Why Does My Cat Bodyslam My Door?

Attention, boredom, food, the bathroom—cats can meow at you all they like, but you aren’t fluent in mews.

So, what else can they do? Make more noise in an attempt to communicate. Your cat likely body slams your doors for that exact reason. Here are some examples of what they might be trying to say:

My Cat Slams into My Door At Night

You might know cats as “crepuscular.” They hunt at dawn and dusk, but their sleep cycles can run later depending on their energy level and feeding schedules.

Depending on your sleep schedule and what’s available to them, they could be bored, like when you pick up your phone or turn on the television. The more attractive toys tend to be ones you, the pet parent, toss or wave around.

You inadvertently build yourself as a source of entertainment for a cat, so when you shut everything down for a well-deserved night of sleep… your cat’s left to run around when they’re naturally most active. If you react to loud noises at night—such as the thumping of a doorstop or the clattering of something from somewhere in the dark—you give them attention, reinforcing their noisy behavior.

It could also be “bad” timing. Your cat knows you refill their food bowl (or shake the bowl to make it look full again), so if they run out during the night, they’ll seek you out to rectify the glaring problem.

Or, if you have a kitten that requires more food than an adult, they could just be hungry.

My Cat Slams into My Door Whenever It’s Closed

There are a few speculations specialists offer regarding cats attacking doors.

It could rattle when they leap on it, making it fun to tackle. There could be interesting smells outside, signaling the presence of another cat or bird or rodent or an ever-expanding list of fun things.

Cats are also generally curious; you go in and out of doors? What’s in there? What are you doing?

Generally, these cats could suffer the same affliction as before: boredom. They want your attention for entertainment or are simply curious about what’s hidden behind the forbidden area, however temporary.

Less innocently, they could be suffering from separation anxiety. Many cat owners discuss raising “COVID cats” or “quarantine cats.” These cats are used to being velcro-kitties with near-constant access to their pet parents. You’re taking away a security blanket when you step through a door, whether its to go outside for work or into the bathroom for privacy.

To know if your cat has separation anxiety, monitor and report their behaviors to your vet. A video recorded when they’re home alone, or when they think they’re alone, can provide additional insight as to their stress-levels. A trusted neighbor or friend could also swing by and check on them, listening to yowling before they enter the home.

Additional measures may be needed or prescribed by your vet. Generally, try introducing new toys similar to your cat’s favorite (mine loves anything straw-shaped, including the handle of a cat wand/teaser). Encourage them to play alone in addition to your play times.

A cat may also benefit from puzzle feeders stocked with a portion of their dry food, as it distracts them. New and exciting extras can provide brief relief until you can make your next vet appointment to discuss options.

How do I stop my cat from running into my door?

Isolate why they might be doing it first.

If they’re hungry, discuss options with your vet. They could need more food, or the food might not provide enough nutrients. If approved, you might try food later in the day, closer to bedtime, so they feel full longer (ideally, through the night!).

✨ Cat Parent Tip: Use an automatic timed feeder or manually feed your cat at the same time of day, with the amount based on their food’s recommendations. Review the side or back of the food’s container to be sure.

Swapping from free-feeding to a measured amount makes it easier to track how much they eat, or if they aren’t. Checking in with your vet can rule out digestive or nutritional issues.

If they’re bored: play with them before bed! You want a bit of a buffer between play time and your bedtime—so they aren’t begging while you’re climbing into bed—but tucker them out. The younger the cat, the more energy they tend to have.

Some toys are electric and will play with your cat for you, but require batteries which can be fatal if accessed and swallowed. Reactive toys with moving parts, like a loose ball on a track, can be more mentally stimulating without requiring full supervision. Puzzle toys occupy your cat with hard-to-get food incentives.

If they want affection/attention: play sessions and food can help with this. Full tummies lead to big naps. Putting them in a bed in another room, giving them good pets and kisses, and settling them down for digestion can coax them into a calmer state.

There are also anti-chew cat-friendly heating pads catered to their body heat. These weaker heating pads comfort and lull them to sleep for longer. Cat heating pads on timers work better, as they automatically shut off and lower the risk of overheating or burns.

Preventing the Behavior

Preventative measures may be the best option if it just isn’t stopping. Some people use motion sensors to spray compressed air, scaring the cat away without you needing to be there. 

It provides additional corrections when people are absent and removes the “punishment” factor from you—you don’t want your cat to fear or avoid you. They’re only trying to communicate a need, after all.

Tape, loud tin foil, or things like cat-repellent mats (those spiky-looking plastlic mats) can bar your companion from approaching the door. Know that these are not fool-proof remedies, though… some cats simply don’t care.

Identifying what your cat wants is the best way to find a solution.

Regardless of why your cat is throwing their body around, it’s important not to reward the behavior. Don’t open the door even if they’re yowling and ratting it in its frame. It will be hard to resist. But once you give them what they want, they’ll keep doing it until you give in.

Find ways to protect your door in the mean time, as a cat can take weeks to unlearn a reinforced behavior. But stay strong and hang in there, it’s possible!