Why do cats knock things over?

Cat vandalism is very real, it’s a cat-astrophe if you ask us! If you’re a cat parent, we’re sure plenty of examples come to mind of your cat knocking things over. Stay paw-sitive though, there are actually a few reasons why cats do this.

They’re curious.

A very simple explanation is that your cat is just curious. If an object catches their attention, they make it their mission to investigate and find out what it is. This often means knocking it over to see what happens. 

It’s entertaining.

Our feline friends are drawn to objects that make noise, so knocking something off a shelf or table can just be a source of amusement for them, hiss-terical, right? 

They’re bored. 

If they don’t have a friend to play with during the day and their human is busy, they might do it to get your attention. Ever seen your cat look you in your eyes while knocking something over? 

Their natural instincts come out.

Cats like to hunt and a moving object can mimic that action. They are hardwired to respond to things that fall in their line of sight. The falling or moving object is potentially something to chase, eat or catch (or all of the above). 

It’s time to put your thinking cat on, are there any patterns to look out for? 

• Does your cat knock a specific item over or is there a certain place they always return to?

• Are they trying to get your attention, or maybe they’re hungry?

• Does your cat have enough stimulation in their daily life? 

• Cats are quick learners, and as soon as they figure out their human is cleaning up broken glass or spilled water after them, they associate it with a response and attention.

So your kitty has a bit of cattitude?

We’re here to tell you that while it is difficult to stop this behaviour, it’s not im-paw-ssible. Here are a few tips to help you start the process.

• Paw-sitive reinforcement - This can be in the form of verbal praise, treats or more attention when your cat is doing the right thing - when they are on a table not knocking things over for example.

• How accessible are your table tops to your cat? - Setting up an alternative option like a scratching post or cat tree to give them something more appealing to play with. Make sure the post or tree is at a lower level than the table. 

• Redirect their attention - Use interactive toys or more playtime to keep them active. This also changes the focus of their attention from the furniture to the toys.

Let’s be honest, it’s im-paw-sible not to laugh when our cats give us a cheeky glance just before they boop an object. Think of them as your own personal comedian. 

We love our furry friends, and while we may never know what really goes on in their little heads, they sure do make us smile! 

Images sourced by Pexel (Cottonbro Studio,Thirdman, Anete Lusina, Nam Quân Nguyễn)