Kitten in the kitchen

[MrsWonderland]

We are getting a kitten in the next month so I'm busy swotting up and getting myself prepared.

Today's question - what is the best way to ensure it doesn't jump onto our kitchen island, work surface or table? These are pretty much the only surfaces in the house that I'm hoping to make out of bounds but the ground floor is fully open plan so I can't keep it out of the kitchen altogether.

Someone mentioned a quick spritz of water and said they learn quickly but I've also heard they can just think it's a game.

Any tips?

[TheQueef]

After 20 + years of trying I just cover the worktop with towels in between use.
Cats love it.

[HappyHammy]

at that young age it won't be able to jump that high but will take great fun out of running up your legs to get to the surfaces. you can try and act calm, lift it off and put it back on the ground but they don't always do what they are supposed to.

[lazylinguist]

Good luck. Cats go where they want! My 5 month old kitten goes on all surfaces, on the fish tanks and climbs up the curtains. Tried spraying water at him - he's not fussed! I just have to clean the kitchen surfaces all the time.

[Gingerkittykat]

The spritz of water works when you catch them in the act but doesn't stop them the rest of the time. I've caught my cat on the work surfaces a couple of times, and then they hiss at you for catching them as they know you will get a telling off.

One thing to try is tinfoil, they absolutely hate it. Put it on a surface if they have a habit of jumping on it and they will soon stop. Once you have broken the habit you can remove the tinfoil.

[bodgeitandscarper]

Make sure that there are plenty of other high places, wall shelves etc., but cats being cats, they may well go where you don't want them to.

[MrsWonderland]

Ooh foil is a good one. I've heard that's good for putting them off scratching the furniture too.

[Grambler]

Pet Behave Spray - it's a citron spray and safe to use on food surfaces. Available in pet shops and on Amazon.

[TheQueef]

One of mine even stands in the spray from the tap he also eats scraps from the plughole because he's a dog at heart.

[Longdistance]

I think it’ll be luck of the drawer. My cat never went on work surfaces, tables, chairs, beds. He wasn’t really a lap cat either.

[DobbyTheHouseElk]

Cats do what they want. They give zero shits about your rules.

[ItsJustTheOneSwanActually]

Mine never goes on the counter when we are in the room as he knows he's not allowed. We have heard him dismount as we approach though

So I use bleachy spray on all the worktop before i cook. Not much more i can do!

He's not allowed on the dining room table either. There are paw prints...

[thecatneuterer]

I very much doubt you will manage to enforce any house rules. The cats will just need to train you to relax and maybe wipe down surfaces before food prep/eating.

[Fluffycloudland77]

Have you had a cat before?

[JorisBonson]

Cats do what they want. They give zero shits about your rules.

This

[TroysMammy]

I've had Haribo for 4 weeks. My previous cats when kittens never went on the work surfaces or table when I was there. Using a plant spray stopped them. Haribo is a different story. Being wet doesn't bother him. He has selective deafness for the words down, no and off. I clean the surfaces before I use them. I'm hoping as he gets older he will be more obedient but I doubt it.