Why Cats Knock Things Off Tables (and Then Sleep on You)

A mug sits at the edge of the table. The cat looks at you. Then at the mug. Then it reaches out a paw, very slowly, so you can fully enjoy the moment. Clink. I'm Parťák, FreshPaw's cartoon dog, and I respect cats because they always win. So I tried to work out why cats knock things off tables, why a cat sleeps on you (nobody sleeps on me, I'm a cartoon and rather flat) and why cats purr. Fair warning: cats explain nothing to anyone, so some of the answers are guesses. I'll tell you which ones.

Why cats knock things off tables

Nobody has one definite answer. There are several explanations that make sense, and in most cats they probably overlap.

• Hunting curiosity. Cats explore the world with their paws. Poking an unfamiliar object to see what it does is a sensible approach for a small predator. If it moves, it might be prey. A mug is not prey, but that only becomes clear on the floor.
• Attention. This is more of a guess backed by owners' experience: the cat drops something, you jump up, say something and walk over. For a bored cat, that's an excellent deal. A few repeats and the lesson is learned.
• Boredom. A cat without enough to do will find its own entertainment. Usually the kind that goes clink.
• Hunger. Some owners notice the knocking happens mostly in the morning before breakfast. There may be a link, or there may not.

How to save your mugs without declaring war

1. Move anything you'd miss. The simplest tip and the one that works best. Glasses and phones go in the middle of the table or in a cupboard. A cat that wants to drop something will drop something, so let it be a pen.
2. Play with your cat regularly. Two short sessions a day with a wand toy or a ball, ideally ending with the cat 'catching' something and then getting a meal. A tired cat knocks less.
3. Don't make a show of it. If it's about attention, every yelp is a reward. Calmly pick the thing up and walk away. It's hard, I know.
4. Give it a 'table' of its own. A shelf or a window spot where it's allowed, where something's happening outside and where nothing breakable stands.
5. Don't punish. Shouting, water sprays or a smack won't teach a cat why not to do it. At best they teach it to fear you, or to knock things over when you're out.

Why does my cat sleep on me, right when I need to get up?

The explanations here are fairly reasonable, though again nobody has interviewed a cat. Humans are warm and cats love warmth; that's probably the safest bit. You also smell familiar, and familiar scent makes cats feel safe. And sleep is when a cat is vulnerable, so falling asleep on someone is most likely a sign of trust. Why it picks your chest, your legs or your keyboard probably comes down to warmth and to where you are most concentrated at that moment.

If your cat is asleep on you and you have to get up, don't play statue for three hours. Lift it slowly and set it down somewhere warm next to you, like the blanket on the sofa. A blanket that smells of you is often a decent substitute. If a cat that was never cuddly suddenly turns clingy, or an affectionate cat starts hiding, see a vet. A sudden change in behaviour can mean something is wrong.

Why cats purr, and why it doesn't always mean happiness

Purring usually means contentment: cat on your lap, chin scratches, rrrrr. Kittens purr while nursing and the mother often purrs back. But cats also purr when stressed, in pain, at the vet or when ill. Exactly why is still largely a guess. Maybe it helps them calm themselves.

So read the purr together with the rest of the cat. Relaxed body, half-closed eyes, kneading paws? All good. Purring plus hiding, not eating, a hunched posture or odd breathing? That's a reason to call the vet, not to congratulate yourself on how happy it is. Some owners also know the purr with an urgent little meow mixed in, usually near the food bowl. Translation: 'thank you, but where's breakfast?'

From a dog's point of view, it's all brilliant: the cat knocks your mug off, then lies on you and purrs as if nothing happened. We dogs would at least pull our sad eyes. Cats don't need to. They win.