Has anyone managed to train cats to stay off the kitchen counter?

[IDontMindMarmite]

It's a lost cause isn't it?

Yesterday I was cooking and removed one particular cat from the side 7 times. I say "no" but this is completely meaningless to the two yobs.

Yeah people claim they have but all the cats do is wait til they’re out, then they’re up there tap dancing on the counter 😂

Yes but it takes time.

Collect some old coke cans Every night out the up on counter

When cats jump up the cans fall. They hate that.

Eventually they will stop even when the cans are gone as they will learn sides means clatter.

It took me about six months though. EVERY NIGHT

It’s a looong process and we’ve never bothered. We just wipe the countertop down before we do anything.

You will probably end up training them not to be there when you can see. When they’re alone they do what the hell they want. Yob is an accurate description of the beasties in this house too.

My cat has the audacity to jump up while I am preparing food. He knows it is naughty. Yet he does it.

I've never bothered to try, under the assumption that it would be a lost cause.

My parents used kitchen foil across the counters.
they hate the sound and feel, we never had pets on the counters so must help atleast

Mine is allowed on one side of the sink only to look out of the window and growl ag birds snd also to drink from the tap - yes he is special
He knows not to go to the other parts but still does either when we're nog looking/there or when there's too many birds and he gets too excited.
I don't think I have the patience to do coke cans every day for 6 months...

The spelling !!

Water pistol! (Obviously a small one, not a super soaker!) I had a cat try this and it only took a few times of a well timed squirt to stop it!

Mine have never been on it. They are Persians so can't jump that high!

water pistol and clattery things left on the edge and persistance. Cats arses in food areas is gross.

Yes, but I suspect only in my presence.

Pet Behave Spray from Amazon. Smells citrusy, makes their eyes water but is safe to put on surfaces (and sofa corners). Ours have learnt not to do it in front of me. However the paw prints I find on the induction hob lead me to believe that sometimes they go up there when I am not around.

One of the furry bastards jumped up onto the kitchen table yesterday and drank the milk from DH's cereal bowl as he was eating it so I might need to spray every where again.

One of the furry bastards jumped up onto the kitchen table yesterday and drank the milk from DH's cereal bowl as he was eating it

Isn't this normal?

Isn't this normal?

I fear your experiences have tainted your view From the indignant screaming, I got the impression that my DH didn't consider it normal or in any way acceptable.

Yeah people claim they have but all the cats do is wait til they’re out, then they’re up there tap dancing on the counter.

This.

Mine has been trained not to go on the counter when I'm in there so he's away from food prep and cooking, but my assumption is that he has been washing his arse on it at some point during the day.

DP attempt to train his two not to get on the counters. One complies - never wanted to get on the counters in the first place, preferring to wind himself around your legs to trip you up. The other doesn't give a stuff and jumps straight back up and the screws his face up and miaows angrily at you.

just give it up, the cat will always win

One of mine used to sit on the worktop next to oven every Christmas waiting for the turkey to cook. He loved turkey. He died recently, miss him so much.

He ended up with arthritis and for the last couple of years he could not manage to jump up.

Mine know not to do it in my presence.

I fear your experiences have tainted your view

You may have a point.

As a handy hint - we do find that strategically placed milk cartons can reduce the risk of your breakfast cerial being shared.

I heard that if you leave your surfaces lined with loose aluminium foil they'll hate it and soon learn not to go there. Has anyone tried that?

Cereal (apologies)

Older cats never did it in my presences but this devil kitten does it in front of me all day long, despite being removed every. single. time.

She doesn't even care about being sprayed with water anymore.

Had 3 cats nicely trained by simply repeatedly lifting down and firm ‘no’ since kitten hood. Then grown up kids returned for lockdown and I saw footprints all over kitchen surfaces every morning/ any time. Then I caught them in action: DD and DS letting them ‘help’ prepare veg. The moral is, as with child rearing, you all need to be on the same page with house rules

I’ve had quite a few cats over the years but only one ever went on the surfaces. Nothing stopped her. Our other cats just haven’t, but I can’t take credit for training them not to. Cats just do their thing, you just have to fit in. 🤣 I just got used to cleaning the surfaces right before I prepared any food.