Knocking Things Off The Table For “Hunting Practice”
It’s not surprising that cats like knocking things off of tables, especially if that something is being used by their human. If you don’t know what we’re talking about just look to YouTube videos of cats knocking things off of tables. Scientists say this behavior is simply a way cats practice hunting.
In the wild, cats play with their prey, so batting things away is good practice, even if it is at the expense of your water bottle. Cats are also naturally curious animals, and easily bored, so they might be trying to get your attention to start a game.
Catnip Makes Them Feel Extreme Joy
To humans, catnip doesn’t look like anything special, it’s just a leafy plant that is related to mint. That doesn’t mean cats don’t go crazy over sniffing it, though. Catnip contains nepetalactone, which is an oil that stimulates sensors in cats’ noses.
This reaction gives around 70 percent of cats a feeling of extreme joy and even, in some cases, hallucinogenic experiences. Your cat may run around, roll, salivate, and make weird noises under the influence of catnip, of which only lasts about ten minutes. Even big jungle cats such as lions and tigers have shown reactions to the leaf.