“My cat’s paws are so naughty!””What do you mean?””It always pushes my stuff off the table—like, really hard. It’s definitely on purpose!”Recently, a friend who owns a cat was complaining to me about her cat’s bizarre behavior. Her cat randomly stretches out its little paw and smack, knocks things off the table. She was a bit exasperated; even though it’s kind of cute, it’s also pretty destructive! I told her to calm down and explained why cats do this.
-
Curiosity and Exploration
In fact, when some cats push things off the table, it’s simply a form of exploration of their environment. This unique way of exploring is actually tactile exploration. Cats have highly developed tactile senses, and many of them interact with objects by touching them to better understand them. Studies have shown that when cats encounter a new environment or a new object, they often use their paws to touch and manipulate things. A long-term study on domestic cat behavior found that when cats enter a new space or encounter something new, the frequency of their exploration increases significantly. Researchers placed unfamiliar small objects in areas where cats often roam, and discovered that cats repeatedly used their paws to interact with these items within a short period of time. Over 70% of the cats pushed at least one item off the surface. When these objects fall off the table, they create different sounds and trajectories, which in turn stimulates the cat and “wakes it up.” In other words, the cycle of “exploration” → “exciting stimulation” → “exploration” creates a feedback loop, satisfying the cat’s curiosity and keeping it excited.
-
It’s Just a Game
For some cats, pushing things off the table may just be a game—a “hunting game,” to be exact. Cats have hunting instincts built into their genes, and even after becoming domestic cats, they still carry this behavior. Research shows that when cats encounter small rolling objects on the table, their pupils dilate, their ears turn toward the object, and their bodies lower as they slowly approach. These are all typical hunting actions. Once the object falls off the table, the cat may immediately pounce on it and bat at it with its paws. For some cats, small items on the table look like “prey.” When they push things off the edge—”push and drop, chase”—they’re actually simulating the hunting process they would engage in in the wild.
-
Deliberately Annoying You
It’s hard to deny that for some cats, this behavior is deliberately designed to annoy you. But this “annoyance” has another meaning—it’s their way of trying to get your attention. Studies show that after a cat pushes something off the table, over 70% of owners immediately react, whether it’s by scolding, walking over to stop them, or some other form of intervention. To the cat, these responses are a form of special attention. Many cats want to interact with their humans, and they need daily interaction. If you don’t give them enough attention, they may create their own opportunities to interact. When they figure out that “pushing things off” gets your attention, they will naturally repeat the behavior. Cats are clever and can quickly link actions to outcomes. When they realize that “pushing” → “getting attention” results in a positive response, they’re likely to keep doing it.
The behavior of cats pushing items off tables is actually quite common, and the explanations above cover some of the reasons behind it. So, does your little cat exhibit similar behavior? And what do you think it’s doing it for?
