Why cats play and why cats knock things off has been argued by experts for many years. And how cats play can vary between kitties. For instance, kitten play aggression typically happens when the youngster targets your feet. Adopting a pair of kittens with proper introductions can reduce that. Nearly all cats, though, share the same techniques although they may incorporate them differently. Knocking items off of tables seems universal–I call them “gravity experiments.”
My cat Seren-Kitty played “gravity experiments,” knocking things off tables, until her last few years. At age 21, she finally slowed down. Before that Seren never had an off-switch and was a cat playing maniac from the moment she entered my home.
Key Takeaways
- Cats engage in play to refine skills and relieve stress, with different types of play, such as object and social play existing.
- Kittens exhibit play aggression and require proper introductions to reduce aggressive behaviors.
- Knocking objects off tables, or gravity experiments, offers cats entertainment and helps them understand cause and effect.
- Play strengthens bonds between cats and their owners, providing both enjoyment and relaxation.
- Understanding how cats play enhances our ability to create a stimulating environment for them.
Then Karma-Kat took over the gravity experiments. He finally slowed down, and then Trinity-Kitten accepted the assignment. *sigh* What’s the deal with knocking stuff off high places, anyway? It really does look like feline research, when the cat tap-tap-taps each item in turn, watches it fall to the floor (CRASH!), and then moves on to the next object on the mantel. Is Kitty just a slow learner? Is this feline entertainment? Or are cats simply evil?
HOW CATS PLAY
Adult cats fall into two very broad, general categories—ankle-rubber play fanatics, and kitty lounge acts who love lap-time nap time. Kittens are in a class by themselves. They can turn kitten games into a blood sport, technically termed play aggression. But overall, cat play keeps cats healthy both emotionally and physically.
Kitten development can be measured by the kinds of games kittens play. The earliest games are self-play with paw-waving belly-up postures similar to human infants enthralled by fingers and toes.
4 Kinds of Cat Play
Object play develops as soon as the baby can paw pat, bite or toddle after objects. Sound and motion stimulate interaction.
Locomotory play means games that involve movement, and can be kitten solo games with objects or invisible targets, the baby’s own tail, or involve others.
Self-directed play includes tail chasing or pouncing on imaginary objects. Once the baby matures a bit, the self-directed games tend to go away unless the kitten is bored with no playmate around.
Social Play means plays nice with others—or not so nice. By the time a kitten reaches four weeks of age, they practice the pounce, stalk and pounce techniques, learn to grapple and bunny kick with rear paws, and boxer-slap with claws withheld. But social play peaks at 9-16 weeks of age, and decreases thereafter as the cat matures.
Why Cats Play
Based on the above cat-egories, I think it’s clear why cats enjoy gravity games. Scientist used to say play (in people and pets) served as a method for youngsters to practice grown up skills they’d need as adults. But they noticed that animals—just like people—continue the games even when they don’t serve that evolutionary purpose. Even feral cats and wild kitty species play once they grow up.
Why Cats Love Knocking Objects Off Tables
Gravity Experiments fall into several fun feline faves. Here’s why cats enjoy playing gravity games.
- Gravity games refine paw-swat coordination and tones muscles and trims down tubby tabbies when they must climb to reach attractive targets.
- Kittens and cats learn consequences through play. Interaction with objects teaches them about the world, and that paw-swats make objects fall to the floor with a satisfying SPLAT!
- Fun and games relieve kitty stress. And humans watching cats have fun can reduce our own anxiety—as long as the kitty play is “legal.”
- Play strengthens social bonds. That means it builds friendships between pets—and between you and your cat.
- Gravity games garner lots of attention. When you laugh, yell, become hysterical over paw-patted-broken objects, and chase kitty around the house—mee-WOW, that’s value added to the game!
Life’s too short to stress all the time. Play is good for us, and if you have cats, gravity happens. Place breakables are out of paw-reach, so Kitty can conduct stress-buster gravity experiments safely.
So, do your kitties conduct gravity experiments? Do tell! Learn more details about all things kitten in the book, Complete Kitten Care!
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Note: A version of this post first appeared on FearFree/HappyHomes.
I guess we’ve been blessed that the 3 cats that we’ve had, have never had the inclination to ‘urge’ things on the counter or any of our shelves to ‘leap to the floor’. In fact they have all been exactly the opposite, they take extra special ‘care’ to NOT touch anything that is in their proximity when they’ve been exploring the ‘high ground’ around the house. It’s amazing to watch them navigate around items on the counter and shelves, and how meticulous they are to NOT touch anything that they move by. They have all been ‘rescue’ cats, and have had grand personalities.
Lots of great information, as always. Thank you.
Thanks Frank!