How do you keep you cats off the kitchen worktops?

[CucumberCool]

Hi all,

Getting fed up of my Bert jumping on the kitchen counters. He's a terror for it and will eat out of the compost box, steal the butter, lick the sink etc....

They are also not allowed on the dining table and tend not to push their luck there but there is rarely the reward of something to eat ...

Ive seen online that putting tin foil covering the whole top scares the crap out of them as they we not expecting the sight or sound. I would try it if I knew it would be a permanent solution but feels like a waste of tin foil if not ....

I clap and shout and if am quick enough will give him a spray of water but he doesn't listen and or respect my authority...

How do you keep your furry freeloaders off the sides?

This cat (adopted) jumped on counters a couple of times but shooing her off/clapping & shouting ‘No!’ cured her of it.

Previous cat didn’t ever bother tbh.

Our compost box is a lidded caddy, could that be an option so there isn’t food out? & maybe get a lidded butter dish. If there isn’t anything to attract him he won’t have reason to go up there.

Like this
compostcaddy

Personally I wouldn’t spray water. Our rescue arrived scared of pump spray bottles.

You can provide a cat tree near the counters so they are higher than the worktop and can look down like their in a real tree.

I gave up though. The cat just wanted it more.

I gave up.

I tried foil on a bar stool to deter LastCat and he just sat on it and made himself comfy.

My cats very kindly let me use the kitchen worktops to prepare meals on.

I dont leave food out. I spray and wipe before and after prepping food.

Thankfully the sun only hits one part, so if they do go on, that's where they go.

Pet Behave Spray - is citron smelling spray that is supposed to deter them. Once they know what it smells like you can just show them the bottle.

This ensures that they only go on the surfaces when you are somewhere else and get off if they hear you coming.

Give up! Antibacterial spray before you cook anything, or not?
Never done us any noticeable harm, although we are the kind of people that might go to another person’s house while they have a cold! So we are obviously beyond the pale, hygiene-wise!

I have a shelf that they climb up onto to keep an eye on everything.
Have completely failed to keep them off the worktops though. Never had this with previous cats. If I shout 'get off' to these two, it seems to be interpreted as 'do a loop of the kitchen and step on all of the worktops and then get off'

Cats go wherever they want, they answer to no one! Probably best to shut them out of the room while you are cooking, but let them have their fun when the worktops are clear

Both butter dish and compost are lidded!! He is just determined. Generally food isn't left out on purpose.

It's not the hygiene aspect which bothers me more he's eating things he shouldn't!

Will try wiping down with some lemon juice, see if the smell puts him off.

He definitely knows he should so jumps off when he hears us coming.

Thanks everyone for responses, did wonder if there was a magical method...

Both of mine learnt after being spritzed on the bum with water, one was more determined than the other though!

Buy cheaper butter. Our boy only ate Lurpak. I bought Anchor once and he wouldn’t touch it.

I bet you can get lockable butter dishes.

All food needs to be kept in cupboards or in the fridge - anything left on surfaces is fair game to cats.

My boy used to do that. The butter dish has got a lid. He's too old to jump up there now

I gave up eventually

I am failing haven't given up yet, and hope to teach kitten not to go on food prep surfaces.
We filled a spray bottle with dilute Dettol and go over the surfaces 40 times a day. The spray is mildly interesting to our boy.

Our old cat used to do this and I cured it by laying tin foil on the counter tops for a few days. I think I read it somewhere. He didn’t like the feel or sound of it as he walked on it. Spritzing it with water will probably help too.

Thankfully current cat never bothered.

My cat never ever jumps up there. The last 8 all did. I'm wondering if she's really a cat.

We gave up. Although our rescue doesn’t bother as much as she used to, we removed a cupboard she used as a stepping stone and although she can jump from the floor, she has missed a couple of times and her dignity has taken a hit🤣🤣

I gave up and swapped my standard hob for an induction so at least she doesn’t burn her paws.

Me too.

Sodding goes where he damn well pleases. It’s his house, not ours. He deigns to let us reside here. Worktop: his. Sofas: his. Sunny spot in the living room: his. You get the picture. We could try policing things but he just ignores us. I wish my metaphorical balls were as big as his (long vanished ones).

Started as I meant to go on when they were kittens. Tried a a spray but they thought dodging it was a game.. I just hissed loudly and consistently and thy would dare anymore.. they know it's totally off limits.

I'm constantly throwing my cat off the worktop , well not literally 😂 it makes no difference how many times I put him on the floor he actually bites me half the time as if it's his bloody worktop !

@Ibizafun

Started as I meant to go on when they were kittens. Tried a a spray but they thought dodging it was a game.. I just hissed loudly and consistently and thy would dare anymore.. they know it's totally off limits.

When you're in the room. When you're out, they do what they want