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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

Cat jumping on kitchen counter

30 replies

sleslieuk2021 · 22/12/2025 05:29

Hi my male cat has started to jump on the kitchen counter/sink/hob as soon as my back is turned. Never used to do this.
Every time I start preparing food he starts hanging around crying like I’m preparing his food!
He is on 1/2 wet sachet daily and 3 dry food feeds (Automatic feeder). He is at the correct weight.
His sister from same litter doesn’t do this.
I’ve tried putting pepper down and foil on counter to limited success. It’s also rather unsightly.
Any advice gratefully received!

OP posts:
Raisondeetre · 22/12/2025 05:36

Spray the worktops with peppermint oil in water? Or Method spray. Keep the counters meticulously clean . Ours does this too when my previous cat would never have dared. I think you have to be very firm and shout off! Spray him with water everytime he does it until he associates it with something unpleasant.

sashh · 22/12/2025 06:11

Mine tried this. I had to keep the kitchen door closed. With every other cat that has tried this I would just pick them up, no eye contact and put them down, no strokes no acknowledgement.

Then she learned to open doors so I use a door stop.

Now she will go in to the kitchen but not on the counters.

dinesaurrawr · 22/12/2025 06:14

Mine never used to go on the counters and I was very proud about this fact, then I started to find cat hair on the hob, the little shit was doing it while we were in bed instead 🤣

Raisondeetre · 22/12/2025 06:21

dinesaurrawr · 22/12/2025 06:14

Mine never used to go on the counters and I was very proud about this fact, then I started to find cat hair on the hob, the little shit was doing it while we were in bed instead 🤣

Haha! My cat does this too.

whirlyhead · 22/12/2025 06:33

Mine go everywhere. I’m quite used to chopping veggies around a cat! They’re just dead nosy and want to join in with what you’re doing. I’d just keep putting him on the ground. He’ll probably get bored with doing it if there’s nothing interesting on the tops.

CurlewKate · 22/12/2025 06:39

Have you met a cat before?

Original poster
sleslieuk2021 · 22/12/2025 13:07

Thanks all. I do use the water spray too but it really doesn’t deter him or he forgets within a second ! I also shout but again, he does it again.
thanks. Will try peppermint oil.

OP posts:
usedtobeaylis · 22/12/2025 13:11

Cat food sachets seem to have less in them now so he might actually be more hungry. My cat only ever jumps on the counter when she's really hungry, otherwise she'll just sit at the door and moon at you.

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 22/12/2025 15:13

Our last cat would very rarely go up on the counters, and if she did a stern “uh-uh” would have her scramble down immediately. When we adopted Louie I assumed he would be the same, but er, nope. To me it’s a “pick your battles” scenario. I choose shares in method and kitchen roll.

Cat jumping on kitchen counter
pinneddownbytabbies · 22/12/2025 15:16

Just tell him to gerroff and make him get down every time he does it. And if that doesn't work, put aluminium foil on the worktop. Apparently that has the desired effect, although I've not tried it on my lot.

Original poster
sleslieuk2021 · 22/12/2025 18:29

usedtobeaylis · 22/12/2025 13:11

Cat food sachets seem to have less in them now so he might actually be more hungry. My cat only ever jumps on the counter when she's really hungry, otherwise she'll just sit at the door and moon at you.

That made me chuckle!

OP posts:
Original poster
sleslieuk2021 · 22/12/2025 18:30

pinneddownbytabbies · 22/12/2025 15:16

Just tell him to gerroff and make him get down every time he does it. And if that doesn't work, put aluminium foil on the worktop. Apparently that has the desired effect, although I've not tried it on my lot.

Done that!

OP posts:
Original poster
sleslieuk2021 · 22/12/2025 18:31

Judystilldreamsofhorses · 22/12/2025 15:13

Our last cat would very rarely go up on the counters, and if she did a stern “uh-uh” would have her scramble down immediately. When we adopted Louie I assumed he would be the same, but er, nope. To me it’s a “pick your battles” scenario. I choose shares in method and kitchen roll.

Yes I tell him off but he goes up again the moment my back is turned !

OP posts:
soupyspoon · 22/12/2025 18:33

You need to clap your hands and say OFF, NO, quite loudly

Failing that, water pistol, keep it in the sink to hand, always full so that you can do it quickly with him

Soon you wont need to squirt, he will just associate the gun with the water and jump off

Then he should start obeying the voice command associated with the NO/OFF whe he looks like he is going to jump up

Not foolproof OP because I still find cat hairs over the work top when I get home from work, so she has been up there even though all of the above works in my presence.

TroysMammy · 22/12/2025 20:44

Haribo is the only cat that blatantly jumps on the work top or table when I'm in the kitchen. He gives no fucks. Even a stern "don't you dare" falls on deaf ears. I'm sure he thinks one of his names is get off the table. The other name is Haribo get down.

stickman123 · 22/12/2025 21:00

Tim foil across the counter tops will deter cats. They will shit themselves when they jump up onto it 😂

Our cats always manage a way around things and it’s my fault for not persevering with the tin foil as it was working, they are too stubborn!

Original poster
sleslieuk2021 · 23/12/2025 18:41

Yes done tin foil and spraying with water. He doesn’t give one 😆🐈

OP posts:
TroysMammy · 23/12/2025 19:16

Just eating dinner and Haribo who was sitting on the windowsill and despite the "don't you dare" and "no" has walked right across the table. He's incorrigible.

dinesaurrawr · 23/12/2025 20:55

usedtobeaylis · 22/12/2025 13:11

Cat food sachets seem to have less in them now so he might actually be more hungry. My cat only ever jumps on the counter when she's really hungry, otherwise she'll just sit at the door and moon at you.

Your cat moons you ? 😆

sashh · 24/12/2025 07:55

Mine used to climb up my legs and back and watch over my shoulder when I was cooking. She's about 19 now so maybe not as agile as she was.

jaundicedoutlook · 25/12/2025 00:26

At the very best you might get a cat not to go on the worktop when you are actively watching it. Any other time, the cat will definitely go on the worktop.

Gettingbysomehow · 25/12/2025 00:35

I've given up. The cats do what they want.

selffellatingouroborosofhate · 25/12/2025 00:39

jaundicedoutlook · 25/12/2025 00:26

At the very best you might get a cat not to go on the worktop when you are actively watching it. Any other time, the cat will definitely go on the worktop.

Yup. Many is the woman who thought she's trained her cats to keep off the worktops, only to hear the distinctive thud of feline paws hitting the floor as she approaches the kitchen.

I just clean the worktop before using it.

GirlInterrupted · 25/12/2025 00:53

Mine does the same, I gave up. Now pay your cat tax please

OSTMusTisNT · 25/12/2025 01:22

Buy him a bar stool so he can watch what you're doing. My cat just wanted to sit and watch me.