DMuller, Glenn and I are currently treating our formerly feral cat, Bert, for nearly identical symptoms. Our vet will be seeing him again this Friday, to check up on his progress.
Our vet was able to sedate him early on, and get a good look at both his ears. One eardrum has a small tear that she expects will completely heal. The other eardrum is so perforated that only about half the eardrum is still intact. The perforated eardrum had a raging inner ear infection, which she believes is causing his neuro symptoms (head tilt, imbalance, head shake, pupil twitch/wobble, vertigo resulting in loss of appetite).
He staggers a lot less now, and can actually stand with his front paws on my lap, his hind legs standing on the ground, while I’m seated on the ground. He still has head tilt, but only sometimes. When he headbutts he sometimes loses his balance. This is MUCH improved! There was a period of time when he couldn’t really stand without assistance.
His appetite went off for a bit, such that he had to be force fed. The vet explained that sensations of vertigo sometimes make for an upset stomach. He’s back to eating, drinking, and using the litterbox just fine. Even more promising, he now kneads when he’s lying down, and if I call him and snap my fingers, he comes over to be petted – even if he’s still a bit wobbly.
It’s taken 3 weeks to get him this much improved, from his original state (staggering around like a completely drunken kitty). It will probably be another 3-4 weeks before we have a good idea how much better he’s going to get. He’s had special ear drops and antibiotics, which have not been all that awful to administer.
Hang in there! It takes a while for these things to clear up. Hopefully your kitten won’t have permanent damage. Try to be patient, and be diligent in his treatment and follow-up visits with the vet. As long as he’s drinking, eating, peeing, pooping, and acting mostly like a normal kitten (who may be feeling a bit of vertigo), then he stands a good chance of recovery.
Hugs!