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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
Bettercallsaul1 · 03/08/2015 21:21

Yes, agree OP - I think it's gross too. I was once visiting someone for the first time and turned down a slice of the most gorgeous-looking cake, that she had made specially for our visit, because she put it down and cut it on a work surface her cat had just sauntered along. I just couldn't have eaten it! I realise that this was probably ridiculous as contact with dogs and cats strengthens our immune system but I just didn't want my cake anywhere near kitty paws! Still think about that cake...!

LittleLionMansMummy · 03/08/2015 21:26

As in all walks of life Page, there's always one (or 2 in your case!) Wink We've had 5 cats altogether. I don't even like cats! I know it sounds weird, it's one of those 'I don't like other people's children but I like my own' situations.

whatarethose · 03/08/2015 21:26

It's absolutely vile. It's just so so so so grim. Imagine a Doberman walking all over the surfaces.

BlisterFace · 03/08/2015 21:27

Mine used to do this and I just used to Dettol wipe afterwards. After 5 years chez Blister, they are now too fat to jump up there. Blush

prettybird · 03/08/2015 21:29

LittleLionsMummy - We/I had/have 4 cats over the years that knew not to go on the work surface. The 5th doesn't understand the "rule". His "sister" (older than him) is fine. No difference in the training process - just different characters. If anything we're softer on the female.

PageNotFound404 · 03/08/2015 21:29

Having had five cats when you don't particularly like them is going above and beyond the call of duty, LittleLion! Grin

Whiskwarrior · 03/08/2015 21:30

Ah, look cat hate. A regular occurrence on MN.

Well, as someone who grew up with cats and who now has three of her own, a huge and hearty FUCK YOU to anyone expressing that time feelings towards cats.

In fact, I'm going to get some t-shirt made up:

'Cats, not Cunts'.

Quite happy to post them on to fellow cat lovers.

Anyone else can just have a 'Cunt' t-shirt. That way we can all avoid one another.

MrsTedCrilly · 03/08/2015 21:30

I can't stop mine, nor would I want to! Never been ill, neither has anyone who has eaten here. Cats are very clean animals, if they can avoid touching shit they will! People are so precious.. Do you realise how many poo germs you'll touch every day in public toilets and most other surfaces..

Preciousbane · 03/08/2015 21:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sazzle41 · 03/08/2015 21:32

My cats never showed any interest in tables or kitchen worktops probably because they were fed in the utility and as a family we didnt spend much time in the kitchen or dining room: as we all ate at different times on different schedules.

Beds were their thing tho - so my OCD DM put strategically placed towels on all the beds to keep the cat hair in one place. We laughed. It actually worked tho - they would head straight for the nice comfy towel every time and settle with much purry , paw kneading delight.

PageNotFound404 · 03/08/2015 21:34

To be fair Whisk, very few people on here have said they hate cats; most have expressed dislike of the behavior rather than the animal, which is fair enough (and I say that as the owner of two feline surface-surfers myself).

PageNotFound404 · 03/08/2015 21:35

behavioUr is a word in this country, iPad!

Original poster
Fluffy24 · 03/08/2015 21:35

I see your logic MrsTedCrilly but still, would you be happy to eat off your kitchen floor after people had been walking about in outdoor shoes?

OP posts:
LittleLionMansMummy · 03/08/2015 21:36

They're drawn to me Page. We even had one (not one of ours) trying to break in through our bedroom window at 2am a few weeks ago. Gave a whole new definition to the term 'cat burglar'!

Original poster
Fluffy24 · 03/08/2015 21:37

Who said anything about hating cats?! I just don't want to eat off one!

OP posts:
Sallystyle · 03/08/2015 21:39

I would rather eat dinner with cats than germaphobes.

Germaphobes annoy me. If cats are on work tops but they get washed down before preparing food then what's the problem?

My cats are well trained until I turn my back, or they just don't want to listen to me.

I also sleep with the dog in my bed, under the covers.

PageNotFound404 · 03/08/2015 21:39

Grin Maybe you're some sort of unwitting goddess in the feline pantheon, LittleLion.

(There is a boring real reason why cats are drawn to people who don't really like them, but I don't think it explains 2.00am fan invasions!)

Bettercallsaul1 · 03/08/2015 21:40

I love cats - had four at one point when waifs and strays kept appearing - but still couldn't eat anything that had been on a surface that cats had walked across! None of ours ever went on the kitchen work surfaces. We might just have been very lucky but I think it was more likely that they preferred to target softer surfaces, like the sofa or the carpets!

Whiskwarrior · 03/08/2015 21:41

Page, I'm pre-empting the cuntishness.

I've seen too many of these threads descend into real nastiness towards cats. I'm talking people bragging about maiming/killing cats. That's not an exaggeration either.

My cats are part of my family. My children love them. They were distraught when we lost one to illness four years ago.

BettyCatKitten · 03/08/2015 21:41

cats not cunts Grin
Can I have one Whisk

Sparklingbrook · 03/08/2015 21:41

What prompted you to start the thread Fluffy, have you just returned from someone who lets the cats do it?

BuggersMuddle · 03/08/2015 21:43

BuggersMoggy doesn't often do worktops and we certainly don't encourage it, but well, he's a cat. This means the time I didn't properly clear up bits of fat and blood from a rare roast beef before watching TV was entirely my own fault Grin I swear he knows it's not allowed because he leapt off and immediate started make big wide kitty eyes (Who me? No, wasn't me) Grin

Seriously though, I clean the chopping boards and surfaces with antibacterial sprays before food prep. I can't get too excited about the dining table, as we use plates and mats (also clean). I would still clean these things if I didn't have a cat though Confused

I wouldn't like to see pets on the table while eating obviously, or people prepping with cats circling the chopping board, but as long as surfaces are cleaned before food prep, I can't get too worked up about it.

Sparklingbrook · 03/08/2015 21:44

Any cat thread not in The Litter Tray makes me a bit nervous Whisk.

PageNotFound404 · 03/08/2015 21:46

I've seen and disapproved of the same threads Whisk, but I'm not sure barging onto a thread shouting "CUNTS!" at anyone who doesn't like cats in a "I-thought-he-was-going-to-hit-me-so-I-hit-him-first" preemptive strike is necessarily the way to endear cats and their owners to the non-feline-disposed.

LittleLionMansMummy · 03/08/2015 21:49

Oh yes, my dad despises cats and they make a beeline for him! Something to do with body language and feline communication - people who don't like them tend not to look directly at them which cats interpret as no threat. As you say, I'm not sure being asleep counts though ! They are fascinating animals though (I have perfected the 'blink kiss' with ours).