to allow cat on table and kitchen surfaces?

[rubbersole]

'Cause I do. He loves to sit on dining table and watch the garden. I'll lift him down, wipe the table and put on a cloth if we're going to eat at it (esp if we have company).

In the kitchen he hops onto one worktop to get onto the top of the fridge where he likes to sit. Again - I always wipe down any surface before food prep.

Neither me nor DH are ever ill, no dinner guests have ever reported being ill and house is clean and not smelly or hairy.
So what's the problem?

Last night a friend who was sitting in my dining room - not at the table and not eating - jumped up and swiped the cat onto the floor when he jumped onto the table.

I know this is how a lot of people react.

What are they scared off?

They also lick their bums and then their paws...

I think it is disgusting. Yuck.

I don't think animals should be walking about on work surfaces tbh. Tables I care less about, but the kitchen...

YABU.

I'm a slattern and no way would I let my cats on the table or work surface. Mind you, my very house proud MIL has an uncovered litter tray in her kitchen. [vomit]

Your house, your cat. But I think it's revoltingly unhygenic and would struggle to ever eat or have a drink in your house knowing that tbh. But then I also turned down two childminders because they had cats which were allowed in the kitchen. At least with dogs you know they're not going to find places like worksurfaces and tables nice places to sit. Cats on the other hand....

sums it up well.

YABU and your friend's reaction was pretty normal. Animals and food prep or eating areas are a bad mix and you should know that. But your OP suggests that you're just looking for people who agree with your point of view so

Well, it is your home, but I'd find it disgusting.

Because it's un-hygienic and because many people (like myself) have allergic reactions to animal hair.

I think it's vile, but then I also think it's vile that cats love to shit in everyone elses garden apart from their own.

Personally I think animals should stay on the floor (I don't like animals on beds, sofas etc either), but that's probably just because when I was a kid that was the rule. Up to you what you do in your own house, and I wouldn't comment or judge if I went to a friend's and their pet was on surfaces/sofas. I think it's a bit rude for someone to swipe your cat off the side in your house as well, incidentally!

Oldbag at setting your cat on fire!

FWIW my cat is too fat and lazy to jump on the worktops, but is allowed everywhere else including the dining table. Don't see a problem as long as it's wiped down. I hope my guests aren't as anal as some of you lot!

My mum's cats always used to leap on the work surfaces to drink from the taps, we never had upset tummies.

It's not anal, it's basic good hygene, but if you can't see that...

To all the people who aren't repulsed by it, ask yourself this....

If you were to walk into a restaurant and seey cats laying all over the kitchen worktops or dining tables, would you still want to eat there?

Laughing at Kaekae's comment

Yuk!

Worral, how about walking into a restaurant and seeing cat on the menu? Hmmm think I have eaten both cat and dog (in Vietnam) unintentionally ew!

We used to try and keep ours off the table and sides. Then realised that he would just wait until we weren't looking. I just get through a lot of dettol.

I hate it and have a no animals in the kitchen rule, but your house, your rules.

I hate this, I don't allow it, but realise there are plenty of times when im not looking that the cat damn well does what it wants (and sometimes when I am looking the rascal), I despair, but I don't see how you can really stop them unless you are watching them every minute of the day.

My cats have never been allowed on work surfaces or dining tables as they are greedy little bastards and will steal the food from your fork if given half a chance

They do get on the dining table sometimes to lounge in the sun, but as soon as they hear us come in or move they're off like a shot.

I think that having some fur free space is a must.

Cats are a law unto themselves as punkatheart says. They will bum lick on surfaces when you are not looking even if you think they are 'trained'.
Cats are usually in charge...

Mixed bag of responses. Yep my cat my house - but - some people find it revolting etc. Fair enough.

As to the neighbour who's cat lies next to her deep fat fryer. I'd have more health concerns about eating deepfriedwhatever than accidental ingestion of a wee cat hair or two (the ginger tabby ones are esp yummy)
Chil1234 - your post suggests any excuse for biccie, eh? Not really appropriate in this case but if you must...

My cats go on the work surfaces too, the kitchen window is their only way of getting in.
Just takes a wipedown on all surfaces if I'm cooking etc., I'm still here, my son and me have never been ill because of it and I grew up in a household where our cats wandered around everywhere.
Dettol is your friend.