Keeping Cats Off Counters?

I've been trying to teach my kitties to stay off the countertops and table but they won't stop jumping up. I've used a spray bottle, I've tried clapping loudly and saying no in a loud voice and nothing is working. What should I do?

Originally Posted by imsandiluv

I've been trying to teach my kitties to stay off the countertops and table but they won't stop jumping up. I've used a spray bottle, I've tried clapping loudly and saying no in a loud voice and nothing is working. What should I do?

Click to expand...

I ring a hand bell, say NO ABI in a serious but not angry voice and if she doesn't respond I immediately put her on the floor. Once she is on the floor I tell her she is a good girl.

I must admit though that it really has very little to do with me. This is the most amazingly well behaved cat. And she understands many short sentences like "go get it" "pouncey treat", "No. Abi", "where's Abi?" - (she meows to tell me) and of course "good girl" which i use frequently.

Personally I think the secret is to work hard to understand your cat and its body language, rarely impose your will unless it is in the best interest of the cat, and use tons of praise affection and closeness when the cat demonstrates interest in getting it. or maybe I just lucked out with a little piece of fluffy heaven.

Honestly, I've found it just best to keep a bottle of spray cleaner around and just wipe down the counter before I have to use it for food prep, etc., and just let the kitty have at the counter.

No matter what you do, the second you are gone your cat is going to get up on the counter if that's what they want. All you can really teach them by spray bottles and such is that if you are around they'll get in trouble. It's not really going to stop them from doing it when you aren't standing there, so I've found acceptance works best.

Good luck!

MKD

It won't happen. Even if you teach a cat to not get up on the counters when you're around, you can rest assured she's up there when you're not around. I've found that the absolute best solution for everyone is just to wipe my countertop down with a disinfecting rag every time I use the counter to prepare food or whatnot.

That being said, I've heard of people having success with a product called "Ssssscat" which isn't cheap, but again, I've heard that people have had pretty good luck with it. It just hisses at the cat when motion is detected. I've also heard it hisses at husbands and boyfriends and children that go to get a glass of water in the middle of the night! The other option, which is logisitcally not as great for you but works like a charm is to put Sticky Paws or double-sided tape all over your counters. It won't make it easy for you to actually use the counter, but it'll definitely keep kitty off of them.

Give them an alternative if you have the space: I've placed a cat condo that is slightly higher than the countertops on the opposite end of the kitchen away from the counters. When you see them on the counters, redirect them to the cat condo. It hasn't eliminated my problem, but their first choice is the condo (unless it is occupied).

Is it possible they will out grow it? My mother's 2 cats never jump up and haven't for as long as I can remember and when I used to live with my grandfather we had 3 cats and as they got older I don't remember them ever getting on tables or counters. Thanks for the feedback.

Barkley still jumps up on the counters (he's 3 yrs old) but Petunia does not (she will be 5 in Aug). Im not sure if age has anything to do with when they snap out of jumping on things but it sure would be nice if Barkley would quit he is the more active of the two cats as well, again not sure if that has anything to do with it or not. I see now that nothing I do works either. I havent done the watergun thing but I have clapped loudly and said in an even and stern tone "NO!!" when I see him about to jump but that does not deter him. So I have to agree with what was said earlier about just letting your cat have the counter and when it comes time to use it spray it down with a disinfectant.

My cats NEVER jump on the counters. I have trained them not to do this. I put foil down so that it hangs over the edge of the counter. This kinda confuses them about where the edge is. When Hannah wanted to jump, I'd use my can. I took an empty (& cleaned out) Coke can, filled it with a handful of dried pinto beans (you could also use small pebbles or marbles), then taped the top with duct tape. When Hannah wanted to jump, I'd shake the can and firmly tell her "NO!". It took consistency and never giving in, but she's now a no-counter kitty and very well behaved.

Stephanie