Keeping Your Cat off of the Kitchen Counter

Having trouble keeping your inquisitive cat off your kitchen counter? Whether it's because you're concerned about your adorable feline's safety, or you just don't like animals on your counter, there are ways to teach your cat to stay off your kitchen counter. It might help you to have a better understanding of why cats finds such a fascination with kitchen counters. It could be one of these reasons:

• Cats love heights.
• The kitchen counter often has tempting smells, such as raw meats or a tuna sandwich.
• Cats like the sound of running water.
• Cats are very independent. They like to do want they want and go where they want.  

Here are 6 steps you can take to end your cat's fascination with your counter.

Step 1 – Define Allowed Jumping Targets

Begin with a positive approach. Provide climbing trees or kitty towers that your cat is allowed to jump onto. Praising your cat when his behavior is acceptable will reinforce good behaviors.

Step 2 – Tape a Strip of Aluminum Foil to the Counter

A strip of aluminum foil may look strange attached to your counter, but cats do not like the feel of foil on their toes. Not only this, but the noise of the foil as he steps on it will tend to scare your cat away from the counter.

Step 3 – Use Pennies in a Can

Ceate a noise maker by dropping some pennies (or pebbles) into an aluminum can. Tape the opening shut. When you see your cat ready to pounce on the counter, rattle the can loudly and the noise will scare the cat away. You can also leave several of these cans full of pennies or pebbles on the counter edge just inches apart. When the cat jumps on the counter, some of the cans will tumble to the floor and the noise will scare the cat away.

Step 4 – Apply Sticky Tape to the Counter

Cats don't like the feel of sticky tape. After a few attempts of trying to get onto the counter without stepping on the tape, they will give up. If you find this remedy to be an inconvenience, keep in mind that after a few experiences of finding the sticky tape on the counter, the cat is not likely to return there again. Then you can remove the tape.

Step 5 – Use a Spray Bottle

A spray bottle is great for disciplining a cat. When your cat jumps on the counter, one good misting or spray from the bottle will teach him that jumping on the counter is not a good idea. If you're consistent, it will not take many shots of the bottle before your cat will avoid jumping on the counter.

Step 6 – Use a Commercial Product

Some cat deterrent products use a motion detector that gives the offending cat a double dose of displeasure. The detector will set off a loud alarm and spray him with a nontoxic gas.