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The litter tray

Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Cats on kitchen worktops

60 replies

Sunshine49 · 26/01/2018 13:29

Hi everyone, my two extremely timid rescue cats have now been with me a week and seem to be getting a little bolder every day, which is great to see. Because they've only been here a week and are extremely nervous around people, they're currently confined to the kitchen/diner only. Over the coming weeks/months we will slowly introduce them to the rest of the house and ultimately the garden.

However, this morning they have been jumping up onto the kitchen work surfaces. They seem to enjoy exploring and looking through the window into the garden.

I know it's not hygienic to allow cats on work surfaces, and obviously I do clean them all down with anti-bac wipes before preparing food. I'm just wondering - is there even any point in telling them to get down when they're up there? Obviously I'd prefer them not to be there, but I'm sure that even if I do tell them to get down, they'll be up again as soon as my back is turned anyway!

OP posts:
ColinFlower · 26/01/2018 14:24

I’ve been telling my cat to get down off the worktops several times a day, every day for 18 years!
It makes me feel better to say it but he never listens Grin

YesItsMeIDontCare · 26/01/2018 14:26

I lined empty cans along the edge of the work surface... he didn't try again Grin.

MysteryLovesCompany · 26/01/2018 14:36

If it's the only way they can look out of a window/get up high I wouldn't stop them for now, maybe it's time to give them more freedom of the house?

Oldraver · 26/01/2018 14:38

Never did manage to stop previous cats from climbing up. One cat used to get on the top of the wall cupboards as well.

Current cat has never tried

MultiGrey · 26/01/2018 14:42

Mine know that they are not supposed to but most days when I pull on to the drive I see at least one face at the kitchen window, meaning they have climbed up to look out.

thecatneuterer · 26/01/2018 14:55

In my experience there is no point at all in trying to stop them. And if they are confined in that room anyway why would you even try? Just wipe down the surfaces before using and don't worry about it. My cats practically live on my worktops and I'm still alive.

LapdanceShoeshine · 26/01/2018 14:59

Mine know they’re not supposed to, so they only do it when I’m not there (they jump down as the door opens Grin)

1 of them apparently never does though. She’s very small & I assumed she couldn’t jump high enough, but we have a mid-height bed & she can jump on that so apparently she’s just not bothered.

Hidingtonothing · 26/01/2018 15:01

Stop them? Confused You dont seem to have understood the rules here OP, have you had feline masters cats before? Grin

Dazedandconfuzzled · 26/01/2018 15:02

You can try to get them to stop but it's never worked for me. One of mine likes to sleep on top of the fridge so uses the worktop to jump onto it. I've tried telling them off and removing them but as soon as my back is turned they are back on there. As with most things cats do what they like most of the time and we are just here to feed them

Toddlerteaplease · 26/01/2018 15:03

Fortunately mine can't jump that high, so they can't get on the work-surface. Just keep the anti bacterial wipes handy. They will not listen to you!

GinGeum · 26/01/2018 15:17

You’re fighting a losing battle. Mine just goes higher if I tell him to get down...

Cats on kitchen worktops
Solly76 · 26/01/2018 15:40

My cat still hasn't got the message after nearly 15 years. Good luck with that one

Taffeta · 26/01/2018 15:42

Awww @ Gincat

Mine only jumps up there when he’s spooked by something outside. Feels safe up high.

I tell him it’s not a tree and shoo him off

Original poster
Sunshine49 · 26/01/2018 15:53

Thanks for the answers everybody! I don't mind them on the worktops myself as the anti-bac wipes kill 99% of germs anyway - plus I'm just so happy to see them being inquisitive and exploring their new home. But I read another (four-page) thread on Mumsnet this morning where a lot of posters were saying how people who let cats onto work surfaces are disgusting and unhygienic and it made me worry! Confused

Hidingtonothing - that made me laugh out loud! It sounds like your name is very apt for my situation! Grin

And GinGeum - your cat is adorable!

OP posts:
happymummy12345 · 26/01/2018 15:58

I'm not sure you can stop them tbh. I'd prefer my cat to not go on ours, but he always does.
I'm resigned to wiping them down several times a day with wipes or spray and a cloth..

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 26/01/2018 16:07

Mine just jumps up and looks at me defiantly!

We were worried about him burning his paws on the hob so when we had a new kitchen we changed to an induction hob as it cools faster Blush

retirednow · 26/01/2018 16:17

Introduce them to another room, buy a climbing tree to sit on and look out of, are there other windows they can look out of. Have you found them sitting in the kitchen sink yetSmile now they are exploring you need to be careful they don't get stuck behind the fridge, in the washing machine etc. Pics please, that's the rules on here.

FluffyWuffy100 · 26/01/2018 16:32

I think it is pretty unhygienic - means you can never have anything out on the worktop and e.g. go for a wee or answer the door cos your cat will be up and at it.

Can you give them more freedom to the rest of the house? Pick them off and put them on the floor saying "no" and do something to make the worktop unattractive like the empty can idea above.

I was v luck in that my cat hasn't shown any interest in the worktop - is he really a cat?!?!?!

thecatneuterer · 26/01/2018 16:33

Yes well if we went by what posters on MN say no one would ever answer their door, or use a loo brush, or eat fruit (think of the sugars!!) or indeed own a cat (all cat owners' houses stink don't you know). I'm pretty sure that cats on worktops never harmed anyone (and I don't even bother with antibac).

BayLeaves · 26/01/2018 16:39

It’s absolutely disgusting and I wouldn’t eat anything served to me by someone if I’ve seen cats roaming around the food preparation area.

Dazedandconfuzzled · 26/01/2018 16:42

I love it when people say it's disgusting etc and then try to tell cat owners how they should just stop them etc. It's like they had never met a cat. I clean my worksurfaces before I prepare food. No one has died yet.

justifiede · 26/01/2018 16:44

Don't know why people are saying you can't stop them. yes you can.
mine have never been on kitchen worktop or even the sofas or beds as I don't need my toddlers rubbing their faces on the sofas where the cats aresholes have been to be quite honest.
They're quite content with their own beds, they have some in most of the rooms.
We just kept firm with getting them to know that it wasn't ok to be on the worktop rtc.

Theresnonamesleft · 26/01/2018 16:45

Introduce them to other rooms.
Although as a cat slave I am confused about this introduction thing. I brought them home, open the carrier and let them go. They went somewhere they felt safe and explored when they felt like it. I just showed them where food, water and toilet was.

Very rarely jump on the kitchen sides, just if they think I am ignoring them.

LapdanceShoeshine · 26/01/2018 16:47

They're quite content with their own beds

Blimey. Are they real cats? Grin

Dazedandconfuzzled · 26/01/2018 16:50

I bought my cat a bed once. He looked at it and then curled up on my jumper instead. I want to meet these cats that don't sit on sofas etc cause I've had cats for as long as I can remember and I have never met one that doesn't do exactly what it wants.