My cat used to get up on my kitchen countertops (always looking for food) until my mother told me to point a spray bottle with water in it at him. At first I had to actually spray him several times. Now, all I have to do is hold up the spray bottle for him to see and he jumps down as fast as he can!
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We have two 4 month old kittens that are constantly on the kitchen counter and table. They eat any food sitting out, hang out in the sink, sit in the empty crock pot, you name it. We call them the obnoxious kittens for a reason! They even jump up and try to sneak food off our plates while we're eating dinner.
We've been moving them to the floor, squirting them with a water bottle, or making loud noises when we catch them. This used to send them running, but now they no longer care and seem to enjoy their little squirt bottle baths. We rarely leave food or dirty dishes on the counter, so they're not after that. They get plenty of good quality dry food and a little wet food on top every day.
Does anyone have any other suggestions for keeping cats off the counter? I think it's gross and we have a glass top stove and I worry about them burning their feet if they walk across it while it's still hot.
By Stephanie from Hillsboro, OR
I have a friend who always kept a spray bottle of water with her and when her cats got someplace they weren't supposed to be she would squirt them with water. I don't know if it ever broke the cats of being where they weren't supposed to be, but when they got squirted they sure left in a hurry.
Stick double-sided tape all along the edge of the counter. Cats hate sticky tape on their paws! You may have to leave tape on the surfaces for a week or so, until they stop jumping up!
You could try a penny can-put a few pennies in an open soda can. Throw it in their direction when they aim for the counter, but don't hit them. It makes a big noise, and scares them.
Cats don't like aluminum foil either. Try taping some to the counters where they usually jump and they should get the heck out of there in a hurry, and hopefully, never go back. Worth a try ...
Also, be tenacious. Just keep pushing them down, with some force, chanting in a gruff voice "Get down, get down, down, down," and eventually they might get the point. It works with mine. As soon as I see them someplace they shouldn't be I just start the chanting and they know what I'm talking about.
When I get up in the morning there's always at least one cat on the counter, often two. I have to scrub the counter before I can start my day. Any suggestion on how to keep cat off the counters at night? During the day I just move them off the counter.
By Judith Mc-H from Emden, IL
Grab your baking trays and lay them on the counter. Fill with a 1/4 inch of water. Place them in different places every night. If you have a lot of counter space and not enough baking trays, lay foil along the edge of the counters.
I don't know who posted it, but I agree with Deeli. Don't use mouse traps! Mouse traps are one of the cruelest things ever invented, right along with wild animal traps. The reasons they are cruel are too many to list.
My cat gets up on my counters too. That's just something you have to learn to live with if you have cats. I keep water bottles handy (filled with water, not any chemical or anything else) and squirt him when I catch him up there.
Other than that I keep anything tempting for him off the counters and put away in containers that the scent can't escape from.
In the mornings and before I prepare to use a counter, I simply wipe it down with a Lysol wipe. Takes only a few seconds and doesn't cost that much. If you don't want to but the Lysol wipes then use a rag wth dishwater on it.
But, cats like to jump up and explore anythng higher than they are on the floor so just accept that and move on. Anyone who would even consider using a mouse trap has no business having any pets.
Can I use peppermint oil in a spray bottle with water to spray on my daughter's cat to deter him from getting on my counters?
By Nancy
Never, ever use pepper of any kind on or around cats or other animals. I used to work in a vet's office. Cats get the pepper in their eyes and it burns. We had a cat in our office that actually scratched it's eye out trying to get rid of the burning pain! We had to surgically remove what was left of the shredded eye. Poor kitty! Use a spray bottle with plain water in it. Don't yell or say anything to the cat. Just spray it when it jumps up on the counter. It will associate the counter with getting sprayed. Don't put anything in the water as the cat may get it in their eyes.
Buy a bottle of bitter apple spray in the pet department. I get mine at Petsmart but I understand Wallmart carries it also. It is recommended for dogs to prevent scratching, but it is nothing in it to harm cats and they hate it. Spray it where you do not want them to be and they will stay away. My daughter had a problem with her cat chewing on her electrical cords and also getting on counter tops. She sprayed them and it cured her cat from both problems. Hope this will help your problem.
We have a 9 year old cat that seems to like to go up on the counter tops at night when we are sleeping. I personally haven't seen her do it, but my husband has woken up early in the a.m.
and seen her on top of the counter. What can we use to stop her from going up on the counter? Or at least scare her off of it?There are several things you can try:
Place some sticky tape along the edges of your kitchen counters.
You can try to take some aluminum foil to the edges of your counters.
You can invest in a climbing tree for the cat that has a platform the cat can sleep on. Considering cats love heights and love to sleep up high.
Make sure your faucet is not dripping water so the cat will not go there to drink from the faucet.
I would try the aluminum foil. Most cat do not like to walk on it. Lay strips of foil on the counter on spot he is likely to jump. A few days should make it less fun to get on the counters.
Any idea how to keep my kitten off of the kitchen counter? She runs when you see her. When I catch her I do spank her. Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Cats can be discouraged from surfing the kitchen counters by using double sided tape applied in strips along the counter top. Hardware stores and home centers carry plastic carpet runners with "teeth" on the back. Buy a piece long enough to cover the counter top placing it "teeth" side up. The tape and the runner work because cats don't like the feel on their feet. Empty soda cans, with or without coins inside, deter cats by making a racket when they fall. During Halloween, look for motion activated toys that scream or flash lights. Some you can even record your own voice. Use any of these or a combination for a week or so, depending on how long your cat has had the habit. In the future, you may have to use one again for a day or two as a reminder. Hitting a cat only teaches fear and squirting only works when you are there.
I have two kittens. Can anyone tell me how I can train them to keep them from climbing on the kitchen table, counters, and stove? I really need help as there are two of them and I have never had two cats at one time. I found it easy to train one. I think they are "partners in crime" together. They copy each other.
By Joyce from Mississauga, Ontario
Get a can, put a few coins in it, and either place a lid on it or tape over the top. When you see them getting up, toss it in their direction - careful not to hit them - you want to startle them with the noise, not hit them with the can.
If they are jumping up when you are not around, you can rig the edge of the counter with a long strip of cloth or paper with light items on it that will fall down if the paper/cloth falls. If they jump up they will hopefully knock the paper/cloth off and get the startle from the sound of things falling.
When you catch them on the table squirt them with water from a toy squir gun from across the room will do the trick.
I would pick my cat up several times a day and spray him with water on the counter top. Quickly, he associated the counter with the spraying. No more counter hopping.
How do I train a 4 month old Siamese/Tabby mix not to get on tables, kitchen counters, etc. She carries things in her mouth also and it is difficult to find what she has taken. I really feel like sending her back to the cat rescue because I am getting tired of the way she acts.
I have had 5 Tabbies in my life (rescued 2 sisters at approx 5 wks), but have never run up against a kitten like this one. I am getting sick of the whole situation. I have a Doxie and they play together and seem to get along fairly well, but she is more aggressive than my female Doxie. I need help before I give up on her! I know she is still a kitten, but how do I scold without hurting her or her feelings for me?
By Barbara
I answered your other post, too. But just in case you missed it:
Try clicker-training your cat.
Here is a basic article: www.catster.com/
Does anyone know how to keep a cat (19 mo old) off the counter/ entertainment center? He is driving me batty. Thank you in advance.
By Tammey S.
