Cats shake their heads when they eat, which is part of their normal digestive process.
It’s essential to feed your cats according to their personalities. Some cats shake their head just to get a bit of the extra saliva from their tongue needed to break down the medication in your syringes.
So, why do cats shake their heads when they eat? Cats shake their heads when they eat is part of their normal digestive process.
It’s essential to feed your cats according to their personalities. Some cats shake their head just to get a bit of the extra saliva from their tongue needed to break down the medication in your syringes.
So, why do cats shake their heads when they eat? Here are some reasons about it.
Let’s start now.
Why Do Cats Shake Their Heads When They Eat?
Hypoglycemia
A simple headshake can cure your diabetic cat’s low blood sugar problem.
However, if you see a cat with a seizure-like headshaking behavior, this may be a sign of a more severe problem such as hypoglycemia, hyperthyroidism, or kidney disease.
This is when your cat’s blood sugar level drops below normal levels which is dangerous to your kitty.
Hypoglycemia is common after lengthy periods of fasting, such as overnight, or after intense exercise, such as running in the wild. In humans, low blood sugar can be treated with glucose tablets or sweet drinks such as juice or milk or sugary foods.
Also, avoid giving your diabetic cat table scraps full of sugar or foods high in sugar.
You can give cat treats or human food which is low in glucose or contains protein to help raise your cat’s glucose levels.
If your cat is hypoglycemia, his muscles will tense up and he will feel weak, shaky and unable to move his body normally.
If you notice any of these signs, immediately take your cat to the veterinarian for treatment.
Stress or Anxiety Most head shaking arises in response to stress or anxiety triggered by traumatic experiences or from aggression from other animals or people.
Thus, head shaking is a symptom of underlying emotional or psychological problems and not an actual physical problem.
Glucose will most likely be given intravenously in these cases and the cat will remain at the vet for a few days for observation.
Ear Infections
Ear infections might be at fault if your cat is shaking its head excessively.
Head shaking can be a sign of ear infections or ear mites or an abnormal ear discharge or a blockage in the ear canal that can be caused by a foreign object and result in intense pain.
If an ear infection is untreated or serious enough, it can lead to partial or complete paralysis of your furry friend’s facial muscles which result in head shaking as a reflex action.
The ear becomes red and itchy as a reaction to infection and the ear canal appears swollen, red and infected.
Get Small Food Pieces
Your cat may sometimes dive its face into its food bowl trying to eat fast because the presence of human food would delay its feeding program and it would miss out on eating its regular cat food on time.
Your cat may shake its head while eating to get rid of food particles and gain some speed.
Predatory Instincts
Of course, they’ll begin yelling at you if there are any flies, mosquitoes or any insect nearby (especially if you are losing).
They do not, however, possess any supernatural powers when it comes to predicting matches or results of a football match.
Although it may seem that this is simply the instinct to devour anything that comes their way, it might actually be a learned behavior from watching fish or birds devour their prey.
They are physically shaking these little mice and birds
It also aids in the loosening of fur and the removal of dirt from their bodies.
Dental Disease
If your cat’s ears are long or floppy, they can more easily get dirty or wet (and infected), and become painful.
Gingivitis, decaying teeth, periodontal disease, ulcers and abscesses, and oral cysts are all possible consequences of serious dental disease in cats.
Because your cat can’t put its paw in its mouth and wipe its nose and ears clean the way humans can (cats don’t have thumbs), its paws and nose can be dirty.
Keep in mind that dental disease is painless for a cat and that by the time they have obvious cat dental problems in the mouth they will have already been causing signs or symptoms for some time.
If you don’t have your kitty’s medical records on hand when you make your appointment, the vet may need to schedule extra time to examine your cat.
A brief examination of your cat’s teeth will ensure that there are no obvious problems and that the mouth is in a comfortable and healthy state.
Remember that oral issues can turn into serious health issues.
Difficulty Eating
If you give your cat wet food, you may hear her spitting up food immediately after eating it.
When cats use their teeth to shred food in their mouths, they “chew” and grind the food with their jaws and incisors.
This commonly occurs when a feline ingests a foreign object or suffers from dental disease, which interferes with normal chewing process.
Head tilts indicate that this cat is in pain or is suffering from neurological problems.
If you offer your cats bigger bits of food, they are less likely to have to chew so much before swallowing their food.
Despite their keen teeth, this bite was enough, and the poor cat was left with a nasty wound and broken tooth.
They assist their bite separate from their esophagus as well as keep them from choking on their food.
Mites
The most prevalent cause, though, is thought to be a parasitic mite called Demodex folliculorum which affects the hair follicles and causes sneezing, ear infection and extreme itchiness in cats.
For younger cats, or cats with weaker immune systems, ear mites or infections could develop into a more serious issue requiring intensive treatment including medication in the form of drops or creams and sometimes antibiotics as well.
These are little parasites that dwell within an animal’s ear, feeding on oils and fats secreted by the animal’s ear glands.
Your cat will shake their head a Lot because their ears are itchy and are Mites in them.
Is It Normal That My Cat Shakes Head While Eating?
If you give your cat delicious food, they are more likely to hold still and properly chew their food.
According to one research, the behaviors your feline friend performs such as head shaking while eating are tied to the level of sensitivities in their ears; this link is the reason why some cats shake their heads while eating while others.
With this in mind, pay special attention when treating your ears to prevent them from becoming infected.
If your cat responds cheerfully, continues to eat and seems healthy before and after feeding time, they are probably fine.
Knowing your cat’s favorite foods can help you avoid foods that cause allergies or other food-related problems like vomiting and diarrhea.
In a nutshell, head shaking while eating in cats is a normal reaction that should not be alarming; however, under the right circumstances it may indicate a serious health issue requiring prompt medical attention.
It should be OK as I read that its ok to brush a cats head but if they growl or hiss then I’ll stop.
Why Does My Cat Tremble When Eating?
Adult cats might have trouble eating if their mouths are dirty or if they have something stuck in their teeth.
If your feline companion trembles while eating, they may be experiencing an upset stomach or prolapsed stomach tissue, which can also be caused by eating too fast.
Even if your cat eats and drinks normally, is in good shape and has regular bowel movements, they may still experience a loss of appetite.
Try massaging organic coconut oil into the area around their tail and the base of their hindquarters before meals.
This will calm your kitty down and get them in the mood for a purrfectly good meal.
Despite being carnivores, felines only require about 1/3 the amount of protein that omnivores need every day.
Apple slices or cooked veggies make excellent treats that also help prevent hairballs.
Such plant-based snacks will sustain your cat on a day-to-day basis, but should never be given as a complete substitute for regular meals.
Also Read: Why Do Cats Eat Mice Heads?
Conclusion
When your feline companion shakes its tail or head while eating, it may be trying to tell you that their meal is not up to par.
That specific gesture seemed to confirm the claim made by the doctors that the earlier findings reflected an anomaly in each case rather than a chronic condition.
These are only a handful examples of what can cause cats to shake their head while they eat, but it is important to realize that there are a number of reasons cats may do this from time to time.
Observing our cats’ other behaviors can help you decipher their moods–and yours.
As you can see, either head shaking or tail shaking can be a sign of discomfort or annoyance for something, or it can be a sign of simple curiosity.
But, whatever the cause, we should figure if our pet is suffering from an instability in that part of the body, seek veterinary care immediately.