Tell me if this is stupid or if it might work.

Kaiene

We have tried numerous things to keep our cats off the counters, none of which have worked.  I am seriously contemplating a really tall baby gate (like the kind you would have for a giant breed) to keep the cats out of the kitchen.  Thoughts?

lanyac

Cats can jump pretty high. I don't think that would work.

PolarBearFans

Ive seen my cat jump from the floor to the top of the tall fridge. The only way a gate is stopping him is if it goes to the ceiling. The counters are a losing battle. Even if you manage to "train" the cat to stay off when you are home, they will just go on them when you are gone. I just clean the counters before cooking and try to keep interesting objects like food and glassware in a cabinet. 

Kaiene

PolarBearFans:

Ive seen my cat jump from the floor to the top of the tall fridge. The only way a gate is stopping him is if it goes to the ceiling. The counters are a losing battle. Even if you manage to "train" the cat to stay off when you are home, they will just go on them when you are gone. I just clean the counters before cooking and try to keep interesting objects like food and glassware in a cabinet. 

We currently do that.  Argh.  It's very annoying.  They also walk across the stove, which makes me nervous.  We tried sticky paws but that didn't stop them.

Edited because I hit post too soon.

justaname

I agree that this probably won't work. Have you done the aluminum foil thing? Maybe try hiding so they dont think you are there and if they jump up on the counter jump out and make a ton of scary noises and shake a plastic bag or something? I know this works for my cat but I would never do it for a skittish one. Oh! It would be gross in the short term but maybe drench some paper towels and leave them on the counter? I am not sure how your cats would feel about having wet paws. Do motion detecting spray bottles exist? This was a jumbled rant but maybe something? That must be frustrating.

mainerocks

PolarBearFans:

Ive seen my cat jump from the floor to the top of the tall fridge. The only way a gate is stopping him is if it goes to the ceiling. The counters are a losing battle. Even if you manage to "train" the cat to stay off when you are home, they will just go on them when you are gone. I just clean the counters before cooking and try to keep interesting objects like food and glassware in a cabinet. 

This is what I think too, at least for my cats. I just gave up the battle. For a while mine were too old I think and stopped getting on the table, but now with two 7 month olds... all bets are off again. He runs when he sees me so he knows it's wrong, but that doesn't stop him.  Oh, and they think tin foil is fun. Stinkers. 

Kaiene

JustaName:

I agree that this probably won't work. Have you done the aluminum foil thing? Maybe try hiding so they dont think you are there and if they jump up on the counter jump out and make a ton of scary noises and shake a plastic bag or something? I know this works for my cat but I would never do it for a skittish one. Oh! It would be gross in the short term but maybe drench some paper towels and leave them on the counter? I am not sure how your cats would feel about having wet paws. Do motion detecting spray bottles exist? This was a jumbled rant but maybe something? That must be frustrating.

Let's work together on motion detecting spray bottles.  That would be awesome.  We could try the paper towel thing.  They don't always respond to shaking a bottle (we tried that when they were in a phase of batting the TV), so I'm not sure if that would work.  We do try to hide when spraying them when we do catch them on the counters.

They could care less about the foil.

J and SB always look so sad when we spray them for being on the table or counter...it always makes me wonder about what their former life was like.  Thankfully, though, they seem to learn and don't act like they hate us.

Really, the problem is L.  B and S are kind of a problem, but L is a maniac.

Kaiene

mainerocks:

PolarBearFans:

Ive seen my cat jump from the floor to the top of the tall fridge. The only way a gate is stopping him is if it goes to the ceiling. The counters are a losing battle. Even if you manage to "train" the cat to stay off when you are home, they will just go on them when you are gone. I just clean the counters before cooking and try to keep interesting objects like food and glassware in a cabinet. 

This is what I think too, at least for my cats. I just gave up the battle. For a while mine were too old I think and stopped getting on the table, but now with two 7 month olds... all bets are off again. He runs when he sees me so he knows it's wrong, but that doesn't stop him.  Oh, and they think tin foil is fun. Stinkers. 

Oh, kittens!

 

mainerocks

Kaiene:

mainerocks:

PolarBearFans:

Ive seen my cat jump from the floor to the top of the tall fridge. The only way a gate is stopping him is if it goes to the ceiling. The counters are a losing battle. Even if you manage to "train" the cat to stay off when you are home, they will just go on them when you are gone. I just clean the counters before cooking and try to keep interesting objects like food and glassware in a cabinet. 

This is what I think too, at least for my cats. I just gave up the battle. For a while mine were too old I think and stopped getting on the table, but now with two 7 month olds... all bets are off again. He runs when he sees me so he knows it's wrong, but that doesn't stop him.  Oh, and they think tin foil is fun. Stinkers. 

Oh, kittens!

 

Seriously! WTH was I thinking!? :-P 

Kaiene

Kittens are so cute, though! I must confess though, that after we take the fosters back I am usually very glad we have adult cats!