Cat people....How do you train your cat to stay off the kitchen counters????

[mum4jenn]

Our new kittens just learned how to jump up on the kitchen counters and it is driving me crazy!!!!! HOW do you get them to stay off ?? I thought a spray bottle of water would do the trick but the one I have just puts a mist out and the cats looked at me like I had lost my mind when I sprayed them in their face. Then they proceded to wipe their paws on their faces and kept on walking across the counter.

 

[kejoda]

Try tin foil. Most cats don't like it.

I just love it when a cat looks at you like your nuts.

 

[joyebean]

We used several methods, all of which mostly worked, though what really helped was age...our 12+ year old cats just aren't interested in jumping so much!

In order of effectiveness for my cats, though we used all of these at one time or another:

1) Use a water pistol, not a squirt bottle, especially a mister. You can get good range, and the stream really seems to annoy/startle them. It's also best if you can do it surreptitiously so they're not sure *where* the water came from. Walgreen's usually has water pistols in the $1.00 range...buy several and keep them located strategically around the house/apartment.

2) Balance cookie sheets on the edge of the counters, so that when they jump up, they unbalance and fall down. This is especially effective if either you have hard floors (lots of noise) or you put some pie plates on the counter side of the cookie sheet (lots of noise).

3) Get some of that clear vinyl carpet runner (like my grandma used to have!) and turn it upside down on the countertops, so the little spikes that hold it in the carpet are facing up. They're not sharp enough to hurt the kitties' paws, but they certainly annoy them. You can find this stuff in rolls at Home Depot or Lowe's.

4) The tinfoil thing kejoda mentioned works too--especially if you accordian-fold it before laying it on the counter--this seems to really bother them.

Good luck!

=joye

 

[DocRafiki]

I just keep so many dirty dishes and coke bottles on the counters that there's no place for the cat to jump onto. Really, that's why I do it.

 

[shep]

bumping for catsrule...

 

[one_cat]

It's a continual battle. We squirt water in their faces when they do it but they are like kids. They learn to watch for when we have our backs turned and jump on the counters then. If anyone has a better idea we are willing to learn also...

 

[catsrule]

i don't! simba is king, cali is a princess, they do whatever, scratch whatever, jump on whatever they want. Simba is so handsome, I just can't say no no to him.

 

[shep]

Originally posted by catsrule
i don't! simba is king, cali is a princess, they do whatever, scratch whatever, jump on whatever they want. Simba is so handsome, I just can't say no no to him.

like i said..

 

[catsrule]

 

[RNMOM]

Hey Catsrule,

How did you get my nursing school graduation picture!?!?!?!?!?!?!

 

[GeorgeG]

We have two kittens, brothers, who are just about 8 months old and they get into everything. They're normally terrific, lovable little beasts, but we're at a loss for how to break them of their terrorist activities.

Water won't work. They love it. We call them our "aqua-cats." They've chewed up my stereo speaker wires and are working on every telephone wire and computer wire they can get their teeth on. As far as I can tell, they've left the electrical cords alone.

I'm beginning to think we need to "catproof" the house before they completely destroy it (they're strictly inside cats).

 

[MerryPoppins]

My cat doesn't seem to like the kitchen counters, but he has some bad habits.

I use the squirt gun idea. He hates it. Now, if I threaten to "get the gun" he puts his ears back and runs away.

 

[Poohbear123]

Gizmo, my Black cat, only does it when I am NOT in the room. But, I can hear him jump up there, because he is older and makes a lot of noise. I yell, "Gizmo, get off of there!" and than I hear him jump down. Miss Tiggie is a very good little girl, and does not give Mommie ONE bit of trouble! (Because I call her Princess Poo-Foo Face--she likes that!).

 

[JºoºhnG]

.....Show them the thread over on the Debate board about eating stray cats...LOL

 

[CookieGVB]

Originally posted by DocRafiki
I just keep so many dirty dishes and coke bottles on the counters that there's no place for the cat to jump onto. Really, that's why I do it.

What a coincidence! Me, too!


LOL at JohnG and the stray cat thread.

 

[Dizzy-Disney4]

We've tried the waterbottle trick with out 2 year old cat, Maxie, but she likes the water. I've just come to the conclusion that she owns this house and just allows us to live here with her. You cat people know what I mean...we're here for their amusement and to change the litter...other than that, we're not needed except for some cuddling and ear scratching.

 

[snowwhitemom]

I hope not to get flamed for this but our cat now lives outside for this very reason.

 

[CJMickeyMouse]

I will never have a cat for this very reason!

If my labs get on the kitchen counters, we have a BIG problem!

 

[Gail T AGAIN]

my cat is so afraid when I yell she sees me and gets off the counter, two words are never spoken, she just knows i will flip out. she hates yelling so that keeps her at bay.

 

[UrsulasDaBomb]

I would also suggest getting a LOT of double-sided tape and laying it in big,long sheet-like rows on the counter.Cats hate ANYTHING sticking to their paws and this really irritates them.
For the guy with the twin terrors who are chewing up his speaker wires,have you tried that Bitter Apple spray?It's really yucky to the taste and my cats HATED it when I used it on speaker wires,tv connection wires,etc.
Good luck,guys!