Cat jumping up on the worktop

[SleepyMcgee]

We have 2 indoor cats, 1 of whom is often up on our kitchen worktop. I never catch her in the act unfortunately or I'd spray her with a bit of water, but I hear her jumping down from the top.
It really really annoys me, I think mainly because they're indoor cats and so could be in the litter box, potentially with shitty paws and then up on our worktops. We clean regularly with antibacterial kitchen spray and last night I put cellotape on the top in the hope it might deter her (I know I'm really sad taking the time to do this). Anybody any thoughts? Today has been a nightmare with young DD so the kitchen is a shit tip with cups and plates etc so no space for the cat to get up

[PigletJohn]

you can train cats not to jump onto tables and worktops by spreading post-its on them, sticky side up. When the cat jumps up it gets one stuck to its foot, which it dislikes. You do not have to be in the room (most cats have been taught not to jump onto tables if someone is watching )

I am very fond of cats and am not sure if this should be considered unkind.

[CattyCatCat]

I have never found a cure for this. Only thing I can say is cheer yourself up at the thought of them being indoor cats. Outdoor cats actually trample wet, muddy footprints over the work tops. They can make one hell of a mess, even on the cupboard doors and on top of the units. It used to drive me to distraction.

[sisterofmercy]

If you do do the post-its film consider filming it and putting it on youtube. I suspect an annoyed cat trying to get a post it off its foot might go viral.

However as pigletJohn says there are ethical considerations. I think it might be slightly unkind but wouldn't harm the cat much.

[SleepyMcgee]

Catty - yes the dirty paw prints would piss me off no end

Piglet - Yes the cellotape was to do the same thing as the post its. DP has come home and tidied the kitchen. Just heard the cat jump off the worktop (little bastard). Anyone got a gun

Sister - Good idea about filming it. Would have to be stealthy though, she doesn't do it when I'm watching or she'd feel the wrath of the plant sprayer/super soaker. I do love the cat really, honestly

[feelingmellow]

Cats don't like walking on foil so you could try that. It put our cat off for while but I got fed up with doing it.

[teenagetantrums]

I wouldn't worry, my cats are always on worktop, doesn't bother me they are indoor cats, they use it to jump on to the top of boiler or fridge, I just wipe before I prepare food, but most food is prepared on a chopping board and they don't walk on those. I figure they are walking on sofa, sleeping in my bed so why worry about worktops? They are not supposed to sit on the table mainly because it horrifies my parents and guest but I hear them jump down before I go into the room so I know they are on it, think cats are hard to train out of things they want to do.

[thecatneuterer]

Cats seem to do what they like - and they really seem to like worktops. My kitchen has looked like this for many, many years and I'm still alive

[CattyCatCat]

Great kitchen and great cats!

[Fluffycloudland77]

At least she does it discretely, mine just gets up there & steals food.

I just clean before I cook.

[cozietoesie]

That picture made me twitch TCN!

I don't like putting anything on a surface because I think of what might happen if a cat skidded/fell off awkwardly.

I just say NO to them as kittens and make sure they understand that going on a kitchen surface would incur my severe displeasure. They pick that up pretty quickly.

(But I don't leave joints of beef or cold roast chickens lying around completely unattended. No sense in larding the place with temptation.)

[Itsfab]

Pah! Paws on work tops? That's nothing. BoyCat has had his head in the food caddy on numerous occasions. He helpfully took out a grape branch to alert me to his naughtiness .

[Siarie]

Repetition, it's a pain and draining but just keep saying No and making them get down. Mine don't climb on the countertops and the one time recently that one of them did I immediately scuffed her like the mums do. Hold their scruff and push them gently to the flood so their nose touches the ground.

Hold there until they relax and let go then in a few mins give them a cuddle and fuss afterwards.

[Siarie]

floor*

[Siarie]

Oh and spraying cats with a water bottle doesn't work, it just make them scared. I did it to my first cat and he has not benefited at all from it. It took my ages to build up his confidence again. Using the scruff method is more natural and they understand it as it's the same as a mothers instinct. Cat's a very smart, smarter than lots of people give them credit.

[PinkSparklyElephant]

I say no to H and he just looks at me defiantly! He's very odd though. He gets up on the work top to get into the sink so if there is a bowl with water in it he can drink from it. He will very warily walk around any food that happens to be defrosting!

My mother used to feed the cat on the work top and I made it to adulthood!

[abigamarone]

Ours like sitting on the windowsill and in the sink (it gets warm from the dishwasher underneath), I haven't the heart to stop them doing either.

you can train cats not to jump onto tables and worktops by spreading post-its on them

for a fraction of a second there were I thought you'd taught your cats to read.

[IHaveBrilloHair]

I might do the post it thing just for a laugh, I have four cats and don't mind them on the worktops, I just clean before I cook.

[msrisotto]

I have used a product called ssscat, it is a motion activated compressed air canister that expels a puff of air making a hissing sound when it detects movement. Worked a treat. I got mine from Amazon.

[juneybean]

Hahaha at TCN! Gorgeous kitchen also.

I'm a terrible influence my boy doesn't jump up but I will sometimes plonk him there when he's getting in my way.

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

You cannot train a cat to not jump up on worktops. You can only train them to not do it when you are there.

[ItsAllGoingToBeFine]

This thread reminds me of this video