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#11
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they're going to get up there no matter what. I keep a bottle of clorox
wipes on my kitchen counter and use those whenever I start preparing a meal. "Ringo Langly" wrote in message om... Hi, A friend of mine moved in (first roommate in years), and with her came two cats -- both boys, both fixed with front claws removed, one about 18 months (part simese part something else -- crosseyed) and one about 5 years old (calico and something else). Also my place is rather large, but we keep the bedroom and bathroom doors shut when not home so the cats don't roam where they shouldn't. I'm generally not an animal person and never had a cat, but I figured I'd give it a try. She and the cats moved in about 2 months ago, and the issues I thought I'd have (cat box, smell, etc) are not issues at all since she keeps the litter pan cleaned out and it's tucked back in the laundry room. THe problem is the cats get on the kitchen counters, tables, and all over the place where I didn't figure they'd go. How healthy is this? With their paws in the litter pan then on the counters do they track stuff everyplace? Also when cats sit do their butts touch the counter or whatever they're on? Sorry for the crazy questions, but though my roommate grew-up with cats, she couldn't answer these questions. The cats get on the counters and tables we use to fix food on and eat on, and though I've made it a habit to clean everything before preparing foods or eating, it just kind of grosses me out a bit. I'm generally a clean freak Thanks for any info or suggestions... I'd prefer the cats didn't get on the counters and tables at all - and they generally don't when we're home - but I was off yesterday and noticed everytime I walked into the kitchen they were lounging up there. I sprayed them with water, tapped their head (not hard or anything), and said NO... but didn't work. Thanks again, and take care, Ringo |
#13
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kaeli wrote in
: Who do not do this _in front of them_. Or, maybe they're just lazy cats. I have one who insists on climbing all over my shelves despite my not being very pleased about it. The other two just don't find it all that entertaining. Some cats aren't really climbers. Rosie has been really slow to get up on anything including chairs, though she is doing this more recently, and she has never shown any interest in either the kitchen counter or the table. I think maybe she would feel too exposed up there. She is formerly feral, though, so not typical of the average confident raised-from-a- kitten cat... also, although she's been living with me for 8 months or so, I think she still has personality elements that have not blossomed fully and may do so over time. Which is just to say she's never been on the counter, but that could change. (I would find it hilarious if she were going up there when I wasn't around, but I've seen no evidence of that.) --Catherine & Rosalie the calicohead |
#14
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"kaeli" wrote I don't think the OP needs to just accept it. For every cat owner whose cats are all over the counters there are two with cats that generally do not do this. Who do not do this _in front of them_. Or, maybe they're just lazy cats. Buddha is way too fat to jump up on counters, esp. since her thyroid treatment. However: Cheeks never gets up on them or the tables when I am looking. She did at first, but the "NO" thing (together with shooing) worked. She isn't lazy, she is just polite. And she has plenty of places she is allowed to get up in: windows with shelves. I have glass tables and dark wood tables with high finishes, so I can indeed see footprints when she gets up there. I have not seen any since about a month after I got her--three years ago. I have one who insists on climbing all over my shelves despite my not being very pleased about it. The other two just don't find it all that entertaining. I just don't think your cat that "insists" would if you were consistent about reacting with loud "NOs" accompanied by getting up as though you are going to "get" him or her. If you did, he or she would not "insist." The OP has taken these cats and their owner into his home, and he does not like cats all over the counters. I don't like it either, and it does not happen as far as I can tell. Yeah, that's what my mom said about the cat going on tables...until she got a glass table. She could actually SEE the paw prints on the glass. As I mentioned above, I do have glass tables and highly finished dark wood, so I would know. It is simply not true that cats cannot be trained not to jump up on things, kaeli. I always suspect that those who claim this have simply been unsuccessful at training their cats. Some cats are easily deterred from things like tinfoil or squirt bottles and never bother to try going up there again. Others will always find a way when your back is turned. The minute you take the foil off, they're up there again. Maybe, I have not had lots and lots of cats, only the ones I grew up with (maybe six total, they were "indoor/outdoor" so we did not have them long as they all got hit or disappeared or appeared with their guts ripped out by dogs and died) and Gnarly, Cheeks, and Buddha. But neither my cats nor my sister's cats nor my mother's cats climb all over and lounge on the kitchen counters. When I see this, it is the exception not the rule, and it does gross me out. I have alot of breakables, too, delicate glass things on marble top tables, and with hardwood, tile, and stone floors I imagine I would know if Cheeks were up on these. She broke one Lenox dish early on, and that was it. In three years. MOST cats can be trained to stay off things (that is, they just don't really bother to go up there any more). Others you'll need to use avoidance stuff (like the tinfoil or a scat mat) forever - or until they're too old to jump that high. Well here you seem to agree with me. So maybe the rest was a waste of typing. My 3 cats EAT and DRINK on the counter (their food is up there to keep it out of reach of the dog) and I don't find cat hair in my food. So, don't take the finding of hair or general cleanliness to be all that indicative. Cats are naturally pretty clean animals. Ahhh, I see. that is a different story, as you don't have much choice there. I don't have dogs because my husband won't have indoor dogs and I won't have outdoor only ones. -- -- ~kaeli~ Does the name Pavlov ring a bell? http://www.ipwebdesign.net/wildAtHeart http://www.ipwebdesign.net/kaelisSpace |
#15
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"Mary" wrote in news:4S9kd.28850$YL.2728686
@twister.southeast.rr.com: I always suspect that those who claim this have simply been unsuccessful at training their cats. Cat training can be pretty dicey. Rosalie, as I've said before, is extremely sensitive and a gentle "no" and head shake is enough to deter her from whatever objectionable thing she might be doing (like treating the dog's plumey tail as a cat toy, for instance, which makes me laugh but disturbs the dog somehow). But Nickleby kind of did what he wanted and it was hard to get him to stop -- I sometimes resorted to yelling which also did not work. I always called him "the cat with enormous self-esteem" -- he was absolutely impervious to correction or crankiness. I might succeed in chasing him away (from the furniture he was scratching, for example) but he would trot right back moments later, purring and quite pleased with himself. He felt he could do no wrong. --Catherine & Rosalie the calicohead |
#16
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"Ringo Langly" wrote in message om... "Bill Stock" wrote in message ... "Ringo Langly" wrote in message om... I believe a squirt bottle or tinfoil on the table are effective deterrents. Hi Bill, I never thought about putting tinfoil or the squirt bottle on the counter. They have learned to run when we even lift the bottle, so that might actually work. Thanks for the suggestion! Ringo Yes, but they may have learned to run *only* when you are around. My sister once thought she had "trained" her cats to stay off the counter. Then, once day when she was working in the yard, she looked at the house and saw one of the cats on the counter. By the time she entered the house, the cat had run to the other room and settled on the sofa -- looking completely innocent. I simply wipe down the counter and table before using them. MaryL |
#17
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I gave up on keeping the cat off the counters & table (breakfast nook
table - they don't generally get up onto the dining room table) years & years ago. They're allowed in the bedrooms, too (they often like to sleep on the beds) - but I keep the bathroom door shut - to keep them from tipping over the bathroom wastebasket. Cathy "Ringo Langly" wrote in message om... Hi, A friend of mine moved in (first roommate in years), and with her came two cats -- both boys, both fixed with front claws removed, one about 18 months (part simese part something else -- crosseyed) and one about 5 years old (calico and something else). Also my place is rather large, but we keep the bedroom and bathroom doors shut when not home so the cats don't roam where they shouldn't. I'm generally not an animal person and never had a cat, but I figured I'd give it a try. She and the cats moved in about 2 months ago, and the issues I thought I'd have (cat box, smell, etc) are not issues at all since she keeps the litter pan cleaned out and it's tucked back in the laundry room. THe problem is the cats get on the kitchen counters, tables, and all over the place where I didn't figure they'd go. How healthy is this? With their paws in the litter pan then on the counters do they track stuff everyplace? Also when cats sit do their butts touch the counter or whatever they're on? Sorry for the crazy questions, but though my roommate grew-up with cats, she couldn't answer these questions. The cats get on the counters and tables we use to fix food on and eat on, and though I've made it a habit to clean everything before preparing foods or eating, it just kind of grosses me out a bit. I'm generally a clean freak Thanks for any info or suggestions... I'd prefer the cats didn't get on the counters and tables at all - and they generally don't when we're home - but I was off yesterday and noticed everytime I walked into the kitchen they were lounging up there. I sprayed them with water, tapped their head (not hard or anything), and said NO... but didn't work. Thanks again, and take care, Ringo |
#18
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"Ringo Langly" wrote in message om... "Bill Stock" wrote in message ... "Ringo Langly" wrote in message om... Hi, A friend of mine moved in (first roommate in years), and with her came two cats -- both boys, both fixed with front claws removed, one about 18 months (part simese part something else -- crosseyed) and one about 5 years old (calico and something else). Also my place is rather large, but we keep the bedroom and bathroom doors shut when not home so the cats don't roam where they shouldn't. [snip] I would not recommend it. Just put the cats down when you see them on the counter and say NO! It worked for our cat Cali, who learned to jump up when we weren't looking. Now she's too old to jump up and the young one rarely jumps on the table. I believe a squirt bottle or tinfoil on the table are effective deterrents. Hi Bill, I never thought about putting tinfoil or the squirt bottle on the counter. They have learned to run when we even lift the bottle, so that might actually work. It will work only when you're around. All you'll be training your cats to do is to fear you. You'll also confuse them -because when you're not around jumping on the counter is ok. Cats learn by association, anticipation, and observation. What you need to do is train them by remote control, so: 1. they don't associate the correction with you, and 2.: they don't associate the correction only with your presence. IOW, the same thing happens when they jump on the counter whether you're present or not. If you want to teach a cat to stay off the counter whether you're there or not, tape a few pieces of cardboard together for the length of the counter; let the cardboard hang 10"-12" over the edge. Weigh down the back edge of the cardboard with a few empty soda cans with a few coins in them. Leave the kitchen. When the cat jumps up on the edge of the counter she'll land on the cardboard hanging over the edge - which will flip over and also catapult the soda cans with coins in them into the air - that will make a racket when they hit the floor. After the surprise of the short fall and the noise, I don't think you'll have to worry about "cats on the counter and licken' the spoon" (ba domp ba). You can also try a piece of clear plastic carpet runner upside down (with the nubs facing up). Make sure the nubs aren't too sharp (drag the runner over concrete if they are) - Cut the runner into strips to fit the areas of the counter where the cats jump on. With both of these methods, the result of jumping on the counter will be same whether you're present or not and most important - the cats won't associate the correction with you. Personally, I think you're overreacting - the cats sleep in your bed, right? The cats groom their coats with their tongues, right? You pet them, right? Do you know what else cats do with their tongues....? LOL! Phil |
#19
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"Hodge" wrote in message nk.net... In article , "Phil P." wrote: When the cat jumps up on the edge of the counter she'll land on the cardboard hanging over the edge - which will flip over and also catapult the soda cans with coins in them into the air - that will make a racket when they hit the floor. This doesn't sound very good for the floor, however . . . He's not trying to train the floor.... :- I don't think a few empty soda cans falling 3' will damage the floor... unless he lives in a house of playing cards. |
#20
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kaeli wrote in message . ..
In article , enlightened us with... Sorry for the crazy questions, but though my roommate grew-up with cats, she couldn't answer these questions. The cats get on the counters and tables we use to fix food on and eat on, and though I've made it a habit to clean everything before preparing foods or eating, it just kind of grosses me out a bit. I'm generally a clean freak Don't be a baby. If you knew how much was on your hands, clothing, bedding, and carpet, you'd stop worrying about the cats or drop dead from shock. One of the two. / You posted that greenlit thread about cat butts on Fark, didn't you? -- Hi... I did see the article on Fark, but I didn't post it. I can say it did prompt the question on here -- but I've been wanting to ask it for some time. You're right in that there are germs everyplace, which can't be avoided. I do however think some precausions can be taken that cut down on the level of germs, like washing hands after using the restroom or washing an apple before eating it. I am one of those people who doesn't touch the public bathroom doorknob (use paper towl) and flushes with my foot. I also wash my hands quite often -- but it pays off because I'm rarely (if ever) sick. Having kitties in the house is one negative to helping a friend out. Last night I did find two piles of puke, but luckily it was on the tile foor As for the cats on the counter, it's not only the germ factor but several other factors. I know having cats requires some extra effort -- like not leaving food out or things on the counters that can be knocked over easily. I've found dishes licked clean in the sink, and one cat even ate an entire bowl of grease drained from ground beef I left on the counter overnight. This was all the first week after my roommate moved in with her cats, so I've wised-up a bit and make sure dishes get put in dishwasher and nothing is left out. I've also added those baby latches to the cabinets on the ground level (under the sink mainly), because I do keep stuff under there which would make the kitties sick if they got into them. Other folks posted the cats mainly get onto the counters when we're away -- which is true in my case too. I'll see them on the counters as I walk to the house (through windows) or hear them when in the other room. Anyway, thanks everyone for the great replies -- they have helped. But to this post in particular, I disagree in that some level of cleanliness can be achieved with some effort. Ringo |
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