WIBU - Cats on Table

[cuppaandabiscuit]

I have 2 cats. They like to sleep on the dining table out of reach of the dog.
DP hates this and keeps complaining that it's unhygienic.
I feel that, as long as the table is cleaned properly before each use there's no problem.

WIBU?

(NB I've bought the cats hanging beds, cat trees etc and they still sleep on the table. Plus DP doesn't like them sleeping on sofa, beds or anywhere else really but the dog is encouraged onto sofa, beds etc. TBH DP doesn't really like the cats full stop. They've been mine for 10 years, DP been around for 8)

I think you need to clarify with DH that the cats kindly allow you all to use their table for your meals. Very charitable of them.

Nope, I do not tolerate my cats on tables and kitchen benches as it’s unhygienic to allow this in places of food preparation and eating, regardless of cleaning regularly.

Pets can and should be trained to follow rules that are acceptable to you.

I have had cats all my life (currently have 3) and they are never allowed on the table or surfaces. It may well be that they do so when I am out, to address a PP's very valid point, but not when I'm here.

I love my cat but he's never allowed on counters or tablee.

Cats can be trained not to do things. Those saying that cats do as they please are just lazy owners.

Those of you with cats who aren't allowed on benches/tables - what do you do when you leave the house? Shut them out of these rooms?

Our cats clamber onto the worktops in order to get to the top of the boiler (girl cats fave spot) or the kitchen windows (boy cats spot).

I wipe my surfaces before and after all meal/drink prep. Meh.

That's what bleach it antibac was invented for 🤣

Love that people think their cats won't be traipsing all over the table the minute they are out the door or in bed. Just because you've never seen them do it doesn't mean they don't do it.

I'm glad your cats have you standing up for them OP his argument makes absolutely no sense regarding the dog and he can suck it up because they were there first. If he keeps bringing it up maybe suggest he should swap sleeping places with the poor mogs.

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz I work from home so see him pretty much all the time. The only counter he jumps on to is in the utility room as a means to get to the window cill there. He can quack at the squirrels from there. But he was taught from young not to jump up in the kitchen or on the table and just doesn't.

Mine isn't allowed on the dining table but seems to know it's a touchy subject so will jump up there when she wants attention. It works. She rules this house

Meh, it's what cats do.

My dog also jumps up on the dining table so he can look out of the window

It's not like we go around licking the table before we eat either, lol. We put our food on plates and eat it off there, not where the animals go.

My cats don’t go on the table or worktops. That’s gross. XDP allowed his cats anywhere - once his dd picked the cat up and noticed it has poop on it’s tail, so put it down - on the dining table I hated eating at his house - even if I cleaned the table first I knew he wouldn’t have cleaned the worktops before he started prepping food, and there were always muddy paw prints all over the tops.

However the hypocrisy around where the dog is allowed to sit v the cats makes your H unreasonable as well.



My first thought was yuck, but then I remembered I have a dog that sleeps in my bed which is probably worse so nope YANBU

Put a tablecloth down and a fluffy blanket which they can sit on.

Cats will sleep where they choose. That's the law 😍😍 and yes mine sometimes jumps on the table when we are eating. We are vegetarian so he's not interested in the food he just wants to sit and watch us 😅😅

Just leaving this here

My cats rule the house. They sleep on a folded up duvet on the dining room table, on a cat bed on the table in the kitchen when they're not sitting in the window complaining at the birdies on the spare bed, on our bed, on any sofa or armchair...once I ended up sitting on the floor as DH and the cats had taken all the seats in the living room.

Know your place 😹

Your DP and his dog come way down the pecking order, if either of them don't like it they're free to find their own home.

I think people who think it's unhygienic have not come across the concept of plates.

@RandomLondoner

I think people who think it's unhygienic have not come across the concept of plates.

🤣

The obvious answer is get rid of the dog.

I think it's fine as long as you clean the table before eating at it and the cats don't jump up when you're eating. You can't really train cats like you can dogs.

@Daenerys77

The obvious answer is get rid of the dog.

😹

Tell DP he is more than welcome to attempt to wage this war with them, but the cats will be victorious.

Cats do walk in worktops and tables. You just Dettol them before use 🤷🏻‍♀️

One of mine is currently asleep on the hob the other is asleep in a box that I put down for a moment before flattening it for recycling. Dog is next to me on sofa.