Why Do Cats Knock Things Over Here Is How To Stop It

You must have seen those cat-knocking-things-over videos on that famous show called ‘America’s Funniest Home Videos’ and found them quite interesting, but would you feel the same when your feline friend does something like that?Have you ever wondered why cats knock things over? If yes, keep on reading with us.Cats are known for knocking things off tables, shelves, and countertops. There are two reasons: they knock something either to get your attention or generally to play with them. Cats usually use their paws to test and explore objects, most of the times people keep their cat’s toys in rotation, put treats in the game, and toy puzzles to make them calm and relaxed.Cats can spend hours batting around a plastic glass or paper ball; an imaginary cat and mouse game is a source of joy. If your cat constantly annoys you by throwing objects from the desk on the floor, you just have to ignore this attention-seeking behavior and redirect the feline to something else.Let’s read more fun facts on why cats knock things over and if you find this article interesting, don’t forget to check out other exciting articles on why do cats sneeze, and why do cats throw up on Kidadl.Is it normal for cats to knock things over?All cats have a well-known tendency to knock things off the table, ruin your curtains and sofa, scratch your picture frames among many other tendencies. Have you ever asked yourself if it’s normal for your cat to knock things off surfaces?Yes, it is totally normal if your cats are knocking things intentionally during day or night as they just tend to act foolishly. Cats know the difference between a paperweight and a mouse, yet they love to investigate things with their paws. They just want your attention or are feeling bored.How to stop my cat from knocking things over?You must have heard the proverb: ‘old habits die hard’. The same applies to cats. They will somehow find several reasons to knock objects over, but you can take a few steps to reduce the tantrums of your cats.The golden rule is to never keep your kitty hungry. So, don’t forget to add water and food to your cat’s bowl at regular intervals. It would be better if you keep the litter boxes away from your kitty. The cat would surely jump around the object when it’s bored.Also, to help with boredom, you can keep your cat’s toys in rotation to make the playtime more enjoyable. People also place treats in toys and puzzles so that the cat will an make effort for the goody. Scheduling a play or game time with your kitty can also be a great option to make the cat engaged and involved in stuff. With lots of exercise and fun time, there is no chance your cat is going to annoy you. Cat trees, electronic and robotic items, scratching posts, catnip-filled toys, laser pointers, and many other interactive toys can also be used for the mental and physical enrichment of your kitty.Apart from giving treats, a few more steps can be followed to kitty-proof your home. It would be better if you take away the temptation by moving cherished breakable items off of the desk, tables, and counters. If you have no problem with your cat playing with a pen holder or a glass, it still is important to remove such items from shelves, tables, and countertops.After that, you can make a judgment of the behavior and all the places your kitties choose to jump or climb. People generally put them back on the floor when they do climb or jump on a surface they don’t want them on, such as their table, sofa, and many more. Creating a course of items close to the edge would make your cat confuse and most probably can’t judge if there is a way to jump safely. Also, trying double-sided tape could be a better option.Lastly, this can be a result of physical or mental health issues if your cat is not responding to your attempts to stop it from knocking things over. The next best thing to do is to consult a veterinarian. The doctor may be able to identify some underlying problems and offer solutions. In rare cases, the doctor may refer your kitty to an animal behavior specialist.Why do cats compulsively knock things over?There are several reasons that explain the intentional knocking behavior of the cat. Like their relatives, tigers, and lions, cats like to explore things. They are natural hunters and their prey instinct is a huge contributor to this behavior. A domesticated cat has a behavioral drive to hunt small prey such as a mouse, and the hunting instinct is so strong that the cat loves to investigate things with its paws.Be it a mouse or a paperweight, cats generally investigate each and everything with their paws. They generally test whether the object is alive or dead, and if it is alive, they wonder ‘how am I going to kill it?’ or ‘what if the object suddenly attacks and injures me?’ It generally does not matter whether your cat is an indoor pet or not, it will possess the prey instincts, like other wild cats.What does it mean when a cat knocks things over?They generally don’t have reasons to jump on the toys and knock things off surfaces. However, there can be a few thoughts going around in the mind of your pet. These are listed below.The primary reason for such behavior is that your cat loves to seek your attention. The cat has learned that every time it knocks a toy or any other object over, you will react. The reaction is attention to them. You could either get some food or water and put it in its dish or scold the cat to behave properly. The cat could go to any limits if it wants to play with you and it generally does such things to prevent boredom.Another reason for this behavior can be either your cats are getting bored or you might have made some changes in their environment. Did you just get a new mug or a pen holder? What is that new huge thing lying on the counter? Such are the questions cats generally ask themselves. They may attack these things and these objects become a form of mental stimulation for them.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for why do cats knock things over, then why not take a look at why do cats trill, or Siamese cat facts.