I think my 1 1/2 year old eastern grey might have an ear infection

[dylannetz]

G is the love of my life so I noticed immediately the pattern of her running around the room changed last week. She will run in very very big circles around the room from cat tree, cage, window, branch, window and so on repeatedly in the morning when she just wakes up and for hours after if she’s isn’t interupted by breakfast or playtime. She takes breaks frequently, and she still has the same personality as before and jumps around when I get out of bed for our morning play. Wondering if the circles could be something to do with an inner ear problem? Or maybe her behavior has just changed. Please help, I would like to nip it in the butt early if it is something as serious as an infection, or worse.

[cava]

It sounds like captivity behavior. Animals in a finite space will pace to and fro, flip in circles in cages or run tracks over and over.

Sometimes changing the environment or offering different types of enrichment will be enough to deter this behavior. Other times it's the call of the wild.

Inner ear infections tend to have the sufferer walking in a tight circle with the head to one side because it effects balance and causes vertigo. Climbing and jumping are difficult or impossible.