My cat won't stop jumping on the counter!

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kitcatmeow

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I'm getting very frustrated with my cat. He knows he's not supposed to be in the counter. We have put tape down several different times. Last time I even just took really sticky tape and taped it upside down, but only on one side so the rest would stick to him a little when he tried to get done. I can't keep the tape up for ever I don't know what else to do though. I yell at him when I see him, and now he just does it as night. I know because now he jumps on the counter, and onto the fridge, then on to the top of the high cupboards, then leaves dusty prints all over the counters. There are lots of other things he is allowed to climb on, window sills, the TV stand, book shelves, counters in the laundry room, things in my kids rooms. I'm thinking of getting a cat tree but they are so expensive and what if it doesn't even fix the problem. I may put foil on the counters so it easier to move in the day when I want to use my counter, but I don't have enough foil at the moment..
Any other ideas how to get in to stop!?
 
2bcat

2bcat

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Counters are tough.  I've been lucky in recent years; our current two basically are too small to jump quite that high, it seems.  Before that my older cat had grown to old to jump up, but when she was younger she could get up on the counter (and then, if I didn't place items carefully, even up onto the top of the fridge!)  I learned to work around it.  Today I look at the counter and wonder how I ever could have done that, but in prior years I kept certain parts of the counter clear of items that would be a problem if the cat got up there.  I know this isn't a workable solution for many, though.

Negative actions won't really help, like yelling, etc.  The cat doesn't really understand that sort of thing, doesn't connect it with the action.  You can try foil, that at least is an easy thing to move around.  Some cats don't mind walking on the foil though!  Pans of water is another thing I've heard of, or some kind of plastic mat that has some blunt spikes on the back (I'm thinking someone makes such a thing as a cat deterrent, can't remember). Depending upon layout, you may be able to find a less common solution, such as a spring-loaded tension curtain rod or shower curtain rod.  Placed at the right height above the counter this would likely prevent a jump from the floor, but would also be easily removable when you need to use the counters.  For this to work, though, you would need to have walls or wall plus fridge spaced fairly close together.  I don't know what the longest tension rod available would be, maybe 8 feet?

I would also block the fridge if that is his pathway to the upper cabinets.  Put something on top of it, even if it's temporarily for a few weeks or so.  If there's something on top of the fridge, on the edge near where he would jump from the counter, then he won't be able to get up to the top at least.

In addition as you mentioned, having other more interesting high places is important, but cats do like to explore a variety of places.  I'm not sure if there's something in particular about the tops of the upper cabinets that he is interested in.  It could be the view if he stays up there, or he could just be making rounds so to speak.  An appealing cat tree will probably help but it is certainly no guarantee as you say.
 
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kitcatmeow

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2bcat said:
Counters are tough.  I've been lucky in recent years; our current two basically are too small to jump quite that high, it seems.  Before that my older cat had grown to old to jump up, but when she was younger she could get up on the counter (and then, if I didn't place items carefully, even up onto the top of the fridge!)  I learned to work around it.  Today I look at the counter and wonder how I ever could have done that, but in prior years I kept certain parts of the counter clear of items that would be a problem if the cat got up there.  I know this isn't a workable solution for many, though.

Negative actions won't really help, like yelling, etc.  The cat doesn't really understand that sort of thing, doesn't connect it with the action.  You can try foil, that at least is an easy thing to move around.  Some cats don't mind walking on the foil though!  Pans of water is another thing I've heard of, or some kind of plastic mat that has some blunt spikes on the back (I'm thinking someone makes such a thing as a cat deterrent, can't remember). Depending upon layout, you may be able to find a less common solution, such as a spring-loaded tension curtain rod or shower curtain rod.  Placed at the right height above the counter this would likely prevent a jump from the floor, but would also be easily removable when you need to use the counters.  For this to work, though, you would need to have walls or wall plus fridge spaced fairly close together.  I don't know what the longest tension rod available would be, maybe 8 feet?

I would also block the fridge if that is his pathway to the upper cabinets.  Put something on top of it, even if it's temporarily for a few weeks or so.  If there's something on top of the fridge, on the edge near where he would jump from the counter, then he won't be able to get up to the top at least.

In addition as you mentioned, having other more interesting high places is important, but cats do like to explore a variety of places.  I'm not sure if there's something in particular about the tops of the upper cabinets that he is interested in.  It could be the view if he stays up there, or he could just be making rounds so to speak.  An appealing cat tree will probably help but it is certainly no guarantee as you say.
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The funny thing is, there is a ton of crap on top of the fridge! My husbands lunch pail which is pretty much a cooler big enough to hold a 6pack, a basket full of his medicine, some fish food, 2 bottles of vitamins, and a grocery bag with some stuff for my husbands glucose meter. I Really don't know how he gets up there without knocking anything down, but because of how the cupboards are all set up I know it's the only way to get up higher!
 
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