Have you ever watched your cat nod off and their head bob while doing so? That is normal behaviour for a cat about to fall asleep, but if it happens out of the blue or isn’t normal behaviour for your feline friend then it is worth looking deeper at what the cause may be.
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Normal & Playful Head Movements
Cats are inquisitive and adventurous by nature. They love to play with objects that can roll across the floor or small stuffed toys that can be tossed in the air with a kick of their hind legs. I haven’t come across a cat that doesn’t follow a feathered lure with interest either with their whole body, or only their head as they keep it in their line of sight.
Movement of a cat's head up and down while following an object of interest, such as a toy or fly is normal behaviour. As is a cat about to fall asleep or fight sleep. Blind cats often also have a very slight head bob when they explore a new area so that their whiskers can touch objects before they walk into something, this is also considered normal behaviour.
Excerpt from the book Play Behaviour in Cats: “Play can be one part of a broad plan to enrich a cat's environment and provide them with exercise, mental stimulation, and social interactions that may be beneficial to their health and welfare.”
Many cats will also move their heads with the flow of water in a water fountain, this is a more fun and stimulating way for your favourite feline friend to drink fresh water. If your cat is bobbing or twitching his head with no apparent reason, then it is a cause for concern.
Medical & Concerning Reasons
Some of the more concerning reasons for a cat to bob his head are:
- Ear infections: are often accompanied by inflammation of the inner ear which leads to head bobbing
- Seizures: can be idiopathic, due to a metabolic disorder or illness
- Inflammation in the brain: the cerebellum is the part of the brain that controls movement, any inflammation of this part of the brain can lead to head bobbing and tremors
- Skin disease: allergies or even parasites such as ear mites can be the cause
- Mouth pain: if your cat is suffering from a dental problem, they often bob their head due to pain
Dr. M Hazenfratz said: “Seizures are one of the most common neurologic problems recognized in cats, affecting approximately 1–3% of the general population.”
Many cats do shake their head when eating which can be due to dental discomfort or the effort to break up hard kibble. It is very useful to invest in a pet camera so that you can check in on your feline friend when you are away from home and see any strange or abnormal behaviour as it begins.
When to Worry & What to Do
If you notice your cat bobbing or shaking his head and it is unrelated to play or sleep, then it is vital to take a video of this behaviour and contact your veterinarian. Your veterinarian may ask if you have noticed any other symptoms, had access to toxins (rodenticide, household cleaning products, etc.) or possibly experienced trauma recently.
“The poisoning of domestic animals by inappropriate or careless use of commercial pesticide formulations has been documented worldwide” (Berny et al., 2010, Caloni et al., 2012a, Caloni et al., 2012b, Guitart et al., 2010a, McLean and Hansen, 2012, Vandenbroucke et al., 2010, Wang et al., 2007).
Follow the advice of your veterinarian and allow necessary tests to be performed to determine the cause of the head bobbing. These tests may include urinalysis, blood tests and/or x-rays. A treatment plan will be decided once the cause of the head bobbing has been determined.
Conclusion
When it comes to any form of unusual behaviour it is always best to contact your veterinarian. Cats are excellent at hiding illnesses and disease, so when they do show symptoms, it is essential to get them the help they need as quickly as possible.
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