Cat people - I really need some help.

Kaiene

We have tried everything we can think of to keep the cats off the counters.  We are committed to keeping them clean, and will just deal with the fact they jump up there.

But, now they are jumping on the counters and sniffing around/walking on the stove, even when the oven or a burner is on.  I am really worried about them burning their paws.  Is there anything we can do to keep them off the stove?

We have tried:

aluminum foil

sticky paws

spraying when we catch them on there

leaving the counters clean/bare

marriedonmaui

I have a blue sonic trainer that I use for Sherlock when I'm cooking. If he gets on the counter while I'm cooking I only need to use it once and he stays on the floor the rest of the time. I don't mind if he is on the counter while we are gone or not cooking, as he likes to sit in the kitchen window (right above the counter) but I make sure he stays off while I'm cooking and that I disinfect the countertops before making anything.

As for the hot stuff, he stays away from the stovetop when the heat is on. 

Stellina+Amour

Hi, sorry to barge in on your board like this, I've never posted here before. Seeing your post made me want to reply... I'm such a huge cat lover

My opinion is that is really hard to limit the areas that cats are allowed to access... they're stubborn and independent like that. Still, you can definitely discipline them and draw some limits. Getting them off the counters while saying "no" firmly, every single time you catch them, will at least teach them that they are not allowed to get up there. Then you can try using a rolled up newspaper to discipline them further... I know this sounds appalling, I don't mean that you have to strike them or hurt them in any way (!), I just find that the sound of the newspaper, when you strike a surface or you own hands, is very upsetting to them, making them run and hide. If you patiently keep this up, they'll desist. I used this method especially to teach all my cats not to jump on the bed like maniacs in the middle of the night. Took a while, but it worked in the end.

Cats like tall surfaces in general, mine always jumped on top of the fridge to survey the kitchen, but they will eventually get tired of being "scared" away or removed that they'll give up. Or should.

If your kitties are young they're probably very lively and agile, but it's also the best time to discipline them, 'cause it will stick.

As far as the stove goes, I can't help much... sounds like your cats are comfortable around burning fire. I guess I'd give the newspaper approach a try, see what happens. Good luck!

Otterama

We use a spray bottle. They don't like being sprayed with water

Kaiene

marriedonmaui:

I have a blue sonic trainer that I use for Sherlock when I'm cooking. If he gets on the counter while I'm cooking I only need to use it once and he stays on the floor the rest of the time. I don't mind if he is on the counter while we are gone or not cooking, as he likes to sit in the kitchen window (right above the counter) but I make sure he stays off while I'm cooking and that I disinfect the countertops before making anything.

As for the hot stuff, he stays away from the stovetop when the heat is on. 

Do you have a link? 

Kaiene

Stellina+Amour:

Hi, sorry to barge in on your board like this, I've never posted here before. Seeing your post made me want to reply... I'm such a huge cat lover

My opinion is that is really hard to limit the areas that cats are allowed to access... they're stubborn and independent like that. Still, you can definitely discipline them and draw some limits. Getting them off the counters while saying "no" firmly, every single time you catch them, will at least teach them that they are not allowed to get up there. Then you can try using a rolled up newspaper to discipline them further... I know this sounds appalling, I don't mean that you have to strike them or hurt them in any way (!), I just find that the sound of the newspaper, when you strike a surface or you own hands, is very upsetting to them, making them run and hide. If you patiently keep this up, they'll desist. I used this method especially to teach all my cats not to jump on the bed like maniacs in the middle of the night. Took a while, but it worked in the end.

Cats like tall surfaces in general, mine always jumped on top of the fridge to survey the kitchen, but they will eventually get tired of being "scared" away or removed that they'll give up. Or should.

If your kitties are young they're probably very lively and agile, but it's also the best time to discipline them, 'cause it will stick.

As far as the stove goes, I can't help much... sounds like your cats are comfortable around burning fire. I guess I'd give the newspaper approach a try, see what happens. Good luck!

We can try.  I forgot to add that a couple of them are not afraid of loud noises (we've done the coins in a water bottle when they were batting at the tv).  I think 2 of the boys would be deterred by a loud noise, so it is worth a shot. 

mainerocks

I don't suppose you could baby gate them out of the kitchen while you are cooking? It won't be long before you need those baby gates anyway! )

DawnMarie11

mainerocks:

I don't suppose you could baby gate them out of the kitchen while you are cooking? It won't be long before you need those baby gates anyway! )

Has a baby gate ever deterred a cat? Mine starting hopping hers at 4 months.

mainerocks

DawnMarie11:

mainerocks:

I don't suppose you could baby gate them out of the kitchen while you are cooking? It won't be long before you need those baby gates anyway! )

 

Has a baby gate ever deterred a cat? Mine starting hopping hers at 4 months.

Yes, both Kitty Cat and Lily never jumped a gate in their lives. 

mainerocks

Oh, and also, my two 7 month old kittens haven't ever either, but I don't use the gates much anymore.

Kaiene

mainerocks:

I don't suppose you could baby gate them out of the kitchen while you are cooking? It won't be long before you need those baby gates anyway! )

We do have one gate we got for fostering.  We could try it, but it is not very tall.  Do you think that matters?

Also, do you think it could confuse them later if we end up using them to make baby free areas? 

BackseatDriver

Can you make a place in the kitchen where they are allowed? That is always our compromise- no counters, but  stools are okay. It definitely isn't perfect but it helps

mainerocks

Kaiene:

mainerocks:

I don't suppose you could baby gate them out of the kitchen while you are cooking? It won't be long before you need those baby gates anyway! )

We do have one gate we got for fostering.  We could try it, but it is not very tall.  Do you think that matters?

Also, do you think it could confuse them later if we end up using them to make baby free areas? 

It's worth a try. They might as well get used to the gate anyway. If they have enough entertainment on their side of the gate, they might not bother with jumping the gate. 

Kaiene

BackseatDriver:

Can you make a place in the kitchen where they are allowed? That is always our compromise- no counters, but  stools are okay. It definitely isn't perfect but it helps

We are in a TH with a galley kitchen, so there isn't a ton of room.  They do like the dining room chairs, though, so we could try bringing in one and see if that helps. 

michaelandjulie2

I wish I had some advice, but we have the same problem. Whenever we turn the burners on, DH or I stay in the kitchen or we put the kitties in their room so there is no chance they will jump up while the burners are cooling down. I wish we could actually get them trained not to jump up there, but sadly, I think it is a lost cause. 

breaness

Here you go:

 

http://www.amazon.com/Petzoom-8140-PetZoom-Sonic-Trainer/dp/B003EYUDT2 

Cee4290

http://www.amazon.com/Pet-Parade-Stay-Off-Mat/dp/B004K9SIQU/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1332696621&sr=1-1

I used these to keep my cat off my sofa, and it worked like a charm. Prior to these, I had tried everything, but would come home from work and find the aluminum foil crumpled from his walking/sleeping on the couch. With these, a loud screeching alarm goes off at the slightest pressure. Works 24/7 and after a few weeks, never heard the alarm ever go off.

mainerocks

breaness:

Here you go:

 

http://www.amazon.com/Petzoom-8140-PetZoom-Sonic-Trainer/dp/B003EYUDT2 

Interesting! I wonder if this would work for Coopers biting habit!? 

msmerymac

Do you have anything near the counters that they can hop on, gaining access to the counters, like bar stools or a table? Or are they just jumping up there? Removing "steps" up to the counters might help.

Not helpful, but I've been able to teach the cats to stay off the counters and the dining room table, but my cats also have short legs, so jumping up to the counters isn't something they are very interested in. And of course, I'm pretty sure they mostly stay off the dining table when I'm home because thy know I'll make them get off - I occasionally find the place mats all messed up when I come home from work. If I see them on there when I am home I use my angry voice and a "no!" and take them off as soon as I see it. They know my angry voice/body language and me approaching them that way usually causes them to stop the behavior before I get there. After a while, it's probably kind of pavlovian - get on the table, get in trouble.

Kaiene

msmerymac:

Do you have anything near the counters that they can hop on, gaining access to the counters, like bar stools or a table? Or are they just jumping up there? Removing "steps" up to the counters might help.

Nope, they just jump straight up.  We have a galley kitchen, so there isn't room for a stool or anything.  They are pretty good jumpers!

Kaiene

Cee4290:

http://www.amazon.com/Pet-Parade-Stay-Off-Mat/dp/B004K9SIQU/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1332696621&sr=1-1

I used these to keep my cat off my sofa, and it worked like a charm. Prior to these, I had tried everything, but would come home from work and find the aluminum foil crumpled from his walking/sleeping on the couch. With these, a loud screeching alarm goes off at the slightest pressure. Works 24/7 and after a few weeks, never heard the alarm ever go off.

This sounds like it would be perfect! Do you know if it comes in different sizes? Our counters aren't huge (galley kitchen), so I wonder if this size might be too big?

SillyStraw

What about Ssscat?  I haven't tried it, but it seems like it could work.  It blows a puff of air when the sensor catches something close to it.  I think some beep too.  I suppose you would need 2 so there could be one on either side of the stove.

Kaiene

SillyStraw:

What about Ssscat?  I haven't tried it, but it seems like it could work.  It blows a puff of air when the sensor catches something close to it.  I think some beep too.  I suppose you would need 2 so there could be one on either side of the stove.

We will look into it! Thank you for the suggestions everyone! 

Temp905625875002822

Ssscat worked for our cat! I was going to suggest it if no one else did. And here is a YouTube on it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_8mafoOsdA

We used it to keep our cat off counters and the kitchen table. But we've allowed him up on the sofa and some window sills, so there's a compromise. And we only had to use one can.

san314

The thing you need to understand about kitties, is that they are all well-behaved in their own way. Next time you see the kitty on the counter, you need to look at them and appreciate their well-behavedness.Also, isn't it cute how they walk around and sniff? Kitties are so cute when they sniff. You know, how they will left their heads and kind of nod when they sniff? Cute babies. That's them being well-behaved in their own way. Plus, kitties need exercise, especially indoor only ones, so you should let them jump around, since it's part of them being well-behaved.

acbparker

I have a friend who got a new chair and did not want her cats scratching it.  She blew a whistle anytime they were near it and said within 2 days they wouldn't go around it.  However, she said she got lax on blowing the whistle and now they sleep in it all the time=)