By Cat Behaviorist Rita Reimers

It’s the middle of the night, and everyone is asleep. Or so you thought. Suddenly, a loud crash makes you bolt out of bed to see what happened.

There sits one of your cats, looking quite pleased with himself among the shattered remains of your favorite lamp on the floor.

Are Cats Just Jerks?

When cats knock things off the table, it may feel like a deeply personal attack, but cats are not little jerks plotting ways to make your life harder. There are actually several natural motivations behind your cat’s fascination with watching gravity do its job.

There are 4 main reasons why cats knock things off table, like your favorite lamp.

Feline Hunting Instincts

Yes, once again that instinct cats have to hunt is at play. Cats use their paws to prod and weaken their potential prey. Of course there is no prey to hunt inside, so his desire to hunt and capture turns toward other objects in your house.

Batting at objects is a way for your cat to test if it is alive and whether it will run, exactly the way chasing and catching wildlife would unfold.

Is it alive? Will it run? Can I catch and eat it? Only knocking it over will answer these questions.

Entertainment

Cats love things that move, because, again, hunting. Movement and sounds are all part of what makes hunting fun for cats. It’s not just to get a meal, it’s also stimulating for your cat and provides much needed mental stimulation.

If nothing is moving, well, then let’s make it move and watch what happens when it hits the floor! Great fun for kitty, not so much for you. This is one of the main reasons why cats knock things off tables.

Boredom

A cat with nothing to do will soon FIND something to do, often getting himself in trouble. When I owned my cat sitting company, many homes I visited had nothing but a litter box and food bowl to indicate that cats lived there. Toys are essential for cats, as are cat trees and, of course, boxes.

Give your cat some toys he can play with by himself, as well as entertaining things to watch. Set up a bird feeder by his favorite window or play some videos for your cats to watch. Yes, even if he is not an only cat, these kinds of environment enrichments are needed. After all – two cats can break twice as many things.

Attention-Seeking Behavior

Another reason why cats knock things off tables is to get your attention. Sometimes we get busy with life, and forget that our cats crave our attention. Making and keeping a bond between you and your cat requires frequent, daily interactions. Play with your cat, brush him, give him some cuddle time, and talk to him.

A cat left to his own devices will find ways your get your attention you may not find acceptable. Especially effective because humans react EVERY time.

My cat, Sweet Pie, will drag her cat dancer over to me if I haven’t played with her yet. And my Simba knows I hide the laser pointer under the sofa cushion and will dig it out if he wants some playtime.

Can This Behavior be Stopped?

It’s not a question of whether or not you can stop your cat from knocking things down. What we really need to do is give your cats proper alternatives to this behavior. A few things I do and suggest my clients do as well:

• Offer frequent, vigorous play sessions, especially before bed. Play to the point of your cat decides he’s had enough; for most cats that takes from 5 to 10 minutes, depending on how active the play is. Stop before he pants; panting may be ok for dogs but not for cats.
• Provide self-activating toys so your cat can play when you are not home. Toys that are motion activated are wonderful for this, since they only move when your cat interacts with them.
• Give your cat things to watch and keep him entertained. Install a window perch and set up an outside bird feeder so your cat can watch the activity. Squirrels also offer lots of fun for cats. Whenever a squirrel appears on my deck, I shout our “Your Squirrel Friend is Here!” and my cats come running. Also aquarium videos are wonderful for cats. My Rosie loves to watch the aquarium screensaver on my large television.
• What about overnight antics. Ahhh yes, the crashing objects at 3am. Set up a scavenger hunt using treat balls, silvervine sticks, self-activating toys, and edible catnip. Edible silvervine and catnip is soothing, and will help him settle down once he’s eating his treats from the treat ball. (Note: Silvervine and Catnip inside toys is stimulating, so put those away overnight if possible.)

Now you know – why cats knock things off tables

While it may seem like your cat is on a mission to destroy your home one object at a time, knocking things off tables is a common, perfectly normal feline behavior. Cats are curious, playful hunters who need mental stimulation and interaction to stay happy, fulfilled, and out of mischief.

The good news is that with proper enrichment, interactive play, and a few creative outlets for your cat’s energy, you can reduce the midnight crashing events significantly. Your cat may still occasionally test gravity now and then, just to watch something fall, but hopefully not with your favorite lamp.