I have a book case, that the top shelf use to have picture and a basket on it. I use to put my loose changes and keys in there at night. When my cat got bigger, and could jump that high, she started sleeping in the basket. When she got bigger, she starting knocking over the picture. Every morning I would stand them back up. After a few weeks, she started knocking them on the floor. After she couldn't fit in the basket any more she started knocking that on the floor. For some reason nothing can be on that shelf any more. I even went as far to put a brick there once, and she managed to get it off. Is this normal, and can I get my shelf back.

 

I'm trying to think of something to put up there that would condition her not to go there after a couple of times. Except that it's a bookshelf, a pan of water might have worked.

 

Well...I think the problem is that you still think of it as YOUR shelf...it's not...it's her's until she decides she doesn't want it anymore....lol.

Seriously....about the only thing that I found that works is to solidly block access for a week to 10 days and they will usually kind of forget about it and find a new spot.

 

I think Vic has hit it dead center. It ceased to be "your" space when the cat discovered it. Relinquish it for a while, and make it comfortable for her. At least you don't have to worry about her going out, spending money at bars Just kiddin. It just comes from years of experience. Although temporary, cats will rule.

 

I guess she really thinks it her space. If you walk to close by when she is laying there, she will bat at you. More the kids then me, I will get the spray bottle in a heart beat if she does that to me. Half the time I don't even have to spray it, just shack it and she got. My wife tries to reason with her, telling I will spray you, and she just lays there. I get the spray bottle and it is on, I don't play.

 

Lol about the spray bottle....my 9 mo old kitten has learned that too. If she see's me pick it up she runs....but she'll go right back to what she was doing if I leave the room (after she makes sure I'm not watching). Smart critters aren't they?

 

She is smart alright, and there is also some attitude mixed in with that. I swear some time when I am yelling at her, she sets there rolling her eyes, or she will turn her back on me.

 

We put aluminum foil where we wanted to discourage a cat and it worked well. Can’t remember how long we left it, but it was in a place that wasn’t visible. Alum foil may not be aesthetic in your situation.

 

PAbugman, I don't think aluminum foil will work on my cat. My cat loves to play with anything that makes noise. And metal in her mouth doesn't seem to bother her. I have seen her running around with hot wheel car, keys, and stuff like that in her mouth. Plastic bags are the worst, she will play for hours driving my nuts some times with all the noise.

 

Maybe you can hook up a motion sensor to a horn and put it on the shelf so when she jumps up there the horn goes off. Maybe a bright flashing light, too.

 

You cat likes to sit someplace higher. Cats like to be high. Maybe you can get her a cat tree if you have space.

Another thing to try to get her off the shelf is loop tape so it is sticky side up and down. Cats don't like tape on the paw.

IMO - let the cat have the shelf. It her one spot she likes.

 

Tolyn has a good idea. Kind of like “if you can’t beat, join ‘em”. Of our two cats one likes to be high up, the other is a tunnel cat. Neither one will allow us to have plants in the house, so we sacrifice that for the joy(?) that they give us. It’s not worth the stress to fight a determined animal.

 

It's just not setting high she likes. She likes hidden under the cough too. Then she will grab your feet, I don't know how many people she has put in the ceiling. It is always the kids, or company.

 

My cat does that, too when he's at my grandparents's house. His paws blend in well with the carpet, too.

 

I have been watching this thread with amusement as I have cats who do the very same thing, and I have finally given in and just let them have their favourite spots. Sometimes that is just the easiest thing to do!

 

This kind of thing is why youtube was invented.

 

I was kind of thinking along these line too. But I was thinking more like funniest home videos. But for some reason, my cat is camera shy. You get out the camera, and she is gone, almost as fast as the water bottle.

 

Maybe she was on "Cats Gone Wild" when she went on spring break and learned to stay away from them....lol.

 

Buy a section of that plastic runner stuff, the kind with the bumps on the bottom for carpet traction. Put that there upside down for a while. Kept my cat from jumping on the stove.