Why do cats shake their heads

Occasional head shaking is perfectly normal but if your cat suddenly starts shaking their head a lot more than usual it’s likely to indicate a problem such as: Ear infection. … Ear mites. Something stuck inside the ear (foreign body)

Newport Harbor Animal Hospital says cats respond to the pain and discomfort of ear infections by shaking their head and scratching their ears. There may be debris or fluid in the ears that they want to remove.