curtains and counters

There are two behavioral "problems" I (actually my mom) have with the cats. One is something only Willie (8 months old) does. He loves to climb or stretch on the curtains (he stretches with claws out and gets stuck on the curtain) and I need to know how to stop that. They respond to being sprayed with water but that just makes him stop when I go for the bottle, it does not stop him unless I have the bottle in hand. There is also a little table with a table cloth on it that Willie stretches on and has put all kinds of holes and runs in it so I need to know how to stop that too. Next problem is going on the counters and table. It never used to be a problem because although Neko went on them he does not eat people food so we never really cared. Willie on the other hand goes up there and eats out dinner that is thawing or cleans off the table when we leave the room, or after we put the food on the table but have not actually sat down to eat he will go up there and eat our food. I know they are doing it when we are not home and that may be the reason we can't stop the behavior, because they can do it as long as we are not there or I don't have the spray bottle with me. So how can I stop them?

maybe a cat tree with scratching posts would be the ideal replacment for curtains/counters?

Originally Posted by minxie

maybe a cat tree with scratching posts would be the ideal replacment for curtains/counters?

Click to expand...

I agree, or in our case, we have to tie the curtains up - which we are doing at the moment as Teddy will not respond to any of the usual methods - you just have to try different things - I know tied up curtains look naff, but for some reason its only one set in particular so I can handle that until he forgets and/or grows out of it

I have a question about the cat trees. What keeps them from climbing the tree and jumping to other surfaces from there? I want to get one but I am too afraid Benson will find the HUGE wall shelf and dive at it. Every corner I think a tree would fit he has somewhere to jump.

Originally Posted by Crazyforinfo

I have a question about the cat trees. What keeps them from climbing the tree and jumping to other surfaces from there? I want to get one but I am too afraid Benson will find the HUGE wall shelf and dive at it. Every corner I think a tree would fit he has somewhere to jump.

Click to expand...

Of course its ideal to place the cat tree somewhere where the cat(s) cannot use it as a form of access to other furniture/shelves. If you don't have that space....it would probably be best to move furniture/shelves around to create a 'cat tree safe' place. Or alternatively, I've seen outdoor enclosures which allow cats the space and facilities to climb.

Originally Posted by Crazyforinfo

I have a question about the cat trees. What keeps them from climbing the tree and jumping to other surfaces from there? I want to get one but I am too afraid Benson will find the HUGE wall shelf and dive at it. Every corner I think a tree would fit he has somewhere to jump.

Click to expand...

you are right, Miss Moofs & Teddy both use our cat-tree to get access to other places So I have to put it in places where they cant jump onto other stuff hard work catering for kitties aint it

I do have a cat tree for them, it's in a different room though. My mom will not allow it to be in her living room, plus there is no place that is available in there where the kitties could not jump to from the tree and having my mom's glass stuff be broken would not end well for me or the cats I don't know how to make them stop, I know my parents would never get rid of them but they get upset (mom gets mad when Willie climbs the curtains and Dad gets mad when the cats eat his dinner, understandably) Thanks for help so far!