He thinks jumping on the counter is a fun game.

Frankie knows the word "no" and knows that he's not supposed to be on the kitchen counter (at least while we're home ) and lately he's been going up there while we're home and running the whole length of it as we run after him or squirt him trying to get him down or he goes up and lays down right in front of me until I push him off. After I push him off he jumps right back up there. The spraying of water doesn't even phase him anymore. I think he's doing it like a fun game. He has a big cat tree and a big bay window that he can lay on so he doesn't need to be on the counter. He's a great cat but I'd like to nip this "fun game" in the bud before he gets too used to it. Any suggestions?

Originally Posted by peeps

Frankie knows the word "no" and knows that he's not supposed to be on the kitchen counter (at least while we're home

) and lately he's been going up there while we're home and running the whole length of it as we run after him or squirt him trying to get him down or he goes up and lays down right in front of me until I push him off. After I push him off he jumps right back up there. The spraying of water doesn't even phase him anymore. I think he's doing it like a fun game. He has a big cat tree and a big bay window that he can lay on so he doesn't need to be on the counter. He's a great cat but I'd like to nip this "fun game" in the bud before he gets too used to it. Any suggestions?

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Persi is not dumb at all. I say "brushing time" and he runs and jumps on the dryer where I brush (comb) him. And he never registers a complaint during his grooming. So in that respect I consider myself quite the trainer. But I gave up on the counter thing. I have trained him to never get on the cooktop, however. I just keep the countertops free of breakable things and clean the area that I prepare food on before preparing it. The rest of the time he does what he wants on the counters. I have no idea who raised Alley, but she never gets on the counters at all.

Oh well, if that's the worst thing that he does, I'm a very lucky cat mommy.

I forgot to mention that I am trying one other thing. I just started giving him a time out when he keeps hopping up there. I do time out by putting him in a bedroom for about 10 minutes. He's a very social cat and wants to be by us so I thought maybe he'd learn to stop hopping up there if he starts to realize that he's going to get a time out. I must be insanely dreaming that this will work but I'm going to keep trying this for a while.

This is defiantly a game and a way to get some attention from you. Friday does something similar when he wants me to chase him (his favorite game). He gets right in front of me and scratches the carpet then gets ready to run. It's bratty but funny too. Still...

Anyway, the next time he does it completely ignore him. Don't look at him, touch him or even say anything. Then do something really unpleasant like make a loud noise all without paying any attention to him. He's really training you because he's learned that you'll pay attention to him when he hops up there so you have to exhibit a new behavior that's not pleasing to him to stop the game.

He must be talking (ESP) to Charlie - he's a smart cat, but stubborn. He does the same thing. We keep telling him to "get down". Its been suggested to use sticky tape, and we should do that, just lazy and haven't done it!

I really should take my own advice

I suppose I can try the coins in a can thing and bang it the second that his legs go up onto the counter. Probably won't faze the goof ball but worth a try. Might have to join those of you who ended up giving up. We'll see.

Tucker tried jumping up onto the counter for the first time today! I "ssshhed" at him and he got the point...I hope

There is a great new invention...can't remember what it's called but it's a little spray bottle that is motion activated. It sprays water or air, not sure, in a 3 foot radius. I found this at a local farm store. It was about $30 and has refills on the spray can.

Another idea is putting tape on the counter sticky side up so the cat gets tape on them. It's harmless and it taught a cat we had when I was a kid.

Reeses always gets on the counter, and usually when I catch her, she gets down really quick because she KNOWS she's not supposed to be up there. Some days she'll just be brave and tell me off and jump on the counter while I'm standing there. I'll be making lunch and she'll jump up, walk over and look at me as if to say "Hi, what are you making?".

We've tried everything except the tape idea (we don't like the idea of having tape all over our counters even if it is on the edge), so we've just gotten used to the idea that she's not going to listen to us. Nothing phases her anyway...actually, if I could get some sort of motion activated thing that would trigger a doorbell sound, that would work perfectly. She hates the doorbell.

Last night, I clanged a key ring of keys against the counter every time Frankie hopped up there and it scared him enough that he jumped down. This morning, the keys weren't on the counter and he hopped up there and started walking the length around the counter while I was sitting there so I openned a drawer and banged it shut which scared him enough to jump down. Both times, I didn't let him see that it was me making the noise. Wouldn't it be nice if I could get him to think that every time he goes on the counter that a loud scary noise will happen? I don't know if I could be so lucky but this is encouraging.

I too have given up on keeping Sweetie off the counter and k. table. I use sanitizing wipes before I use the table, sink, counter. My big problem now is she is jumping up on the entertainment center. I had to remove all my collectibles. When I try to spray her with water she jumps behing the center. Needless to say all the electrical connections are plugged in back there. She has unplugged the T.V. more than once and I'm afraid that someday I'm going to have a fried cat. I'm going to try the coins in a can, but she is stubborn.

You've got the right idea, making the noises in a way that he doesn't know that it's you.

I pretty much gave up on the counter thing long ago. Some of mine are better than others, but they all have their moments. I have been more strict with Paisley, though. Invariably, while I'm trying to get the cats' plates and food ready, she will of course jump up there and mill around...walking the length of the counter over and over. Given the other's behavior, it's no big deal. BUT, meanwhile there are 7 hungry cats waiting on the floor. Paisley is a big girl, kinda clumsy too. She ALWAYS and I mean every single time ...bumps a plate or a spoon, etc and the little "tinkle" noise scares the $<*t out of all of the cats. Takes me 10 minutes to coax them back downstairs to eat.

Two of mine get on the counters, too. I'm flattered though that they at least try to be sneaky about it.

i pretty much gave up on the counter battle. i only expect them to leave it alone when i'm actually preparing food/using the counter. i keep a squirt bottle handy when i'm using the counter, too. that pretty much deters them. otherwise, it was a lost cause. i was stressing myself out, while the cats were entertained by the human yelling, jumping up & down, and flailing her arms.

One word of advice on the coffee can with pennies, okay, two or three words.. this works amazingly well for my two Bengals, Mau and DMH...but only when it's handy. I used to have one can, then I started using that can to put any spare change I had laying around in, and now suddenly that can doesn't work as well. Ideally, it's about four or five pennies.

Second thing is, I now have more than one "can of correction" sitting around. Inevitably, if I'm in the kitchen and they do something, the can is in the living room and by the time you get it and correct them, the prime moment is gone. Or, I'll be in the living room and of course I left it in the kitchen.. or upstairs...

This works so well that when they start to do something, all I have to do is pick up the can and say their name and they pull back their paws like I wasn't about to do that mom, I swear.. I'm just going to continue on my walk now.. see ya round...

I have persian cats, they don't jump anywhere.
It's a great breed for people who want quiet docile cats.
My cats are extremely well behaved. They don't jump, they don't meow, they only scratch on their posts. In fact sometimes I wonder if I actually got cats or teddy bears.

I think the ignoring think works well..Trout trys to annoy me by testing me sometimes too..She will stop doing whatever it is once I stop acknowledging what she is doing.