A common domestic cat behaviour is jumping on the kitchen countertops. The countertop is an inviting place for cats because it is full of food, and often has a great window for bird watching. Although they are very appealing, countertops can also be dangerous for cats. For this reason, many feline owners want to know how to stop the cat from jumping on the counter. If you are dealing with a countertop surfing cat, try out the following tips to deter this behaviour.
- Hide the food. Although it is out of sight, cats have a keen sense of smell and can easily find and eat food that is sitting out on the counter. If your feline is jumping onto the countertop to taste test some food, you may benefit from putting the food away.
- Keep it clean. Make sure there are no dirty dishes in the sink, and that all countertops are kept tidy. A clean countertop is a boring countertop, which means kitty will have no interest in investigating the contents of the kitchen.
- Line the edge of the counter with tape or tinfoil. Placing double-sided tape or tinfoil along the edges of your countertops will ensure your feline will stop jumping onto them. The texture that these items have is so unappealing to touch that your cat will have no interest in going anywhere near them.
- Make a loud noise. Place something on the countertop that will make a loud noise when your kitty jumps up. Good options to try are cookie sheets or a can with a few pennies inside of it. Make sure the object will only startle your cat off of the countertop, and will not harm him in the process. This is a great deterrent for this domestic cat behaviour because you are not present when it happens, and Kitty will be scared of the countertop, and not scared of you.
- Invest in a cat tree house. If your feline is jumping onto the countertop to look out of the window, place a cat tree in front of a different window instead. Make this cat tree appealing by sprinkling it with catnip and showing Kitty that this window is just as good as the one in the kitchen.
Try your best to implement these tips to deter your kitty from continuing this domestic cat behaviour. Once you do, you can be assured that your cat will keep his feet safely on the ground, instead of on your kitchen counters.
Niki Rebin, along with her parents Norm and Delva, have helped over 3,000 stray and feral cats through their non-profit cat sanctuary Paws On Your Heart. Having worked with cats for over 70 years, the Rebin family is often asked: "How can I stop my cat from scratching the furniture?" To find out the answer, and more, download our FREE e-book "Solving Your Top 5 Cat Behaviour Concerns" here:http://www.pawsonyourheart.org/squeeze_pages/8909-solving-your-top-5-cat-behaviour-concerns
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