To think cats swanning about on work surface/table is gross?

[Fluffy24]

One minute it's in the litter box and the next it's on the kitchen table. Urgh.

But surprises me how many people I know who think it's fine.

Is it just me?

There was a big pot on the stove and she asked me if I wanted to stay for dinner, at that point a cat dipped its paw into the pot

That really happened? Cats are normally very cautious indeed around anything hot

I find it hard to believe a cat would stick it's paw in a hot pot on the stove. It's nose maybe, but even that's unlikely.

Page that's very true.

I love your 'cat distraction duties'

cat maybe swiping something lukewarm or biting meat out of a hot pot (yes seen cats swipe food from hot BBQ) yes, putting it's paw (one of it's most sacred body parts...) into a pot of boiling liquid... no can't see that!

Cats on surfaces are no worse than not washing hands after a nappy change.

Surfaces can be easily cleaned, unless you have clutter. if you have a kitchen door, it can be closed.

Anything a cat might like (cheese, butter etc.) or food, put away after use, as is poison (chocolate, cleaning fluids).

As for tables, we clean ours before eating, it is clear of clutter, so is very easy to do. We do have a house with rooms and doors though, not one of those that is devoid of architectural features and useful bits like walls and doors as is the fashion these days.

Cats are inquisitive, they jump and climb. I would also sanitise my house after a child invasion, nose picking, playing in allsorts outdoors, fiddling with nappies, willies etc. and climbing on furniture.

What about people who put their shopping bags on the work surfaces after putting them on floors and pavements and then prepare food on said surfaces without cleaning them?

I have sat in a cat owners house where a buffet has been provided, and the many cats repeatedly try and steal parts of the food.

YY i know people who put their handbags on the work surface Roses. Bleurgh.

cary that is pretty normal, but it would be very odd for a cat to stick its paw in a pot on the stove that was cooking.

Seriously how do people have the energy to get worked up about this stuff? It would never even occur to me that my bag was dirty =S it wouldn't even cross my mind to think about it. Life's too short, surely?!

I clean my surfaces every day and our flat is relatively clean and tidy but seriously...a few germs aren't the end of the world, are they?

We must've had very well behaved cats growing up.

We had 3 and none went on the work surfaces and once in a blue moon would attempt the dining table.

They liked our beds though :)

I have cats and I don't mind them being on worktops at all. I don't have a table of any kind in my house, so can't comment on that.

My cats can do as they please here!

Now I'm intrigued at a house without a table zukie!

I have a table, never sit at it though, we eat on the couches.

This thread is making me realise I am in a real minority. I don't care where our cats go - they sleep on our bed for starters. I find them far cleaner and often better company than DCs who endlessly pick their noses etc. Look at farmers' children - they tend to have no allergies (far fewer to general population anyway) and they are around animals and their poo etc. the whole time. Keeps the immune system on its toes.

Merse I am totally with you!

The level of hysteria on MN surrounding animals and germs in general is ridiculous IMO.

I think what you are saying is indisputable, Merse. Doesn't stop me being squeamish, though..!

Urgh... I think it's disgusting to let them walk on surfaces where food is prepared or eaten. And I love cats and grew up with them.

I don't really agree with pets going in kitchens/dining rooms at all. When I was a child our cats were only allowed to go in the living-room and garden-room. They knew where they were allowed to go and which armchairs they were allowed to climb on. I have a mild allergy to cat-fur.

My friend's cat is allowed to go everywhere, including kitchen worktops and the table. He also tip-toes over clean crockery on the draining-board, licks the sink tap and has rubbed a greasy grey patch onto the side of the fridge from nuzzling it. He once jumped right into the fridge when I opened it, landing on an empty shelf, and pushes his way into food cupboards
He's long-haired and leaves hairs everywhere.
I'd never say anything as it's not my house, but I sneakily wash all crockery before using it, wipe down surfaces with Dettol before preparing food or eating, and take my own bedding when I sleep over.

Cats walk in all sorts of dirty places, they also lick themselves clean and their mouths are teaming with bacteria. Plus they can carry toxoplasmosis and worms, and have a tendency to chew on live prey.

That's the 'doorway' to my kitchen/diner. Even if I wanted to, which I don't, I haven't got a hope in hell of keeping my cats out of the kitchen.

....you carry dettol with you and take your own bedding with you?

I mean this kindly - chill out.

*BitOutOfPractice"

I'm a single parent on disability benefits and I see a table as a luxury item that I can't afford.

Don't feel the lack of one at all.

I find it gross. Those saying my cats aren't allowed on the worktops are deluded! You cannot specify where your cats go - when you are out they are all over it!

And as for cat litter trays....BOAK! Last week I was at a friends dinner party, suddenly there was this hideous smell comes wafting over. I am a thinking who has farted! Then I realise the cat has just done a big one in the litter tray the other side of the open door. Why would anyone have that going on in their house!

Mind you I have a dog and pick up his poo on walks which other people find disgusting!

Gosh cat owners can't win on MN can they....let your cat roam and poo in gardens and you're a diabolical fiend, let your cat poo in its litter tray and you're apparently disgusting!

cat litter trays are fine as long as you regularly empty them.

Its not deluded to say your cat doesn't go on the worksurface.
Its easy to teach them not to.
I've never allowed cats on the surfaces and I've had up to 5 at a time.

Talk me through it then would you, ThatBloodyWoman? Ours don't go up when we're there but I am too thick to figure out how to teach them not to when we're not there. We have tried foil and crinkly plastic bags.

Ime experience,consistency in the 'training' stage -ie a firm 'no' and putting them back down each and every time they do it has meant mine haven't got into that habit.Including the rescue cats.I've never had to do more than that.
Its good because I don't have food stealing off the work surface either.

At the kitten stage you can teach them not to do it full stop. Worked for mine for a few years until they got new ideas.

Then used the cat ssscat. We can hear cat jump on worktop while we are upstairs - squirt of compressed air, never heard cat move so fast.

Cat tried it again following night - same thing happened.

Never tried it again

We can hear them jumping up on the worktop when we are upstairs and never once heard it again so are pretty sure (although would need CCTV to prove it) that they don't do it even when we are out.