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Why do Cats Throw Things on the Floor?

 
By Olivia Grisham, Journalist specialized in animal care. Updated: January 14, 2018
Why do Cats Throw Things on the Floor?

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Anyone who shares their life with a cat will have experienced the following scenario. You are quietly doing something and suddenly your feline has pulled down what you left on the table. You ask yourself: Why do cats throw things to the ground? Is it simply to annoy us? Do they want our attention?

In this AnimalWised article we are going to elaborate on this common behavior - although we still see it as something strange. Keep reading!

You may also be interested in: Why Do Parrots Throw Their Food Away?

It is in their way

Cats tend to wander as they please. If they find something in the middle of their route, instead of detouring, they will often throw it away. This includes being indoors and outdoors. This behavior usually happens if the cat is somewhat overweight. If they have to exert more energy or work harder to move or jump, they will not even consider trying.

Why do Cats Throw Things on the Floor? - It is in their way

They are bored

If your cat is bored because they do not release all their energy while playing and exercising, they are likely to begin destroying the house. In addition to scratching and climbing on everything, it is quite likely that they will decide to study the law of gravity. They will throw everything on the floor that can be thrown, just to entertain them-self. Check out our 5 signs that your cat is bored to identify the behavior.

Why do Cats Throw Things on the Floor? - They are bored

They are calling for attention

Yes, it's a weird way to get your attention, but throwing stuff is pretty normal when your cat wants something from you . Why do cats throw things to the ground? Well, because among the many ways they have to attract your interest, every time they throw something you will always go to see what has happened. Therefore, maybe it is the most effective technique!

Why do Cats Throw Things on the Floor? - They are calling for attention

How to stop a cat from throwing things on the floor

Depending on the motivation for your cat throwing things to the ground, you can do one thing or another. If they throw everything they find when they walk around your house, the best thing you can do is to remove everything throwable in places where they usually travel. For example, if they always pass over the table, leave a path that they can pass by where there is no obstacle that they can throw. And, of course, if your cat is overweight, you should follow an exercise routine and take care of their diet to help them lose weight.

If the problem is boredom, you will have to tire them out and play with them frequently. You can leave more toys and even prepare a space for their own games so they can distract them-self. A scratching post will provide them with hours of entertainment and you can hang things on it so they can have even more fun. However do not forget that cats need someone to play with. If it is not possible for you to be there, perhaps it is time to adopt a best friend for your cat.

If this behavior comes in the form of a wake-up call, we have to be very clear that "NO" will not serve us anything. Ultimately, this reaction is giving them what they want: our attention.

If you see your cat pulling something while staring at you waiting for your reaction, do not scold them and continue with what you were doing. You should ignore this type of behavior and instead spend more time with them when they behave well. In addition to generating a more powerful bond between you and your cat, they will learn that when they behave badly they do not get what they want. So, in the long run they will stop doing it. Be very careful, because if you ignore this behavior when it first appears, it can become more insistent.

Why do Cats Throw Things on the Floor? - How to stop a cat from throwing things on the floor

If you want to read more similar articles to Why do cats throw things on the floor?, we recommend you visit our Behavioral Problems section.

If you want to read similar articles to Why do Cats Throw Things on the Floor?, we recommend you visit our Behavioral problems category.

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