Why Cats Push Things Off Tables: The Curious Reason!

When it comes to this particular behavior in cats, many animal experts are actively conducting research to understand it better.

Dr. Katherine Houpt, a professor of animal behavior at Cornell University in the United States, has identified two primary reasons why cats exhibit such behavior:

1. Seeking Attention

Beyond their meowing, cats have discovered that a loud crash from a falling object can often capture a human's attention. Thus, when they wish to gain your focus—whether they're hungry, craving treats, or needing a cleaned litter box—they are more likely to use this method to draw you in.

2. The Hunt Instinct in Training

Dr. Houpt has also observed this behavior in young lions, noting that the cat family's instinct to catch and play with prey with their front paws leads domesticated cats to treat household items as potential prey when they lack real game. Items that are explicitly forbidden by their owners become even more enticing as they challenge the cat's hunting skills.

In the wild, feline predators will poke or push at motionless small animals to assess if they are still alive, a behavior that might seem playful but is actually rooted in their hunting nature. This is akin to the way they can't resist touching a stationary cockroach with their paws.

Other animal experts have also shared their insights:

1. Exploring with Paws

Cats, much like human infants, enjoy using their paws to grab and toss objects as a means of exploring the world. This tactile sensation helps them discern the nature of objects around them, with their sensitive paw pads allowing them to feel the temperature and texture of items. Pushing things around aids in their understanding of their environment, providing them with information about different temperatures, textures, and how objects move when pushed.

2. A Way to Pass the Time

One cat owner shared that after their cat was scolded, it would become extremely upset and seek an outlet for its frustration, much like a child might after being punished. The cat's most common form of emotional release is to jump onto furniture and knock things off, only to be scolded again, continuing the cycle of distress and cleaning up.

Indeed, many cat owners have noticed that their feline companions will often find a way to vent their frustrations, whether it's by destroying flower pots, scratching sofas, or knocking items off tables.

3. Curiosity

Cats are naturally curious creatures. The different ways objects move and the sounds they make when they fall are all sources of novelty and fascination for them. Excess energy can lead to a variety of behaviors, so it's important for cats to have companionship.

Cat owners can spend half an hour each day playing with their cats, engaging in activities like hideandseek or playing tag to stimulate their hunting instincts and help them burn off some of that excess energy with proper cat play techniques.