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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

How do you keep you cats off the kitchen worktops?

51 replies

CucumberCool · 24/11/2021 16:09

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... HmmGrin

How do you keep your furry freeloaders off the sides?

How do you keep you cats off the kitchen worktops?
OP posts:
WaterBottle123 · 26/11/2021 23:37

Why is it a problem?

BookShark · 26/11/2021 23:37

Give up and just never leave food out. I feed our beasts earlier and within 30 second they were sniffing around the Chinese cartons. So plates straight in the sink and always lids on pans.

And extra caution with chopping boards that were used to chop chillies. Yes, they've licked those in the past as well. On the plus side, we're now much better at washing up as we go...

Giggorata · 27/11/2021 02:11

Semi serious suggestion - if cats hate cucumbers as much as YouTube says they do, would they avoid worktops with cucumbers on them?

violetbunny · 27/11/2021 02:25

We never leave food out. If they jump up I shoo them back down straight away. We also invested in a glorious cat tower which overlooks the garden, so that is now a much more attractive spot for them.

Jackson Galaxy has a saying, which is "when you say no (to a cat), also say yes". You're more likely to change the behaviour if you also provide an attractive alternative in addition to the deterrent. I've found this to be good advice in general for cats.

silentpool · 27/11/2021 07:02

My cat has a stool to sit on to watch me cooking. He is a Persian so isn't a very good jumper - so if the stool is far enough away, he can't get up. Otherwise, the kitchen door remains closed to reduce temptation.

Bagadverts · 27/11/2021 07:20

@WaterBottle123

Why is it a problem?
As someone who visiting I really disliked getting breakfast when there was cat hair all over the counter. I don’t think the owners noticed but I worried about hygiene. I know this says a lot more about owners than the cat who was lovely. I was only there a couple of days and didn’t know where the cleaning stuff was. I won’t stay again.
Original poster
CucumberCool · 27/11/2021 07:58

@WaterBottle123

Why is it a problem?
He's eating things he shouldn't. It's pretty determined and will drag a bag of bread off out the bread bin and work the lid off the butter dish! Has even got into the lidded compost bin!!

We're being fastidious about cleaning off the crumbs of food to help the temptation.

They both have plenty lovely cat dedicated places to sit around the house.

@Giggorata is it actually cucumbers they don't like? Or is it that something has appeared behind them they weren't expecting. Do they have the same reaction to courgette?! Grin

OP posts:
dontletthemugglesgetyoudownn · 27/11/2021 11:10

Foil on the counters for a bit. They hate the feeling of foil!

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 27/11/2021 11:16

I'm afraid we just don't bother. We just always clean surfaces before food preparation (but wouldn't you anyway?).
Sybil always joins us on the table for breakfast. Cucumbers don't work because she isn't frightened of them (yes, we have tried them)

KittenCatcher · 27/11/2021 11:23

I thought they were scared of cucumbers because they look like snakes.

Evvyjb · 27/11/2021 11:41

I've given up. One of my loves to roll around the worktop. And sleep in the sink.

InvincibleInvisibility · 29/11/2021 07:00

Those who have given up, do you have doors to the kitchen?

Had a cat when I was a child who never tried to go on worksurfaces.

Getting a kitten in a couple of weeks. DH is already not keen (but got outvoted) and has never had a pet. He can accept new kitten if we keep our bedroom door shut, but Im afraid he ll have a fit if kitten climbs on kitchen surfaces...

Obviously we ll keep the door shut as much as possible and cat food wont be in the kitchen, but Im in and out all day

Evvyjb · 29/11/2021 07:04

No door to kitchen... also the allotment courgette glut did not seem to deter her. She just sat ON them.

Fluffycloudland77 · 29/11/2021 08:19

I have a kitchen door but it’s cat nature to climb for a lot of them. Current rescue girl prefers to go under things and not up high.

Grumpyoldpersonwithcats · 29/11/2021 11:18

We have a kitchen door. It's always open so the cats can get through to the utility where their food and litter tray live...

helpfulperson · 29/11/2021 11:36

I keep so much other junk on them there is no room for the cats.

Mumdiva99 · 29/11/2021 14:19

@prettyplatapus if he can do bread and butter could you train him to make you a sandwich?

@invincibleinvisibility it's amazing how standards change once it's your own cat!!

This is cheekiness too far for me!! She was just taunting us....

How do you keep you cats off the kitchen worktops?
BeaMends · 29/11/2021 14:24

I keep the kitchen door shut.

Techno56 · 29/11/2021 14:27

We gave up ...

Our boy is a Bengal X British Shorthair and he is more like a dog in his obsession with stealing food. We had a lockable food waste caddy but he worked out how to tip it over and undo it.

We have also had to buy a big bin that locks, and weigh it down inside with a massive bag of ball bearings and he still manages to pull the bag out in shreds at times by clawing at the folded over edges.

He use to sit on our chopping board so that has to be propped up vertically when not in use. He kicks the sink and walks over the hob.

We clean with bleach spray before we make any food and several other times every day! Can't shut him out as it's open plan.

We also have to shut leftovers in the microwave or oven until cool or he will steal them.

We have a spray bottle and if we shake it while he's up there he will get down but makes this little annoyed mrrrrp noise as if he's saying oh ffs.

I guess what I'm saying is it could be worse 🤣

DismantledKing · 29/11/2021 14:29

Good luck with that! Cats are sods, especially ours.

TheChip · 29/11/2021 14:32

I just keep the door shut. My oldest knows he isn't allowed, but who am I to tell him what he can and can't do? They always take their chances when I have the door open!
My younger boy listens to no and leaves if I tell him too so he's not so bad.

My younger two absolutely hate getting flea treatment so I've been closing the door when they enter the kitchen and applying the treatment. I'm hoping they start associating the kitchen with that and avoid it completely. It seems to be working with the youngest as she hasn't been anywhere near the kitchen since I last applied it.

Other than that, I just disinfect the benches before I use and also prepare what I can on plates etc.

Kotatsu · 29/11/2021 14:56

Boy cat knows he's not allowed on, but still does it when he smells something he's interested in, and I shoo him off onto a high stool where he can see what I'm doing.

Tin foil didn't have the dramatic affect that I've seen on the internet, but did work a bit, but not long term, just while it was there.

Kotatsu · 29/11/2021 15:02

Current rescue girl prefers to go under things and not up high.

Yes! Girl cat is a pain for going in the bottom cupboards - I have to make sure they're shut, or she pops in for a look around (and gets hair in my tupperware)

InvincibleInvisibility · 29/11/2021 18:52

Thanks.
I remember not being phased about picking fur off my food (so much floating around in the air it inevitably landed on food sometimes) but Im not sure DH will feel the same.

Still Im hoping they'll bond late at night when everyone else is in bed (getting a ragdoll who will hopefully want lots of cuddles)

BibiBlocksberg · 29/11/2021 19:59

Not read the whole thread but title raised a smile so thought i’d weigh in with my two penneths worth :)

Wisdom gleaned from a Cat blog had me keeping a gas lift bar stool from previous tenant of current flat so kitties can sit & observe countertop proceedings from a ‘yours & mine’ perspective.

Did it work? Sadly not, despite repeated lifting downs & kind but firm no’s i continue to be followed around the worktops (to the door of the fridge usually) by a cheeky furry customer.

Have resigned myself to ‘pick your battles’ mentality & just do a LOT of wiping up after toe beans whose previous destination is questionable to say the least :)