Cats are strange and curious creatures who get up to all kinds of mischief and make us laugh in the process. One of the habits that is not so funny is when they are knocking expensive items off the shelf. But why do cats knock things over?
There are actually a number of explanations for this including predatory instinct, attention-seeking, and playtime.
We will cover all of this in more detail inside of this article. We will also show you some great tips and tricks on how to prevent your cat from knocking things off. There’s also a great compilation video at the end that you will love.
It’s always funnier when it happens to somebody else and not your own expensive ornaments! Let’s drive straight in.
Why Do Cats Like Knocking Things Over?
#1 Predator instinct
The first reason why your cat is knocking things over may be due to their natural hunting behavior. Cats are hardwired to hunt for food out in the wild where they use their paws to explore and test objects.
So if you have objects on the side, they will use there sensitive paw pads to feel the object as this helps them to understand more about it. The sound and movement of the object falling onto the ground also gives them more information and a better understanding to see it is something they can catch and eat.
#2 Attention-Seeking Behavior
Cats are also know to knock things over simply just to get your attention. The problem lies in the fact that when your cat knocks something over, you immediately rush over to pick it back up.
Cats quickly learn that this grabs your attention so they continue this behavior of knocking things over. As annoying as this may be, it’s hard to stay mad at them because not only do they look so cute but they also just want a bit of a fuss.
#3 Playtime/Boredom
Another explanation for this behavior is that your cat just wants a bit of playtime because they are bored and may have become fed up with their regular toys. This means they will seek other objects and things around the house to play with.
How Do I Stop My Cat From Knocking Things Over?
#1 Ignore Them
We mentioned above that cats will knock things over to seek your attention. If you feel like your cat is doing it for this reason, the best thing to do is completely ignore them. Running over there to quickly pick up the things that they have knocked off will just reinforce this behavior and make them worse.
#2 Having Regular Play Sessions
Having regular play sessions with your cat is very important as it provides both mental and physical stimulation, as well as building a great bond between the two of you. If your cat keeps knocking things over, regular play sessions may prevent this behavior.
You should play with your cat for 10-15 minutes on a number of different occasions, each and every day. The important part is to have a large selection of various different cat toys. Here are the choices:
- Rattling Cat Toys
- “Fishing Pole” Toys
- Lasers
- Toy mice
- Catnip Toys
- Soft Toys
- Tunnels
It’s also important to have a number of interactive puzzle toys. These will help to mentally stimulate your cat because it means they can have play sessions on their own without the need for you being there.
#3 Create A Stimulating Environment
As we previously mentioned, boredom may be one of the reasons why you cat keeps purposely knocking things over. In the previous tips we spoke about the importance of play sessions and toys.
It’s equally important to create a stimulating cat environment in your home. There’s a number of different things you can do here.
- Scratching Posts: Scratching is a natural thing that cats do and is perfectly normal behavior. It’s important to satisfy their impulses by providing a number of horizontal and vertical scratching posts in different locations around your home.
- Cat Trees/Towers: Cat trees and towers are important because cats instinctively love to climb. A cat tree inside of your home provides a safe environment to do this.
- Cat Furniture: Cat furniture comes in various different forms and allows your cat places to just chill out, sleep, or retreat if they are feeling anxious.
For an all-in-one solution and one of our favorite products available on the market is The Juggernaut.
It’s a little on the expensive side, but not only does it provide your cat with all the stimulation they will ever need, they are also beautifully crafted and look amazing in your home. Check out the video below of The Juggernaut.
#4 Make The Counter, Shelf, or Table Unappealing
The less appealing and more minimalist your shelves and surfaces are, the less chance there is of your cat breaking expensive items. So the first step is to remove anything that is valuable or fragile.
You may even be experiencing the problem of your cat knocking things over in just one room of your home. If this is the case then it’s as simple as making sure the door is closed behind to prevent your cat from entering the room.
Another great solution is to use Cat Scratch Deterrent Tape. You can pick this up very cheaply on Amazon. It’s kind of like double-sided tape that is transparent and you can stick it to any kind of furniture.
It doesn’t harm your cat in anyway but it will annoy them every time they walk on it which will prevent them from climbing on surfaces and knocking things over.
Conclusion
Now you know the reasons why cats knock things over and a number of solutions you can use to prevent this behavior. Does your cat regularly knock things off the shelf on purpose? Let us know in the comments below.
