes. Our licensed vets use your pet's history, symptom pattern, and a visual assessment via video to narrow down the most likely cause and recommend appropriate treatment.
If your cat's shaking its head has lasted more than 24–48 hours, is severe, or is accompanied by other concerning symptoms (lethargy, loss of appetite, vomiting), book a consultation immediately.
Yes. Our vets can assess your cat's symptoms via secure video, ask detailed diagnostic questions, and prescribe appropriate treatment — all without a clinic visit.
If medication is clinically appropriate, our licensed vets can issue prescriptions same-day with next-day delivery to your home.
Mild shaking its head often isn't an emergency, but if your cat shows severe distress, difficulty breathing, collapse, or other alarming signs, seek emergency in-person care immediately. When in doubt, book a consultation — our vets will help you assess the urgency.
Get expert help for your cat's shaking its head today
Same-day appointments — $65 flat fee — licensed vets