ARGH...cats discovered the kitchen counters :(

maherwoman

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Ugh...it's taken them almost two years...but they did it, and all because of Hobbes' lifelong broccoli fettish.


The kitties have discovered the kitchen counter. Now I must explore a thousand and one options to discourage it, as I'm not one to be terribly OCD about having the dishes done at night.

It all started when I gave our bunny a broccoli stalk, and made the mistake of leaving the crown I cut off on the counter. Hobbes is an expert at sniffing out broccoli, so he found it sometime last night. Now I'm having a time at keeping him off...even though the broccoli is LONG gone!! ARGH!!

So...on that note...throw me all the ideas you have at discouraging kitties from wanting to jump on kitchen counters. I have a few ideas up my sleeve (like double-sided sticky tape, foil, etc.) but wanted to pick your guys' brains to see if you've got anything in mind I haven't thought of yet.

Thanks guys!!
 

larke

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Give him some broccoli on the floor, so he isn't as tempted. Or is this too obvious and already tried?
 

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I keep my cat from the dining room and the entrance is a large arch into the dining room. I bought two SSScat cans, they have a motion detector and when she walks within three feet of them it makes this awful high pitched beep and sprays compressed air. She thnks they are the blue can monsters and goes no where near the dining room. When I had guests last weekend for dinner I turned them off but she stayed out of the dining room and politely watched us from the top of the sofa. I really LOVE this product. You can buy it at foster smith or on ebay. It's not cheap but it is very effective and the noise/spray is not related to you and works even when you are not home.
 

krazy kat2

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I found a silly looking frog with a motion sensor that I might go back and get. I have been trying to figure out how to keep Scooter off my counters, and had not thought of using that until this thread. Thanks!
 

momof3rugratz

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I must confese I gave up with Skittles and she gets on the back side and lays there. My counter is long and this is the part that is connected to the livingroom. I know it is bad but that is only area she goes to.
 
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maherwoman

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Originally Posted by Larke

Give him some broccoli on the floor, so he isn't as tempted. Or is this too obvious and already tried?
I haven't tried just giving it to him...is it ok for him to eat??
 
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maherwoman

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Originally Posted by Abigail

I keep my cat from the dining room and the entrance is a large arch into the dining room. I bought two SSScat cans, they have a motion detector and when she walks within three feet of them it makes this awful high pitched beep and sprays compressed air. She thnks they are the blue can monsters and goes no where near the dining room. When I had guests last weekend for dinner I turned them off but she stayed out of the dining room and politely watched us from the top of the sofa. I really LOVE this product. You can buy it at foster smith or on ebay. It's not cheap but it is very effective and the noise/spray is not related to you and works even when you are not home.
Hmmm...I might just check that out...
Thanks for the idea!!


Edit: Ok...checked it out, but it's about $60 a can, which we can't afford right now. We can save up to get it, but can't get it right now.

Anyone have any other ideas I can use until then??
 

stephanietx

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Have you tried putting down double sided tape (fold packing tape over on itselt to expose the sticky side), aluminum foil, and keeping a cluttered counter??

I made a rattle out of an old Coke can and some pinto beans. I just put 10 or so dried pinto beans in a Coke can and covered the opening with duct tape. When I catch Hannah doing something she's not supposed to be doing, or somewhere she's not supposed to be, I just give it a good shake. It gets her attention!! She's not fond of it either!! Now all I have to do is grab it and she's down from the counter or the table, or...., or.....

Stephanie
 

enigma

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I just put duct tape where I don't want the kitties to go, (double sided) and only have it out when I am home just in case it gets stuck, they hate it.

On a funny note It is hilarious your kitty likes broccoli out of all things..anything vegetable my cats are like...whatever....wheres the beef!!
 
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maherwoman

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Originally Posted by enigma

I just put duct tape where I don't want the kitties to go, (double sided) and only have it out when I am home just in case it gets stuck, they hate it.

On a funny note It is hilarious your kitty likes broccoli out of all things..anything vegetable my cats are like...whatever....wheres the beef!!
I know...it's the strangest thing. And he's just OBSESSED with it, too!!
It's not a small love, by any means! He'll literally go through any lengths to get it. He's such a weirdo...lol!!
 

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Spray some orange oil, or dab some orange extract around the counter when you're not there.

And put a bit under his nose if he jumps up while you're there. Then give him something pleasant like a treat or broccoli when he goes on the floor.

Maybe that might help.

Now the "Chopping Broccoli" song is going through my head all night. LOL
 
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maherwoman

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Originally Posted by Charmed654321

Spray some orange oil, or dab some orange extract around the counter when you're not there.

And put a bit under his nose if he jumps up while you're there. Then give him something pleasant like a treat or broccoli when he goes on the floor.

Maybe that might help.

Now the "Chopping Broccoli" song is going through my head all night. LOL
Hmmm...that sounds like a good idea!! I'll try that, and let you know how it goes.

Lol...about the song!
 

goo

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orange, foil, Broccoli, tape nothing will stop my white cat from jumping up onto the counter I giveup 10yrs ago.

Now I actually feed him on the top of the refrigerator.
 

momof3rugratz

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Originally Posted by Goo

orange, foil, Broccoli, tape nothing will stop my white cat from jumping up onto the counter I giveup 10yrs ago.

Now I actually feed him on the top of the refrigerator.
Dang that must be a rabbit cat. Mine tries to jump on the fridge but failed now she just stares at it like. 1 day I will kick your butt lol
 

yosemite

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Another option would be getting an antibacterial cleaner and just clean the countertops before using/cooking.
That's what works best at our house.
 

momof3rugratz

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Originally Posted by Yosemite

Another option would be getting an antibacterial cleaner and just clean the countertops before using/cooking.
That's what works best at our house.
I use the clorox clean up wipes, but Skittles never goes further then the sink. I think she thinks it is a cat water fountain
 

stormysmom

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UGH this is one of the things I HATE about having cats. I have tried since they were old enough to jump up to keep them off both kitchen and bathroom counters without success. Of course my fiancÃ[emoji]169[/emoji] thinks itâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]s adorable to encourage them by allowing them to drink from the faucet. I yell their name when I see them up there and apparently the sound of my voice is hideous enough to them to make them get down for the moment. Our boy Sam is an acrobat and can literally jump on the cabinet to the fridge then to the bookcase and to the shelf way up high by the ceiling where no one can get him unless with a ladder. He looks down and laughs at me yelling his name and shaking my finger at him. I swear if he were ever animated he would have a huge Cheshire cat grin. lol I also have counter surfing pups so its five times the trouble. We are doing a can monster for them soon so I am going to try some double sided tape on the fridge for little Mr. Sam mwhahahahahaha! (Iâ€[emoji]8482[/emoji]d never tried the tape idea….I pray it works.)
 
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maherwoman

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Originally Posted by Yosemite

Another option would be getting an antibacterial cleaner and just clean the countertops before using/cooking.
That's what works best at our house.
Ya know...I tried this yesterday, and didn't have them going on the counters AT ALL yesterday or today. So I think your advice definitely has some weight.


Of course, it could also have been the absense of brocolli...LOL..who knows? Cats are so funny...
 
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