How do I keep my cats off of the kitchen counter or table?
Recently as I shopped thru one of the grocery stores, I was approached by a local resident about the problem she was having with her indoor cats. Her cats were jumping up on her kitchen counters and on the kitchen table. She particularly did not like this habit, especially after her cats visited the cat litter box. She wanted to know is there any way she can keep her cats off of the counter and the table.
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Personally, I do not allow my cats to walk on my kitchen counter or my kitchen tables where I eat and prepare food. Just thinking of where those little paws have been, or gotten into, just makes my stomach squirm.
Cats love high places; there they can see all that is happening in their little world. I have a cat high tower in my kitchen, away from the kitchen counter and table. I have taught them by placing treats on the different levels of the tower; (you can use catnip, too) that the tower provides them to see what is happening. If you cannot put a cat high tower in your kitchen, can you maybe place the high tower near the kitchen, to where they can look into the kitchen, to see you? I also show them affection by petting them or rubbing them while they are on the high tower, they will receive attention from me.
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Never – ever – yell at your cat or swat at your cat. This will only build a negative relationship with your cat!
In deterring my cats from jumping up on the kitchen counter and the table, I made that experience as unpleasant as I could for them by covering my counters and table with aluminum foil. My neighbor used shelf liner, sticky side up taped on cardboard laid flat. They will learn eventually this is an unpleasant experience!
After discovering that making the kitchen counters and the tables unpleasant, your cats are still doing this, you may have to ask your vet to refer you to a cat behaviorist. They will be able to guide you, and offer you advice.
Photo Credit: Ceil Dixon of Gypsy's Kitties of Feasterville.
