Do you let your kids on the table?

rapunzel47

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The unspoken rule is "Don't let me see you on the kitchen counter or the kitchen or dining room tables". Bathroom counters are fine.

The exception is when Daddy is using the dining room table for a computer project, he removes everything, puts on a thin dense rubber pad, and then a flannelette sheet, for protection, and before he finishes spreading the sheet, Fawn is up there, to supervise and collect skritches, and sleep under the warm lamp. That's allowed.

Occasionally either Fawn or Suzy will push the envelope and get up on a table or counter, and Mummy will see, and say, "And just what do you think you're doing there, Miss??" and instantly, "Miss" will hop down, with a "Who me?" tossed over her shoulder.

We're realistic. We don't expect them to stay off when we can't see them, but as someone else observed earlier, as long as the norm is for them to stay off when we can see them, that takes care of our needs.
 

luvslive

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we try to keep our cats off the kitchen counters, and they know that they shouldn't be up there. when they hear the faucet go on and they are on the counter they know they need to run. we are consistent in this matter. they are allowed on the table in the dining area though, like so many others we don't eat there very often. it is nerve-wracking having company over to eat...our cats really could use more manners when it comes to begging for food.
 

white cat lover

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Tried & failed at keeping the kitties off the counter/table. They're allowed on the counters all the time, only on the kitchen table when we aren't looking. Now just try teaching Damita(the blind kitty) she can only be on the table when you aren't looking!
 

cheshirecat

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This hasn't been a problem for me. Chester will climb up on a chair, put his paws on the table and sniff around but I've only once seen him get up on the table.

That time it was a surprise but it turns out he was at the perfect height for me to pick him up and hug him. He doesn't like being hugged so I take advantage of every opportunity.

He sits on the coffee table all the time but I have never seen him on the counters. He will go into the bathroom and look like he is checking things out but never jumps up.
 

sarahp

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They're not allowed on the kitchen countertops - that's a definite no-no. I wasn't too worried about the dining room table until I realised that they'd scratched the surface with their claws so now the table is a definite no-no as well (but Stumpy always sneaks up whenever she can).
 

catsallover

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Mine aren't allowed on the counters ("yeah, uh huh" they say
) and they are allowed on the kitchen table (at their end of the table) for treats twice a day. They can get on the dining room table pretty much whenever they want. They are absolutely not allowed on either the kitchen or dining room table when we're eating- for that matter, they also know better than to try to get in our laps if we're eating in front of the tv- basically, people + food = no cats
. My daughter and I are home most of the time, so my counters and tables get trashed and washed regularly, especially with a toddler
, so it doesn't bother me
.
 

zissou'smom

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Zissou isn't allowed on the kitchen countertop or the "island" (a microwave cart I use as counter space). Mostly for her own safety, partly because it's gross.

She's allowed anywhere else she wants, but a spot with knives, hot metal coils, dish disposals, and occassionally a large sink full of soapy water that she wouldn't know about until it was too late do NOT seem like a safe place for a cat. She doesn't much seem to mind. The island, actually, she's never even tried to get up on. I don't know if I would care or not, but it doesn't seem to be an issue.
 
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momofmany

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Originally Posted by Persi

Aha!!! I have been vindicated. My cats are the cleanest "people" in the house and they are always invited to the dinner table. This question has came up SEVERAL times this week and I was starting to think I was some type of freak but now I see I am finally in the majority. Thanks for this poll!!
That's how I felt also. I knew we had closet table-enablers on this site!!

When company is over, if they are cat lovers I let them do their thing. For other company, I shoe them away from the table (and make a strong point of cleaning off the table in front of the company before I set it). But hubby is more lenient than I am. The cats love to sit in our laps at the table and will often walk across the top of the table to go from lap to lap. I try to correct the habit so company doesn't witness when they are over. Hubby doesn't even notice them on the table with company over.

Countertops - I frown on that, but admit when Shep was 17 years old and was having a series of strokes, she decided to make her bed on the kitchen counter. I just let her, and even put a chair next to it so she had an easier time getting up and down. Boy were the rest of the cats teed at that one.
 

hilda>^..^<

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Hmmm, well I guess I'm in the minority here and that's ok with me. No kitties on the counters or on any tables, that's just a no-no and just too unsanitary in my opinion. (please be gentle and don't throw anything too hard, ok? I bruise easily) Of course they do whatever they want to wherever they want to when no one's around...but that's not often since I stay at home. I'm almost convinced they don't climb up there during the night either because Mia sleeps in Naomi's room with the door closed and Elora much prefers to sleep somewhere soft...like our bed or on the living room couch or the rocker.

But to each his own of course.

Hilda >^..^<
 

jugen

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I look at it like this, My cats are here 24/7. I come and go so I am out of the house alot and so the cats "live" here and I just come and go, so I let them do whatever they see fit. The only place I don't want them to go is my curio cabinet, and the stove, which they are perfectly fine with. Other then that, their food is on the counter, and they eat on the table. So, I"m not to worried about where they go. I just clean the house alot so noone gets upset that there is cat hair in their food, if I'm expecting someone! (something I'm very used to! LOL!)
 

pinkdaisy226

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Mine actually prefer to sleep on the dining room chairs than on the table. But I do catch them on there and running across the kitchen counters (Baylee's latest trick is to jump from one side of the kitchen counter across to the other side which is pretty impressive). I gave up a long time. :p
 

pekoe & nigel

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The table and counter are the only places my kittens can't go. In fact, that's pretty much the only rule around here.

My little ones are shameless about trying to steal food and make a habit of trying to stick their heads in my plate. The only place I can eat in relative peace is at the kitchen table. I don't think it's really unsanitary to have them up there (after all, I DO sleep with them every night and they love to lick my face...) it's more that I need to have a place where I can eat without little faces trying to steal bites.

That being said, I know they get up there when I'm not watching, which is fine by me. Sometimes I'll walk into the kitchen and see a little head dive down to the ground, trying to look innocent. Just so long as they stay away when the table is in use, everything is just fine.
 

swampwitch

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No way, not on the kitchen counters and the table - not where we prepare and serve food. It wouldn't be any different than getting some litter from the used litter box and sprinkling it on the counters, if their feet are on there. And then I cook two to three meals a day there, no way... YUCK!

Cheers, from
SwampWitch
 

hilda>^..^<

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Originally Posted by SwampWitch

No way, not on the kitchen counters and the table - not where we prepare and serve food. It wouldn't be any different than getting some litter from the used litter box and sprinkling it on the counters, if their feet are on there. And then I cook two to three meals a day there, no way... YUCK!

Cheers, from
SwampWitch
My feelings exactly. As for sleeping with them, they do sleep on our beds from time to time...but we don't prepare food or eat our meals there. I guess it also has alot to do with the practise of actually eating at the table...which seems to be almost unheard of these days. I wonder if the 'share more than meals at the kitchen table' campaign is working...do people really pay that much attention to what celebrities say I wonder?

Hilda >^..^<
 

sailfish

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Our cats go anywhere they want. I'll shoo them away from the tabletop if we have guests. I get frustrated sometimes when I have trouble with them if I try to cook certain things. If it's a real problem I'll put them in a room behind a door till the task is complete.
 

fwan

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I dont have a proper diningroom table, its the garden table and chairs!
and right now there is just junk on the tables so they are allowed to go on it, kaylee loves the kitchen faucet, and the bathroom faucet. I dont have kitchen counters unless you count the washing machine and dryer top as a table top. If i am cooking i will wipe down the things. Otherwise they are allowed to go anywhere they want!
 

lionessrampant

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I let mine climb wherever they want. I just am very vigilant about cleaning each surface before I eat or prepare food.

When my parents visit, I usually will spray a little diluted lemon juice on the surface, which keeps them off temporarily!
 

4badcats

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Hmmm, well, there is a big difference between 'letting' them on the table, and them just waiting till my back is turned and jumping on there anyway!!! I don't like them up there - and the only one who ever dares go on the worktop is Max - Melchett and Ben know better - I normally flick water at Max, but he doesn't take a bind bit of notice!!!

I push them off the table as soon as they jump up, byt pretty much every day I get home and am greeted by one of more guitly looking cats 'just getting down' fomr the table.

I am obsessive about cleaning though, so the table gets scrubbed two or three times a day anyway
 
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