Why Do Cats Knock Things Off Tables?
Have you seen your cat stare at the pen? Now you see it being bat it under the desk? Probably in the middle of your work or while you are doing something important? And they made direct eye contact with you while doing it? Well, that is annoying, and it is probably the norm in many households.
Although annoying, it is probably the case that your cat does not mean to be spiteful or mischievous. Most likely they are just demonstrating cat and their natural instincts. It is definitely something cat owners have to deal with everyday, and understanding them probably is helpful to reduce the annoyances, and certainly will increase the laughs.
Hunting Instincts at Work
Cats are born hunters, even if they have never been outside. The next time your cat swipes at something, think of her as using the same motion she would use to swipe at prey in the wild.
Cats find movement to be fascinating. Toys like rolling pens and skittering bottle caps mimic the movements of small animals in an erratic way. This triggers a cat's hunting instincts.
Every cat exhibits this behavior, and while it usually starts in kittenhood, it remains for their entire lives. Even if they are well fed this behavior will not stop.
Curiosity and Sensory Exploration
Cats are incredibly sensitive tools. Cats knock things over to learn about weight, texture, and movement.
It's not just about being mischievous, your cat could be conducting little experiments. What happens when this thing falls? Does it bounce? Does it make noise? Each object provides different feedback, and cats find that information valuable and entertaining.
They're Seeking Your Attention
Let’s face it. It’s hard to ignore the sound of your phone hitting the floor, courtesy of your cat, especially when it’s 6 A.M.
Cats figure out pretty fast how to get a rise out of you. Knocking items over gets your attention, and it may even get you to talk to them or give them food. It isn’t mean, it’s just feeding off your reactions.
This is especially common without human interaction. If a cat is bored, or if a cat has been alone for an extended period of time, it may do over the top things like swiping items off the counter when you finally get home.
Boredom and Lack of Enrichment
Without enough mental and physical stimulation, cats resort to entertaining themselves and unfortunately that entertainment is often your stuff.
To prevent their boredom, cats need playtime, novel toys, and cat trees, window perches, or puzzle feeders to keep their minds busy and their energies drained. When those needs go unmet, all the cat's humans coffee mugs become the most exciting part of their day.
Additional playtime and the provision of more suitable energy outlets is reported by many owners to considerably diminish the behavior of cats clearing tables.
How to Manage the Behavior
An easy first step is to make your most valuable belongings less accessible. Put items in drawers and behind closed doors. This is not 'giving in', you are just being realistic about your future with a cat.
Make sure you have plenty of appropriate toys available. Also, make sure to do toy rotations to keep your cat's interest. Schedule your cat's play sessions as well. It is recommended to do play sessions just before meal times to help your cat be less dependent on his/her hunting instincts.
If your cat knocks things over for attention, try not to react in an emotional way. Instead, give your cat plenty of positive attention during calm moments. If your cat is targeting an item you do not want him/her to, attempt to redirect him/her to an appropriate toy. Some cat owners have reported that using a clicker to reward the cat for ignoring the item works and is effective over time.
When sharing a home with cats, a little chaos will be a normal occurrence. It's true some of their chaos can be managed by providing good toys and scratches, but nothing can stop them from being natural born table swipers at heart. And to be honest, it's part of their charm. Just keep your most coveted items safe and breakable free, and enjoy these moments with your cat being perfectly and wonderfully a cat.