Why Do Cats Push Things Off Tables and Counter Tops?
It’s a common scenario – you turn your back for just a second and hear the sound of your phone, keys or some other item crashing to the floor. You turn around to see your cat perched on the counter or table, gazing at you impassively. This perplexing feline behavior leaves many cat owners scratching their heads. Why do cats insist on batting things off elevated surfaces, often right in front of our eyes? As with many cat behaviors, the motivation is often instinctual or stems from something the cat is trying to communicate. In this article, we’ll explore the common reasons behind this vexing cat conduct, and provide some tips to curb it.
Instinctual Behaviors
Cats have strong predatory instincts that originate from their wild ancestors like lions, tigers, and leopards. Big cats in the wild are known to “play” with their prey by batting it around and tossing it in the air before delivering the final kill bite (Source). Domestic cats retain these natural hunting behaviors and apply them to inanimate objects as well.
Pushing things off counters and tables allows cats to practice their pouncing and chasing skills. Batting at objects resembles how cats would disable prey trying to flee. By knocking over items, cats are essentially playing out their innate hunting sequence on harmless household objects. It satisfies their predatory drive without causing any real damage (Source).
Hunting Practice
Cats push objects off surfaces to hone their hunting skills. Pouncing on things and knocking them over allows cats to practice the skills they would use when catching real prey. Their natural hunting instinct drives them to stalk, pounce, and capture. So they treat random household objects the same way they would treat a bird or rodent they were hunting. Knocking things off counters and shelves allows them to practice and perfect their capturing technique. It serves as a fun game for them that satisfies their prey drive. Even domestic cats retain this innate need to hunt, so pushing things off surfaces gives them an outlet to express these natural behaviors.
Boredom
Cats often push items off counters and tables when they are bored and looking for stimulation or entertainment 1. Knocking objects over provides cats with a brief activity that engages their natural instincts to hunt, chase, and pounce. When left alone during the day without sufficient mental stimulation or play, cats may resort to pushing things off surfaces in order to alleviate boredom.
According to pet experts, cats tend to be more active and curious when their owners are away at work or school. With no one around to engage and interact with them, cats will seek out activities to occupy themselves 2. Knocking over unattended items on tables and countertops can provide cats a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment.
Pushing objects off ledges gives cats an object to briefly chase and pounce on. It creates a small game for them to participate in when they have pent up energy and no other outlets. As natural hunters, cats enjoy opportunities to stalk, pounce, and chase, even if it’s just batting an item off a counter.
Attention Seeking
One of the most common reasons cats push things off tables and counters is to get their owner’s attention (https://www.metrovetchicago.com/services/cats/blog/why-cats-knock-things-over). Even negative attention, like scolding or yelling, satisfies a cat’s needs in this regard. Cats learn that by knocking objects off surfaces, they can reliably incite a reaction from their owner.
Cats crave attention and interaction. If a cat is feeling ignored or bored, they may resort to bothersome behaviors like pushing things onto the floor simply to get the owner’s eyes back on them (https://www.rover.com/blog/why-do-cats-knock-things-over/). This gives them the stimulation and acknowledgement they desire.
To curb attention-seeking behaviors, it’s important to provide cats with sufficient playtime, affection, and environmental enrichment throughout the day. This prevents boredom and feelings of neglect that can motivate mischief. It’s also helpful to ignore unwanted behaviors as much as possible so as not to reinforce the cat’s habits.
Stress Relief
One of the main reasons cats knock things off counters and tables is to relieve feelings of stress or anxiety. Pushing items off high surfaces and watching them fall can actually provide cats with a sense of relief and control.
Cats are naturally territorial creatures and can feel uneasy when their environment changes or unfamiliar people enter their space (source). Knocking things over allows them to exert dominance over their territory in a physical way. It helps reassure them that they are still in charge, providing a calming effect.
By pushing items off counters and making a mess, cats are able to immediately change their surroundings to be more comforting. The act grants them a sense of control and empowerment when they may otherwise feel distressed. So in essence, cats knock things over as a way to manage feelings of stress and anxiety.
Territory Marking
Cats have scent glands around their face, paws, tail and other areas of their body that release pheromones. They use these pheromones to mark objects, places and people as their territory by rubbing or scratching. While rubbing against objects is a typical way for cats to spread their scent, some cats will also push objects off of surfaces as a form of marking their territory.
When cats push objects off tables and counters, they are spreading their scent and showing ownership of that area. It is an instinctual behavior that stems from their natural desire to mark territory by rubbing on objects. By knocking items onto the floor, the cat is able to get its scent not just on the object, but spread across a wider area.
Safety Checks
One reason cats may push things off surfaces is to check if their environment is safe and stable. Cats have a natural instinct to assess their surroundings and test the boundaries of their territory. By pushing items off tables or counters, a cat is essentially conducting safety checks to determine if surfaces and objects around them are secure.
According to one source, “Cats may knock things over to test their surroundings and make sure they are safe” (source). This instinct comes from a cat’s ancestry as hunters. In the wild, cats need to ensure their footing is stable when traversing terrain or attempting to catch prey. By pushing things off stable surfaces at home, cats are essentially testing if the environment is safe for walking, jumping, and other cat activities.
In a way, a cat knocking things off a table is them “testing the boundaries” of their environment, as noted by experts (source). This allows the cat to understand the limits of the spaces and objects in its territory. Surfaces like counters and shelves may appear stable to humans, but cats seem to enjoy double checking for themselves. So try not to get too upset next time your cat pushes something off a table – they are just confirming that your home provides a safe environment for their cat antics!
Solutions
Keeping counters and other tempting surfaces clear of loose objects will remove the reward for pushing them off. This removes the incentive to knock things over. Applying double-sided tape to the edges of counters and tables can also deter your cat from jumping up [1].
Providing your cat with alternative outlets for their energy and curiosity can curb unwanted behaviors. Make sure your cat has plenty of enrichment toys to bat around and chase, like balls, feather wands, and treats dispensing puzzles. Giving them appropriate scratching surfaces such as scratching posts and cat trees can also prevent furniture destruction [2].
Increasing playtime with your cat is an excellent way to tire them out and satisfy their predatory instincts. Try to engage them in active play with wands, lasers, and chase toys for at least 15-30 minutes per day. This will help curb boredom and reduce unwanted behaviors [3].
Conclusion
In summary, cats often push things off tables and counters due to their instincts, boredom, attention-seeking, stress relief, territory marking, and safety checks. By understanding normal cat behavior, cat owners can better address the underlying causes in a constructive way.
It’s important not to punish cats for exhibiting natural behaviors. Instead, provide more playtime, cat trees, scratching posts, puzzle toys, and other enrichments to satisfy cats’ needs. Make counters and tables unattractive areas by using foil or double-sided tape. Cats can be trained not to jump on certain surfaces.
While cat behaviors like pushing things off ledges can be frustrating, it’s best to patiently work with kitties rather than scold them. With the right approach, cats and their owners can happily coexist without the need for unnecessary conflict.
