I had no idea when I posted last night that Tazzy's attraction to countertops would gather so many comments. I just want to say, I'm taking the advice of giving up. It's one of those things, like who lives here? Us or the cat? Well, I think Tracy and I have concluded that when it comes to countertops, Tazzy lives here. We're just kitchen workers.
A) use a spray bottle with water to spritz the cat in the face when it is caught doing the bad behavior.
B) apply double sided tape to the counter for the cat to get stuck in. The cat will hate it and run away. Remove the tape from the cat and reapply some new tape to the counter. The cat will learn to avoid jumping on the counter.
Why? Just enjoy their antics, their companionship. Or, as Albert Schweitzer said: "There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats."
You could more easily drive the Russians from Crimea with a T-shirt cannon than keep your cat off the counter. Props for the PURR poster in the background.
It is a constant process: Penelope! Down! Down! I said Down! Don't make me have to come over there (rising from chair) Okay. Good girl. Now why didn't you do that the first time I told you. I love you, Penelope.
Sharing space is a loving and gracious way to live on your kitty. I put a small cat grass plant and use that moment to pet kitty without having to bend over. I’m old.
My advice? You'll never keep a cat off your counters. When you are not there looking at your counters and your cat, they do what they want. They're cats. However, I do advise sanitizing your kitchen counters every time you're going to prep food there, just in case the cat has been on them. Same effect, without the futile task of de-catting the counter constantly.
I also recommend the spray bottle approach. It won't be overly punishing because after a few showers just the sight of that bottle should do the trick. Our cat Tom is sitting on the dining room table next to me, nodding with agreement.
My cat trusts me. And he knows he's not supposed to be on the counter. Sometimes he sneaks up there to taunt me. He doesn't see the squirt bottle as punishment, he thinks it's a game. Believe me, he trusts me completely.
It's all in your attitude when you squirt. No yelling, scolding, excitement, or pushing him off. Simple consequences. "you get up there this is what happens." he knows it.
And there's a safety issue as well. I once had a cat jump on the counter and burn her tail on a gas range. I've been strict about countertops ever since.
I put a shoe box on the counter with her name on it; surprisingly she loves to sit in the shoebox and watch me doing busy things. But then, she loves boxes anywhere in the house.
I have been a lover of felines as long as I can remember.I have two adorable males and they absolutely do not get on my kitchen table or my counters.When I get a kitten, I start immediately with”No” in a firm voice when they try to get to these areas.I put them down on the floor.This regimen is continued on for many days and it has worked for me.My boys do not go there and I have never had use any other discipline (I do not believe in corporal punishment).Hope this helps you out.Smitty and Eek are the best boys btw
I don’t train them.I just use loud voice controls and consistent actions.I would never say that I trained anything.This has worked for me and I am just passing it along.Hopefully someone may want to try it.If not, meh
It is impossible. Cats gonna cat.
You took the words right out of my keyboard. 😉
Same...
We gave up on getting ours down. He’s just picking up tips and recipes for when he gets his own place.
I had no idea when I posted last night that Tazzy's attraction to countertops would gather so many comments. I just want to say, I'm taking the advice of giving up. It's one of those things, like who lives here? Us or the cat? Well, I think Tracy and I have concluded that when it comes to countertops, Tazzy lives here. We're just kitchen workers.
Seems like a good choice. Sometimes the best thing to do is nothing at all.
From the Cat Master:
A) use a spray bottle with water to spritz the cat in the face when it is caught doing the bad behavior.
B) apply double sided tape to the counter for the cat to get stuck in. The cat will hate it and run away. Remove the tape from the cat and reapply some new tape to the counter. The cat will learn to avoid jumping on the counter.
No advice... best to surrender. You're just the staff.
Why? Just enjoy their antics, their companionship. Or, as Albert Schweitzer said: "There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats."
You could more easily drive the Russians from Crimea with a T-shirt cannon than keep your cat off the counter. Props for the PURR poster in the background.
I noticed that poster too!
Cats can understand up to 120 commands. They just don't want to.
Tee hee! And you have proven this? Good for a laugh! Well, it is easy to prove they don't want to.
Our two cats--twins, littermates--spend half their lives on our kitchen counters. Doesn't bother me a bit, probably just broadens our biome.
I read that to Finnegan and Tucker. They laughed. (They’re cats)
It is a constant process: Penelope! Down! Down! I said Down! Don't make me have to come over there (rising from chair) Okay. Good girl. Now why didn't you do that the first time I told you. I love you, Penelope.
Wash the counter after kitty jumps down after the treat you just tossed on the floor.
Sharing space is a loving and gracious way to live on your kitty. I put a small cat grass plant and use that moment to pet kitty without having to bend over. I’m old.
Give up! It’s the cat’s turf. Such a pretty cat too.
My advice? You'll never keep a cat off your counters. When you are not there looking at your counters and your cat, they do what they want. They're cats. However, I do advise sanitizing your kitchen counters every time you're going to prep food there, just in case the cat has been on them. Same effect, without the futile task of de-catting the counter constantly.
Spray bottle with water. Might not keep her off but she will get down!
I also recommend the spray bottle approach. It won't be overly punishing because after a few showers just the sight of that bottle should do the trick. Our cat Tom is sitting on the dining room table next to me, nodding with agreement.
Never. You don’t ever want to have your cat associate you with punishment for just being a cat. It ruins trust. Learn all you can about cat behavioral
instincts and work with it. You can’t change a river without ruining it; you work with it. Cats too.
My cat trusts me. And he knows he's not supposed to be on the counter. Sometimes he sneaks up there to taunt me. He doesn't see the squirt bottle as punishment, he thinks it's a game. Believe me, he trusts me completely.
It's all in your attitude when you squirt. No yelling, scolding, excitement, or pushing him off. Simple consequences. "you get up there this is what happens." he knows it.
And there's a safety issue as well. I once had a cat jump on the counter and burn her tail on a gas range. I've been strict about countertops ever since.
LOL...if you must...mine help me to read the recipe for food prep...
I put a shoe box on the counter with her name on it; surprisingly she loves to sit in the shoebox and watch me doing busy things. But then, she loves boxes anywhere in the house.
I have been a lover of felines as long as I can remember.I have two adorable males and they absolutely do not get on my kitchen table or my counters.When I get a kitten, I start immediately with”No” in a firm voice when they try to get to these areas.I put them down on the floor.This regimen is continued on for many days and it has worked for me.My boys do not go there and I have never had use any other discipline (I do not believe in corporal punishment).Hope this helps you out.Smitty and Eek are the best boys btw
You've trained cats?! Good on ya'. Next you'll be herding them.
I don’t train them.I just use loud voice controls and consistent actions.I would never say that I trained anything.This has worked for me and I am just passing it along.Hopefully someone may want to try it.If not, meh
You are sure they don't jump up on the table when you are gone? Tee hee!
I know where they have been.Their kitty litter tracks give them away.Lol