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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

252 replies

Fluffy24 · 03/08/2015 18:45

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?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
9
ShuShuFontana · 03/08/2015 19:04

I've given up, a thorough wipe down before food prep. they KNOW they are supposed to keep off the table, which mostly they do, but they are quite sociable and like to join at mealtimes, so if there's a space it's often filled by a cat

They especially like to parade about the dining table when the ILs are here. MIL shrieks "Ian, Ian....that cat's on the table" even when I am in the room and he is not!

I care not a jot about the cats on the table.

BeautifulBatman · 03/08/2015 19:05

RJ - my work surfaces are cleaned multiple times through the day and my house is vacuumed at least twice a day. I'm pretty sure my house is as clean as the next persons house, cats or no cats.

Minesril · 03/08/2015 19:05

"When in doubt - WASH!"

Cats are probably cleaner than you. And if you have a cat flap, surely no need for litter tray?

gamerchick · 03/08/2015 19:06

Double sided sticky tape works. They don't like the feel of it.

QforCucumber · 03/08/2015 19:07

Our cats sleep on their beds on the dining table, it's only used when we have guests and then it's waxed and laid out properly,
Kitchen worktops I have no idea if they climb on them or not, certainly not when I'm in the room - but they still get a wipe down before prepping anything.

StillStayingClassySanDiego · 03/08/2015 19:08

My kitchen is on the front of the house , my boy at loves to sit in the window and watch the world go by.

To get there he does have to walk across a work surface but I don't prepare food in that spot and I do wipe and spray regularly.

Original poster
Fluffy24 · 03/08/2015 19:09

I should have said litter tray or ' part of the garden used as a cat toilet'.

OP posts:
CrispyCrispBag · 03/08/2015 19:09

Eww! And cat owners who don't have litter trays are just selfish and inconsiderate. Yes, they stink (unless you clean them daily) but surely that's part of choosing to have a cat, just as I pick up after my dog? Why should your neighbours have to put up with cat poo in their gardens? Luckily we don't, our dog is very good at chasing them away!

Redtowel · 03/08/2015 19:10

YANBU. I hate it when I see pics of this on social media.

I've had cats all my life and they have never been allowed on kitchen work surfaces. You can actually train them not to...

Make loops of tape (brown or masking) and leave on the surfaces. They hate the sticky feeling on their paws. It's a ball ache for a few days but worth it as they get the message.

Sparklingbrook · 03/08/2015 19:11

Oh here we go, any mention of cats and it's suddenly it's turned into a cat poo in the garden thread. Again. Hmm

tabulahrasa · 03/08/2015 19:11

"And if you have a cat flap, surely no need for litter tray?"

I prefer to clean up after my cats rather than having my neighbours have to do it...also some cats prefer to come in to use it anyway and it means no accidents if they become unwell, are suddenly reluctant to go outside because they're being bullied by another cat or when they become older and arthritic or otherwise vulnerable.

But really the whole litter tray/worktop thing is a bit of a red herring because wherever they go to the toilet they still bury it and then wander all round your house and on you, so the germs are pretty much everywhere.

Original poster
Fluffy24 · 03/08/2015 19:11

"Cats are probably cleaner than you."

Not sure about that but I'm sure I don't carry toxoplasmosis.

OP posts:
Funkingownit · 03/08/2015 19:13

I can't believe the amount of people think this is OK! I Love cats, especially mine. She has full house access but absolutely does not go on the counters or tables. It's fucking gross. You can train cats. Mine knows many words and sits on command for treats, after a short evening training. Dirty people!

PHANTOMnamechanger · 03/08/2015 19:13

i think its yukky too. You would not walk over the table and worktops in your shoes that you've wandered around the garden in.

We once went to see some of DHs old friends. We had 2 small DC aged 3 and 1, they had 3 smelly cats that thought they owned the place, weed all over, and there was cat hair and muddy footprints all over the table. They made no attempt to wipe it before we ate. Thankfully we were only having fish and chips! We could spread some of the extra paper under the kids eating areas with the pretence of 'to stop them making any mess' but I don't think I have ever felt so ill at ease watching the DCs every move and standing by with the wipes.

Make no mistake I am not a clean freak, I dont wipe my surfaces down every day and there are often crumbs and dried on spills, but animals on food prep surfaces is gross.

tabulahrasa · 03/08/2015 19:13

Cats aren't clean, they're just covered in cat spit Grin

Re sticky/double sided tape...one of mine has a fetish for tape, she likes to chew it, it's fairly common, so you may well end up attracting cats on to places by putting tape out.

LadyLuck81 · 03/08/2015 19:14

Cat owner here. If we're eating my, with guests or otherwise, they aren't allowed on the table. I think it's unpleasant and they're mine. I anti bac my surfaces before use too.

ReginaFelangi · 03/08/2015 19:15

Never ceases to amaze me now many MNers are horrified by the thought of a baby or child cosleeping with a parent, but are perfectly happy to have their mangy cat spreading germs all over their surfaces or in bed with them.

atticusclaw · 03/08/2015 19:17

Mine come in, look at the worktop, look at me and know that if they even dare there will be trouble. I work in the room next to the kitchen occasionally I will hear one jump up. The second they hear me move to get up and tell them off they jump back down again.

I hate cats on the worktops or kitchen table, its completely gross. Happy to sit with them on my lap etc but they are not allowed on the worktops, the table or the beds.

Queenbean · 03/08/2015 19:17

It is absolutely disgusting. Not ok in any way.

CloserToFiftyThanTwenty · 03/08/2015 19:17

I have never allowed a cat on the work surface or table (or anything above hip height, really, including desk, chests of drawers, bookshelves etc). When they were younger they used to try it on when we weren't around, but they are older now and haven't done it for years.

I think most people would wipe down the work surface before prepping food anyway, wouldn't they, cats or no cats?

Absolutely no to cats on the table when eating

PageNotFound404 · 03/08/2015 19:19

I've had cats all my life and they have never been allowed on kitchen work surfaces. You can actually train them not to...

Yeah, I was smug about this too, for twenty years right up to our current cats. They are incorrigible, won't take "no" for an answer, are part-Bengal so water doesn't bother them (Shecat tried to eat the end of the plant sprayer) and after several fruitless months of trying to train them to keep off, it became a question of what's less bad for my blood pressure? Resigning myself to cleaning my work surfaces religiously several times a day, or getting increasingly stressed every time one or other of them jumped up with a "whatcha gonna do about it?" stare? Reluctantly but pragmatically, I decided on the former.

MrsSchadenfreude · 03/08/2015 19:20

Mine don't go on the work surfaces, but they do go on the table. We keep it covered with an old cloth, clean it and put a clean cloth on before we eat. They don't get on the table when we're eating, and TBH, rarely go on the table, but just in case they do, we have the old cloth. We don't want a dinner full of cat hair either.

PageNotFound404 · 03/08/2015 19:20

Oddly but thankfully, they don't show the same interest in the dining table so jumping up while guests are eating isn't an issue.

bettyberry · 03/08/2015 19:22

eugh! no! Hate it! Litter trays in kitchens too. Can't stand it. Hate the smell of cat poo. Its like nothing else.

usualsuspect333 · 03/08/2015 19:22

My cat isn't mangy , how very dare you.

I'd rather eat dinner with my cat than the outraged posters on this thread.