Kitten finally discovered the counter!

I knew it would hapen one day....I just didn't know when. I heard a loud crash, and ran into the kitchen and there he was, staring up at me like "what did I do", I sprayed him with the water bottle, and he starts biting the stream. He's not afraid of water, in fact he lays in the sink or shower anytime he gets the chance. And loud noises, like a can shaker, doesn't work either. He'll just look up at you like "why are you being so loud".
Does anyone know how I can prevent my cat from jumping up there, and when he gets up there, what I can do, to scare him from going up there?


Heather?

Try putting tape, double-sided or sticky side up, enough so he can't jump up without landing on it. He'll learn to stop, as cats hate getting their paws stuck.

Something like that is better than you punishing your cat, because it's punishment (not very nice), it's often ineffective (like in your case), and the cat associates it with you (so he might do it just when you're not around, which doesn't help).

Bubble wrap or ballons sometimes work also. If you use tape, make sure it is stuck very well to the counter. You don't want it coming off on the cat and having to get the tape unstuck from the cat later (trust me on that one!).

Oh yeah, that's a good warning I forgot to mention. That happened to Robin once and she got afraid of it, poor kitty We always made sure it was secure from then on.

There is a product called sticky paws that is supposed to help cats with scratching and being on surfaces they aren't supposed to be on:

http://www.fourlegsandatail.com/furprotsticp.html

Katie

Originally Posted by Momofmany

Bubble wrap or ballons sometimes work also. If you use tape, make sure it is stuck very well to the counter. You don't want it coming off on the cat and having to get the tape unstuck from the cat later (trust me on that one!).

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He loves bubble wrap!!!

Originally Posted by TNR1

There is a product called sticky paws that is supposed to help cats with scratching and being on surfaces they aren't supposed to be on:

http://www.fourlegsandatail.com/furprotsticp.html

Katie

Click to expand...

I think I'll buy this stuff!

Thanks!

Originally Posted by HFrodoC

He loves bubble wrap!!!

Click to expand...

Figures he would! LOL

First of all, you can't put anything on the counters, cause it sticks, and when I wash the counters, the sticky stuff comes up. It is great for fabrics, but....this counter problem is the real only problem that I have with him now.
Maybe he'll grow out of it.

The balloon thing might be worth a try. I think your supposed to blow up a few, tape them to the counter and let a fan blow on them. The movement will scare the kitty, if she is brave and jumps on them they would pop and scare kitty away also. I have never tried it, just read about it. Dori gets on the counter occasionally. I guess I kind of let her get away with it.

Theres a spray that i have and i'd imagine pet shops in other countries would stock it as well?!.

You give a small spray(NEVER ON THE CAT)on wherever the cat is going to and it won't go anywhere near it.

They don't like the smell of it, it has a citrus smell and they hate it.

Rosie 'had' a habit of trying to pull at the twigs i have in a vase until i gave a quick spray onto the twigs. She still goes to try and pull at them now and again, but all i have to do is say" ROSIE ", pull off the top and she walks away

Patience is a virtue

We tried the Sticky Paws on the counters and kitchen table. Our kittens were not at all fazed (sp?) by this--they would just walk all over the tape! So much for that. After awhile, though, they must have gotten tired of being chased down off the counters, because they really don't go on them anymore.

The kitchen table, however, is a different story. It's right near a great window that they like to look out of, so they view the table as just another great place to lay around. I've learned to deal with that. I just make sure that the table is hair free when we want to eat on it. (I never thought I'd hear myself say that!).

The Sticky Paws worked well when placed on vertical surfaces to discourage scratching.

Jill

Yeah, that's what I'm finding. It works great on my couch! He's been good lately and when I see him act like he's jumping I warn him not to, and he looks at me and walks away. The good part about it, is that it makes me keep my counters cleaner than before so he doesn't get into anything.

I don't have much more advice than the sticky tape, but I would like to say that your kitten is hilarious! What personality that little furface has! Enjoy it, he's (she?) a blessing to your life!