I’m referring to domestic cats. If a domestic cat persistently falls over, they must have a balance problem. And the most obvious, off-paper diagnosis would be otitis interna which is an inner ear infection because it is the inner ear which provides a cat and humans with the ability to balance. If one ear is infected the cat will tend to fall towards the affected side. The other symptoms might include: vomiting, staggering, circling towards the affected side and rhythmic jerking movements of the eyeballs. This is vestibular disease.
RELATED: Natural cure for cat’s ear infection (PLEAS READ THE ARTICLE FIRST)– from pau d’ arco to Hepar Sulph
Problematically, ear medications can cause labyrinthitis which is an inflammation of the inner ear. It is obviously a condition which is very similar to an inner ear infection. Some ear medications can damage the inner ear structures if they can get that far. Some veterinarians would state that a cat caregiver should not flush or medicate their cat’s ears without a veterinary examination of the ear canals to be sure that the eardrum is not punctured or ruptured. If it is then the medication can get through to the middle and inner ear.
Click this link for a full page by a veterinarian on cat vestibular disease
There are other health conditions which can cause signs that are similar to those described above namely a brain tumour, poisoning, drug intoxication and idiopathic vestibular syndrome. The latter is a malfunctioning of the vestibular system due to an unknown cause.
If a cat shows signs of labyrinthitis without any prior ear infection, idiopathic syndrome is to be suspected together with the other possibilities mentioned in the paragraph above.
There is no way that a cat caregiver can deal with an inner ear infection and therefore they should see their veterinarian as soon as possible. And as this is a balancing problem and therefore as, as mentioned, this is probably an inner ear problem, a veterinarian should be seen. In any case, the other possibilities also require a veterinary diagnosis.
The conclusion, therefore, is that if you’re cat keeps falling over you should take him or her to a vet.
RELATED: 50% of stray cats have ear infections causing great discomfort. Are we happy to accept it?
PS: A cat being unsteady on their feet is called ataxia. However, from what I’ve seen, cats with ataxia rarely fall over as they just stagger and look ungainly. There is a long list of possible causes for ataxia including a middle or inner ear infection because ataxia indicates poor balance. It might also be caused by tumours in the ear or skull or trauma to the head or ear and possibly if the cat is old, idiopathic vestibular disease. Other causes are spinal cord problems and degenerative changes in the cerebellum of the brain or perhaps a brain tumour or an infection or inflammation of the brain. I’m just touching on these possible causes of an associated condition called ataxia.
Falling over is a condition which is included in the range of uncoordinated movements described by ataxia.
Below are some articles on the cat’s ear.
