July 18, 2024, 7:18 am | Read time: 5 minutes
Cats like to regularly check whether gravity is still in effect. Whether it’s pens, knick-knacks, or even flower vases, cats are fascinated by pawing at objects until they fall off the table. But why?
Cat owners know the scenario: the cat is perched on the table, gently pushing an object like a pen or remote control with its paw, until the object finally moves over the edge and falls to the floor. The cat appears to take pleasure in knocking items off tables and shelves. But have you noticed that your cat shows this behavior, especially when you are nearby? Do cats intentionally throw things off tables to irritate us? There is actually a different reason for this.
Cats are curious by nature
Young cats are especially fond of exploring new spaces and objects. They do this mainly with their noses but also with their paws. Smaller objects like pens, hair clips, erasers, knick-knacks, or anything else lying around the house are “pawed”. In the wild, cats would paw at insects or stones to find out what they are. Is the object moving? Is it dangerous?
Even within the home, cats continue to investigate their surroundings. Most of the objects there are inanimate, but they still move when nudged. This triggers the play instinct in very young cats, as the object is repeatedly and sometimes even vigorously handled with their paws. In this way, cats gather important information about the things in their environment while, at the same time, playing and practicing chasing and catching.
Throwing things off the table is fun for cats
Cats also display this exploratory and playful behavior on tables, shelves, or windowsills, with objects quickly falling. Depending on the outcome, the cat draws different conclusions. If the object that falls to the floor is a vase or a glass of water, most cats will be frightened, run away, and possibly avoid the table for a while.
However, it is usually smaller objects that arouse the cat’s interest and fascination when they fall from the table onto the floor. If you retrieve the object and place it back, the cat may knock it off again. Cats always have to check whether their actions repeatedly cause the same reaction.
In addition to exploration and play behavior, there is another reason why cats throw things from the table. This behavior can develop into a habit.
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Cats want attention
When a cat throws something off the table, they get our reaction. If Grandma’s precious china cup is about to fall from the table, for example, we jump up, scream, and run to save it. Most cats become frightened, but some also find our reaction exciting because suddenly there is action.
If the cat is bored, this behavior can quickly become the norm when it realizes that it suddenly gets attention when it throws things off the table. My parents’ cat regularly knocked over glasses of water because everyone would jump up, fetch towels, and scold him. He did this for the rest of his life. Which resulted in him getting attention until he died. Behavioral biologists also refer to this as “attention-seeking behavior”, regardless of whether it is positive or negative attention.
We reinforce the behavior
This is why cats usually only show this behavior and throw things off tables when their owners are nearby. Some cats even make sure that you are looking before they throw something off the table. Cats don’t want to annoy us, they simply want our attention at that moment and have learned how to get it.
How to prevent your cat from throwing things off the table
Once the behavior has become established, it is difficult to get your cat to break the habit. This is because, in order for the cat to stop throwing things off the table, their sense of achievement needs to be removed. You have to consistently ignore the behavior while still being able to prevent things from falling from the table. Something falling off the table can give the cat a sense of achievement and excitement.
Given that humans aren’t exactly paragons of consistency and have limited control over gravity, the simplest solution is to stow away items that cats could effortlessly knock off tables, shelves, or windowsills. This way, they don’t ever have the opportunity.
Be aware: it takes a long time for cats to stop a behavior that was previously successful. For instance, the cat might seek alternative ways to capture its owner’s attention, such as scratching at wallpaper or gnawing on cables. To avoid this, you should stop it the moment it starts.
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Keep your cat sufficiently and appropriately occupied
Cats need security and reliability from their owners, including when it comes to attention. Rituals such as fixed play and cuddling times during the day can give them a sense of security and reduce their urge for attention at every opportunity.
However, this does not change the fact that some cats simply enjoy it when things fall off the table. You can offer your cat designated objects or toys for this purpose. If you reward this with words of praise, a game, or cuddles, the cat will quickly limit itself to this object.
Regrettably, this doesn’t ensure that cats will cease knocking things off the table completely. Cats are too curious for that. It is important to realize that cats do not want to annoy us or deliberately destroy things with this behavior. Rather, their actions are driven by curiosity, a playful spirit, and a yearning for attention from their cherished human companions.