Kitty likes to jump on the counter

I've owned my cat for three months now. Before, he was simply too young to
reach the kitchen countertop, so he'd clamber up on shelves every once in a
while. Now he's a bit older and more agile, so my husband and I catch him
up there quite frequently. I don't approve of this behavior as it is not
very sanitary. Also, there is no food left on the counter so I'm not quite
sure what he's looking for. I'm frustrated because I love my cat, but would
love even more to break his bad habit. Any help?

Pamela

in article , Pamela at
wrote on 8/5/03 1:33 PM:

I've owned my cat for three months now. Before, he was simply too young to
reach the kitchen countertop, so he'd clamber up on shelves every once in a
while. Now he's a bit older and more agile, so my husband and I catch him
up there quite frequently. I don't approve of this behavior as it is not
very sanitary. Also, there is no food left on the counter so I'm not quite
sure what he's looking for. I'm frustrated because I love my cat, but would
love even more to break his bad habit. Any help?

Pamela


Try some double sided sticky tape on the counters for a while. Do you have a
kitty tree that he can explore UP on?


Karen

in article , Pamela at
wrote on 8/5/03 1:33 PM:

I've owned my cat for three months now. Before, he was simply too young to
reach the kitchen countertop, so he'd clamber up on shelves every once in a
while. Now he's a bit older and more agile, so my husband and I catch him
up there quite frequently. I don't approve of this behavior as it is not
very sanitary. Also, there is no food left on the counter so I'm not quite
sure what he's looking for. I'm frustrated because I love my cat, but would
love even more to break his bad habit. Any help?

Pamela


Try some double sided sticky tape on the counters for a while. Do you have a
kitty tree that he can explore UP on?


Karen

I gave up on keeping the cats off the countertops years upon years ago. I
figure I must bring more germs into the house from the outside world, than
they deposit onto the countertops, anyway. Plus, even if you think you have
them trained, guess what they're going to do, once you're out of their line
of vision? ;-) (Someone once suggested sprinkling some flour on the
kitchen floor during the night &/or while you're out during the day, then
checking to see little floury pawprints up on the counters later.)

Cathy

--
"Staccato signals of constant information..."
("The Boy in the Bubble") Paul Simon

"Pamela" wrote in message
...
I've owned my cat for three months now. Before, he was simply too young
to
reach the kitchen countertop, so he'd clamber up on shelves every once in
a
while. Now he's a bit older and more agile, so my husband and I catch him
up there quite frequently. I don't approve of this behavior as it is not
very sanitary. Also, there is no food left on the counter so I'm not
quite
sure what he's looking for. I'm frustrated because I love my cat, but
would
love even more to break his bad habit. Any help?

Pamela

I gave up on keeping the cats off the countertops years upon years ago. I
figure I must bring more germs into the house from the outside world, than
they deposit onto the countertops, anyway. Plus, even if you think you have
them trained, guess what they're going to do, once you're out of their line
of vision? ;-) (Someone once suggested sprinkling some flour on the
kitchen floor during the night &/or while you're out during the day, then
checking to see little floury pawprints up on the counters later.)

Cathy

--
"Staccato signals of constant information..."
("The Boy in the Bubble") Paul Simon

"Pamela" wrote in message
...
I've owned my cat for three months now. Before, he was simply too young
to
reach the kitchen countertop, so he'd clamber up on shelves every once in
a
while. Now he's a bit older and more agile, so my husband and I catch him
up there quite frequently. I don't approve of this behavior as it is not
very sanitary. Also, there is no food left on the counter so I'm not
quite
sure what he's looking for. I'm frustrated because I love my cat, but
would
love even more to break his bad habit. Any help?

Pamela

"Pamela" wrote in message
...
I've owned my cat for three months now. Before, he was simply too young
to
reach the kitchen countertop, so he'd clamber up on shelves every once in
a
while. Now he's a bit older and more agile, so my husband and I catch him
up there quite frequently. I don't approve of this behavior as it is not
very sanitary. Also, there is no food left on the counter so I'm not
quite
sure what he's looking for. I'm frustrated because I love my cat, but
would
love even more to break his bad habit. Any help?

Pamela



He's not necessarily looking for anything. Cats like to be in an elevated
location so they can survey their territory from a height.

Some people try to discourage jumping on the counter by putting something on
it the cat doesn't like, such as aluminum foil.

You might try putting a cover on the counter that doesn't matter if the cat
walks on it. Remove the cover when you want to use the counter.

A more practical approach would be not to make a big fuss if the cat is on
the counter so long as you're not using it, and clean the counter before you
use it. You normally want to do this anyway. Then pretend to be surprised
if the cat jumps on the counter when you have guests.

Bill

"Pamela" wrote in message
...
I've owned my cat for three months now. Before, he was simply too young
to
reach the kitchen countertop, so he'd clamber up on shelves every once in
a
while. Now he's a bit older and more agile, so my husband and I catch him
up there quite frequently. I don't approve of this behavior as it is not
very sanitary. Also, there is no food left on the counter so I'm not
quite
sure what he's looking for. I'm frustrated because I love my cat, but
would
love even more to break his bad habit. Any help?

Pamela



He's not necessarily looking for anything. Cats like to be in an elevated
location so they can survey their territory from a height.

Some people try to discourage jumping on the counter by putting something on
it the cat doesn't like, such as aluminum foil.

You might try putting a cover on the counter that doesn't matter if the cat
walks on it. Remove the cover when you want to use the counter.

A more practical approach would be not to make a big fuss if the cat is on
the counter so long as you're not using it, and clean the counter before you
use it. You normally want to do this anyway. Then pretend to be surprised
if the cat jumps on the counter when you have guests.

Bill

"Karen Chuplis" wrote in message
...
in article , Pamela at
wrote on 8/5/03 1:33 PM:

I've owned my cat for three months now. Before, he was simply too young
to
reach the kitchen countertop, so he'd clamber up on shelves every once
in a
while. Now he's a bit older and more agile, so my husband and I catch
him
up there quite frequently. I don't approve of this behavior as it is
not
very sanitary. Also, there is no food left on the counter so I'm not
quite
sure what he's looking for. I'm frustrated because I love my cat, but
would
love even more to break his bad habit. Any help?

Pamela


Try some double sided sticky tape on the counters for a while. Do you have
a
kitty tree that he can explore UP on?


Karen


I think I may start preparing my cats food in a different place maybe its
because she knows her food is prepared up there.... I have tried tin foil,
using the water spray when I catch her, will give the double sided sticky
tape a go.

I have never had this problem with other cats before, she has a 5ft high,
cat tree with lots of posts and platforms to climb

"Karen Chuplis" wrote in message
...
in article , Pamela at
wrote on 8/5/03 1:33 PM:

I've owned my cat for three months now. Before, he was simply too young
to
reach the kitchen countertop, so he'd clamber up on shelves every once
in a
while. Now he's a bit older and more agile, so my husband and I catch
him
up there quite frequently. I don't approve of this behavior as it is
not
very sanitary. Also, there is no food left on the counter so I'm not
quite
sure what he's looking for. I'm frustrated because I love my cat, but
would
love even more to break his bad habit. Any help?

Pamela


Try some double sided sticky tape on the counters for a while. Do you have
a
kitty tree that he can explore UP on?


Karen


I think I may start preparing my cats food in a different place maybe its
because she knows her food is prepared up there.... I have tried tin foil,
using the water spray when I catch her, will give the double sided sticky
tape a go.

I have never had this problem with other cats before, she has a 5ft high,
cat tree with lots of posts and platforms to climb

*~*SooZy*~*" wrote:

A more practical approach would be not to make a big fuss if the cat is on
the counter so long as you're not using it, and clean the counter before
you
use it. You normally want to do this anyway. Then pretend to be
surprised
if the cat jumps on the counter when you have guests.

Bill



LOL nice one Bill


That's what we do, and then add "I don't know why she did that; she never has
before."