My kitten's head shakes when tracking. Is this normal or concerning?

This is called nystagmus. Some Asian breeds of cats have a congenital nystagmus, which is not concerning. They can still see very well and act and feel normal and healthy. However, nystagmus can also be a sign of a brain lesion. Should your kitty act funny, or not feel good, have problems walking, eating, drinking or appear ill, take her to your vet for an exam and mention the nystagmus. But if she acts normal, then there is likely no problem.

If you are worried about her balance and the head tilt I would recommend making an appointment with your veterinarian. They will be able to take a full medical history and perform a thorough physical examination. They will be able to determine if your kitten has a neurological condition which could account for what you are seeing or if there is a possible ear infection or if what you are seeing is completely normal. In some instances they suggest further diagnostic tests such as X-rays or blood tests to investigate underlying causes. They will also be able to dispense any medications needed if there is an ear infection or any kind or if there is another treatable condition. Best of luck!

It's definitely not normal. I would recommend that you have the kitten checked out by a vet. There could be something congenital (such as a brain issue) or an infection causing these weird episodes. A complete physical and neurologic exam may shed some light as to the cause, or the vet may recommend bloodwork to get an answer.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Gini. There is a chance she has condition known as cerebellar hypoplasia based on your description of her behavior. She will need to see a veterinarian to determine if this is the case or if something is affecting her. For example, has she been exposed to any toxins? In the meantime, monitor her food and water intake to ensure she is still receiving enough despite the tremors. I hope this information helps!

In any cat this can be a sign of a neurological problem, vestibular disease or an inner ear infection. No one knows what causes vestibular disease but it does often get better with time and treatment. Inner ear infections are also treatable with medication. At your cats age I would be worry about a brain disease such as a tumor or vascular disease to cause these symptoms. She does need to see a vet as soon as possible to see what the problem is and your potential prognosis. They can start medicine to help calm her and minimize the symtpoms

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Hmmmm, I’d really have to see Lumi to determine if this is problematic. When I hear about a kitten with odd shaking concerns, I do think about a neurological disorder such as cerebellar hypoplasia....and symptoms can become more obvious when the cat is focusing on a task (“intention tremors”)..... but it’s usually pretty apparent and I think I’d be hearing more concern from you. If Lumi is completely normal in every other way, and this is just a little “shiver” sort of shake, then it’s likely normal. Sometimes they’ll shiver/tremble when they’re very excited, or nervous, both of which could come into play when eating. So, no concrete answer but I suspect this is normal. However, if it looks concerning to you (and certainly if you feel anything else about Lumi’s movements look odd) then it’s worth having your vet take a look at her to be safe. Hope this helps!

If you can wake her up and the shaking stops it is not a seizure and is more likely movement associated with REM sleep. If you try to wake her up but she continues to have muscle tremors it could be a seizure or neurologic disorder and you should see your veterinarian. If you do decide to see your veterinarian a video can help them determine what might be going on.