Discover Why Cats Love to Push Things Off Tables

All cat parents, and even those with only basic knowledge about cats, know one thing to be true about furry felines: they love to push stuff off of tables.

How has this universal truth come to be? Why do cats push things off of counters… coffee tables… and desks? Even the sweetest, most polite cat is known to swat a glass off the corner of the nightstand now and then. What’s behind a kitty’s tendency to push things around? 

Why is my cat pushing things off the table?

Instinct

The primary reason cats push things off tables is due to instinct! 

What does my glass of water have to do with their instincts, though? As a predator, cats see prey and their first instinct is to investigate it. They need to sort out if it’s suitable for eating, if it’ll require chasing, and so on. They push it around with their paws to get a sense of what the object is, the level of threat it brings, and whether or not it is edible. When a cat sees an object on the corner of your desk, their minds think “Is that food?” This investigation often leads to the swatting that we all recognize.

Now, it’s not that your cat doesn’t recognize that that’s a glass. But the primal part of their brains is totally caught up with hunting. Their hunting instincts inspire them to take action, despite recognizing the object. 

For example, they may know that there’s a pen on your counter, but their primal instincts encourage them to investigate further. Cats push it to trigger movement and, when it doesn’t move, they know for sure that it is, in fact, a pen.

Additionally, cats notice environmental changes. This is another instinctual behavior. They’re very observant and, when the arrangement on your table has shifted, they may get curious by messing it up! When considering the history of cats, it’s clear how having a command of their environment would’ve aided in their safety. Domestic kitties still have the instinct to know what’s going on in their homes. So when they swat the pen off the counter, they’re just making sure they know what’s going on! 

Boredom

Now why might they continue playing with the pen? Boredom, it seems.

Cats, like all of us, are looking for opportunities to play around and have fun. Chasing a pen can provide a little adventure for the domestic cat. Cats living in an apartment still have wild animal roots and, because of that, are still interested in running, jumping, and chasing.

Despite the fact they don’t have to catch their food anymore, cats still get a kick out of chasing. Because most of our homes aren’t full of prey on the loose, cats need to get creative and often take to swatting our things. When a pen goes flying off the counter, cats get to chase and grab and reconnect with their wild side. 

Domestic cats need stimulation. When they aren’t satisfied with toys or their pet brothers and sisters, they take to creating new toys, often in the form of our water glasses, paperweights, and pens! They don’t have prey to chase but they do still want to stretch their minds. 

Attention-Seeking

Most cats love attention from their owners. When cats push something off a table, they often get what they’re seeking: attention from those in their environments!

We know this about human children. Sometimes, they’ll throw a tantrum or cause trouble just to get a hug or a few words. Cats are the same way. When a cat pushes something off the counter, we engage with them verbally and physically. We may pick them up, give them a few pats, or even deliver a stern talking to. Regardless, they feel like they have more engagement than they did prior to the incident. 

Owners accidentally reinforce pushing behavior by providing attention after incidents of swatting. When we give them a response, we may think we’re delivering punishment with our stern tone, but the cats are just registering receiving attention from their owner. And what kitty wouldn’t love that?

How do I stop my cat from pushing things off the table?

Now that we know why our kitties are pushing our stuff around, how do we get them to cut it out? There are a few different approaches to training our chaotic kitties to stop pushing things off the counter. 

More Toys

If your pet isn’t receiving enough stimulation, they may need more enrichment opportunities. Head to the pet store and pick up a few different toys to help enlighten your kitty. When you provide puzzles for their predatory brain, your cat will be less likely to go out searching for trouble by pushing things around. Keep a rotating stash of toys so that your pet can stay sharp without causing problems.

A few fantastic toys for cat enrichment are: 

1. Armarkat 19-in Sisal Cat Scratching Post with Toy: This epic scratching post is sure to entertain your cat. Not only does it offer opportunities for using those claws, but it can also satiate the desire to swat with the fish toy attachment. Your kitty will enjoy batting around the toy and will quit swatting your pens off the desk.
2. Goody Box Back To School Cat Toys & Treats: For a variety of fun, interactive activities for your cat, grab the Back To School goody box. There are a ton of treats and toys, sure to stimulate your pet’s mind going into the fall.
3. MeoHui Interactive Kitten Wand Fishing Pole Toy: Finally, for a perfect toy for parent & pet playtime, grab a classic interactive fishing pole wand. Your cat will be so enthralled and amazed by these sweet fishies that they won’t have the time to push your things off the desk!

Negative Consequence

Another route to freeing yourself from constant cat-pushing is to form some negative associations. A few known cat deterrents are double-sided tape and aluminum foil. If you place either of those things on the counter, your cat will not be pleased when they leap up! This will help the cat unwire its positive associations with being on the counter and pushing things around. 

It doesn’t take a lot of interactions with foil or sticky tape for your cat to begin avoiding the behavior. They quickly learn that what they desire isn’t worth the chance of running into aluminum foil or getting their paw stuck in tape. This trick is sure to get them moving in the right direction and off your countertop!

Less Response

Finally, you can be more aware of how you engage with your pet when they’ve pushed something off the counter. It can be tough as a pet parent to not play with the pet after the behavior you disapprove of, but in order to rewire their brains, it may be necessary. Your response is a huge part of the reason they continue the behavior, so it’s time for a change!

By giving them little to no attention after a behavioral incident, your pet will learn to stop associating swatting with playtime. You can certainly pick up the pen or cup, but save the head scratches for a few minutes when they’re better behaved. This solution needs to be coupled with providing toys because, if your kitty is bored, they need an appropriate alternative.

Cats love to push things off of tables for a few reasons: instincts, boredom, and attention. While they may live a domestic life, their wild side still finds ways to peek out. By grabbing some new toys, playing a few tricks, and being sure to adjust your reinforcement behaviors, your kitty can learn to stop pushing your stuff off of the counter. As always, be patient with your pretty kitty. These creatures can be stubborn!