Kitten jumping on kitchen counter

[Williams27x]

So I have a 4 month kitten, he’s really good with litter training, he doesn’t scrounge for food or anything like that. The issue I have with him is that he loves attention so much, when I’m washing up he will jump on the kitchen counter and come up to me.

I have tried putting foil down but this hasn’t worked? He just wants to play with the foil.

I repeatedly pick him up and put him on the floor, but the second I turn my back, he’s back again.

does anyone have any suggestions please? I appreciate the love but I obviously want to put an end to this for hygiene reasons.

Keep the kitchen door closed?

I think you'll have to just continue to keep putting him down when he jumps up. He'll stop eventually as he ages.

Or you can stop worrying about it and just wipe the table before you use it.

You have to train him not to it won't miraculously stop.
With my floof when i was returning her to the floor i told her 'get down' every time as well as learning from her big brother when i was telling him as well. Now she definitely knows what it means.

I mean i definitely still clean the worktops before i use them anyway but it's particularly important for if you've got the hob hot and need them to listen immediately to not stand on it and burn their paws.

I was very shocked to discover that my new 3 year old Persian can jump onto the counter. None of the others have ever done it. Hence an emergency purchase of window screens to keep her in.

My boy jumps on at night and has a mooch sound the cooker for any scraps !! Gets a shock when I catch him he does 🙀

Get a new, clean spray bottle and fill it with water. Every time the kitten jumps up on the counter, give it a spritz.
The water is harmless, but the kitty will hate it and jump down. We’ve used this method for years with great success and the cats still love us.

The only way to stop them is to not let them in the room or to put loads of items on it so there is no room for them.

Even cats who you don't tend to find on kitchen counters or tables will randomly climb on them when you aren't there.

DP's old cat still climbs up. However as she has got old we now catch her, there as when she was younger we knew items had moved but we never saw her.

Stop paying any attention to him and stop 'putting' him down, just sweep him off the counter with no eye contact.

Obviously I don't mean fast enough to hurt, just a firm 'sweep'.

This worked for all my cats (and I fostered for 10 years so I have had a lot) until madam turned up.

I had to keep the kitchen door closed, there was a picture on the door saying to keep the door shut.

After a few years we took the sign down, that was the day she learned to open the door.

Accept that you can train cats but they decide whether or not they want to do it.

Get yourself some cloths and an antibacterial spray and just wipe down before use. That’s what we do and we've never been ill.

Oh just let him on the counter! Poor thing probably feels unloved.

My kitten is now a year old cat.
He tried to be on the counter.
I picked him up by his scruff, said "No" and flicked a bit of water at him.
Took 3 times.

I don't doubt he goes up there when I am not around.
I just clean before I do anything.

I have tried to stop our two boys from doing this but have given up now. They’re thankfully clever enough to avoid the hot stove. If I have food on the counters, I just close the door.

You can either:

• put foil over the counters: cats generally don't like the feeling of foil and will hop right off

• or but those shallow foil roasting trays and put them so they're hanging over the edge of the counter. Pour in a little water. When the cat tries to jump up they'll not only land on foil, but it'll give way and they'll fall down and get a shower of water too.

It shouldn't take long to learn!

I'm sorry, this is your life now.

Thanks for the suggestions.

I do clean the counters before use of course, it’s more because he’s got a medical condition that causes him to have an upset stomach, and because of this he tracks poop around the house sometimes. I do try to listen out for him in his litter tray so I can clean his paws, but sometimes naturally I’m not always able to do this.

He doesn’t jump up while I cook, it’s only ever when I’m cleaning the work top or washing up!

I guess I will just have to deal with it and keep cleaning them constantly! I obviously appreciate the company and love from him, I just wondered if I could perhaps put a stop to it. But as someone said, this is my life now 😂

just to add, he most definitely doesn’t feel unloved. With his 3 cat trees, 2 scratch posts, cat wheel, 27 toys, 5 different beds, radiator bed, window seats and endless amount of attention all day and night. To the point I even take him to my parents with me sometimes. I even make him lick mats to make sure he’s entertained. We snuggle on the sofa with a blanket every single day. He gets just as much attention and love as our baby does!

In some ways, it's better than making it his mission in life to be 2mm behind your heel so you're renaming him 'Well, you shouldn't have been standing there'.

Redirecting his interest can be useful - I taught the overlords that if they sat nicely on x surface (ie, not one used for food preparation, it was the top of the tumble dryer), they would be rewarded with treats, snacks, conversation and the ability to observe everything going on. Could you fit a tallish cat tree in the kitchen so he can watch you from there?

Thank you for this I will definitely try rewarding him and see how that goes :) thank you ever so much