2026-01-17
Cats have been revered as sacred animals for thousands of years with historical records dating as far back as 4950 years ago. They have been said to bless crops in Ancient Egypt and China. They have been seen as protectors from evil spirits in Japan and a black cat named Ovinnik in ancient Poland has been elevated to a deity in charge of wrongdoing and bad deeds (entirely undeserved presumably). In modern days, cats are known to be the guardians of Istanbul, own the Tashirojima island in Japan, and enjoy a household deity status in many families.
We have been living with cats for almost five thousand years but do we really know why they do the things they do? Have you seen your cat jump up on a table and just start pushing stuff on the floor? Why do they do that? This is the question we will try to answer in this article.
Self-proclaimed and peer-reviewed experts on feline behavior believe that cats push things on the floor out of pure boredom. If your cat needs more mental stimulation than they are currently receiving – they may develop problem behaviors like pushing things on the floor, peeing in unusual places, and even becoming aggressive. This is why we recommend you make sure your feline baby receives sufficient physical and mental stimulation.
We all know that cats love to climb on high places like door frames, cabinets, and all other types of furniture to survey their household kingdom. Imagine, even if briefly, you are a deity trapped in the body of a mortal being and you need to have a clear vantage point that permits you a clear view over your territory and your pilgrims (some may call them “owners”). You would, naturally, want your vantage point to be clear of distractions like phones, glasses, lipstick, or any number of small items. The most logical thing to do would be to push the items on the floor and enjoy peace of mind. At least that is what peer-reviewed experts (and others) believe to be the case.
Additionally, the energetic response from humans trying to save their valuables from abruptly meeting the floor could be something your cat may find exceptionally amusing. Pushing stuff from high places onto low places may become something your cat seeks to do more frequently if you award them with your undivided attention. Attention-seeking behavior has been the subject of a few scientific studies in recent years and it is evident that the dynamics of a cat-owner relationship are very important for felines to avoid developing unwanted behaviors. If you are looking to improve your connection with your cat we recommend reading the book “Cat Culture: The Social World Of A Cat Shelter” that explains how cats perceive their friends, and humans, show affection, and deal with the world in an “almost human” way.
Your feline is just like you – an individual with their preferences. Some cats like to chew on plants, some prefer to investigate the insides of your gaming chair with their claws, and others like to hide under your sheets or enjoy alone time behind a storage cabinet. Smaller items are inevitably at a greater risk of falling down compared to flower pots for example. So what do we do about this?
We recommend teaching your cat that some surfaces are not accessible to them. Using water spray bottles to make your cat go down from your dining/kitchen table or TV stand can work pretty well. Discouraging your cat can yield some success, however, sometimes it just means they are not going to climb on stuff only when you are around. Playing with your loved kitty is strongly encouraged. The use of a stern voice occasionally can aid you in setting up boundaries and enjoying a good cat-owner bond.
A study from 2003 titled “ATTENTION SEEKING BEHAVIORS IN DOGS AND CATS” is available via the CABI Digital Library and it has a few scientifically tested recommendations that you may want to check. It’s best to ignore the knocking over of objects, otherwise you might be reinforcing the behavior by reacting strongly. You might want to look into odor enrichment, food puzzles, and cat patio to keep your domestic feline occupied and give them opportunities to engage their intelligence and energy.
