Cats are known for being curious animals. They love wandering around their surroundings, investigating various objects, and exploring the world around them…but why do cats like to push things off tables?
Let’s take a closer look at some possible reasons why this might be below!
Why Do Cats Push Things Off Tables?

There’s no denying that cats are pretty interesting animals – and they like to do some pretty strange things!
One of the biggest things that cats like to do that often makes their owners scratch their heads in confusion is to knock things over – and as it just so turns out, there are quite a few possible reasons for this intriguing behavior.
The first reason that your cat could be knocking things off of tables and other things is simply due to them wanting to explore and better understand the world around them.
As we’re sure you’re already well-aware as a cat owner, cats tend to have quite sensitive paws. This means that when they knock objects and other items off your tables – it could simply just come down to your cat trying to investigate and explore the different items and pieces of furniture in the home.
By doing so, your cat will then be able to better understand whether, or not, the objects that are around them are safe to be around or whether they are a threat.
So, even though your cat knocking things off a table might seem pretty annoying, your cat might simply be trying to determine whether, or not, they are in a safe environment.
If that’s not the case, then another reason why your cat might be knocking things off the table for seemingly no reason could be due to their natural predatory instincts.
Your cat might not only be investigating its surroundings to make sure that there are no threats, but your cat also is trying to explore the various surroundings in the home to see if there’s any prey hiding.
It should also go without saying that cats are very agile animals and are able to jump onto various furniture with ease, which is something that other house animals might struggle with.
This makes the chances of a cat being able to climb onto a table and knock things over far more likely than say, a dog.
In addition to all of the above, you might also be interested to discover that your reaction can also influence how frequently a cat will knock things off of tables and other pieces of furniture in the home. Believe it or not, despite being solitary animals, cats do often seek attention from their owners, and one way that they might try to do this is by displaying behavior that they know will capture their owner’s attention.
For example, if a cat suddenly decided to knock a box off a table and you had a big reaction, then your cat might proceed to repeat the behavior whenever it wants your attention because your cat will have remembered the reaction that you gave them the first time that they did it.
On the other hand, if your cat decided to knock something off the table and you didn’t react, then your cat might display this behavior far less frequently because you did not give them the attention that they might have been seeking.
How To Stop Your Cat Knocking Things Over
If you want to prevent your cat from knocking things off of your furniture, then there are a few ways that you can help. First and foremost, you’ll need to ensure that your cat has plenty of space to roam around in the home.
Cats are naturally curious animals and they like to explore new environments and spaces, but if they don’t have enough room to move around freely, then they may find themselves becoming bored and restless.
In order to keep your cat happy and entertained, you’ll need to provide your cat with ample amounts of toys, play areas, scratching posts, and other items so that they can enjoy exploring these different spaces within the home.
You’ll also need to make sure that you’re giving your cat plenty of opportunities to interact with people and other pets as well.
As we mentioned earlier, the most important thing that you can do when it comes to preventing your cat from knocking things over is to make sure that they have plenty of space to move around in the home.
If you think that your cat is knocking things over because they’re looking for a place to sleep, then you’ll need to make sure that they get plenty of places to rest during the day.
Cats love to curl up next to warm spots such as radiators, heat registers, and fireplaces, but if they don’t have many options available to them where they can go to take a nap, then they might start knocking things over in an effort to get someplace comfortable to lay down.
Another option that you could consider would be to use a cat tree. A cat tree is basically a platform that sits atop a wall or other piece of furniture that allows your cat to climb up onto it and look out at the world through the branches of the tree.
This provides your cat with a great vantage point from which they can observe everything that goes on around them while they’re sitting comfortably and safely.
Some cat trees even come equipped with perches, platforms, and other features that allow your cat to sit and watch television, read books, play games, or just relax while they’re waiting for you to return home.
One last tip that I’d like to leave you with, in regard to keeping your cat out of trouble is that you should always make sure that you clean up any messes that your cat makes in the house.
This includes anything that they might accidentally drop onto the floor or anywhere else in the home. The best way to keep your cat safe while they’re playing inside the home is to make sure that you clean everything up after them.
Final Thoughts
There we have it. After reading through this guide, we’re hoping that you’ve now got an idea about what might be going on behind the scenes when your cat knocks things off of tables or other furniture!
We also help that this guide has given you a few tips and tricks for helping to stop them from doing it, too. Thanks for reading!
- Can Cats Be Mute - March 24, 2022
- How To Find A Missing Cat - March 24, 2022
- Can Cats Be Emotional Support Animals - March 24, 2022