You know the look. Your cat strolls across the counter, sits next to your coffee mug, stares right at you and slowly pushes it toward the edge. Then over it goes.
It feels personal, but it’s not. Cats knock things off tables for a handful of very cat-like reasons, and once you understand them, you can cut down on broken glasses.
They’re hunters at heart
Even the laziest house cat is a little predator. In the wild, cats bat at things to see if they move. A small object that might be prey gets poked, swatted and tested. Your pen, your earrings and your hair tie are all fair game to that instinct.
They want your attention
Cats are smart. If knocking a glass off the counter gets you to jump up, talk to them or come running, they learn fast. Even being scolded is attention. For a bored cat, that’s a win.
That’s why so many cats do it right in front of you, often while making eye contact. They know exactly what’s going to happen next.
They’re bored
Indoor cats need a lot more mental and physical activity than many of us realize. A cat without enough to do will make their own fun, and gravity is an endlessly entertaining toy.
They’re curious
Cats explore the world with their paws. A new item on the table is something to investigate. Tapping it is how they figure out what it is, how heavy it is and whether it does anything interesting.
They’re hungry
Some cats learn that knocking things over gets their humans out of bed. If the 5 a.m. crash happens near breakfast time, your cat may be ringing the dinner bell.
How to stop the knocking
You probably can’t completely change a cat’s nature, but you can make the habit less tempting.
Play more, especially before bedtime. Two or three short play sessions a day with a wand toy let your cat stalk, chase and pounce. A tired cat is a well-behaved cat.
Give them their own things to bat. Ball tracks, puzzle feeders and toys that roll satisfy the urge to swat.
Clear the counters. Keep breakables and small objects put away, especially near the edges of tables and shelves.
Don’t reward the behavior. As hard as it is, try not to make a big fuss when something falls. Calmly pick it up later.
Give them a better perch. Cats love being up high. A cat tree or window shelf gives them a legal place to survey their kingdom.
Stick to a feeding routine. If the knocking is about food, a consistent schedule or an automatic feeder can help.
It’s just part of the package
Knocking things off tables is one of those quirks that makes cats who they are. With more play, a few cleared surfaces and a little patience, you can keep your cat entertained and your coffee mug in one piece.
Featured image: 2008-08-08 Tabby and white cat looking productive by Ildar Sagdejev (Specious), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (cropped)
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