Product to stop cat jumping on kitchen counter

kimmi_b

Fire_Fox wrote: »

Putting something on the sides is reacting to the final stage in a series of events, where will the cat escape to then? Being proactive is addressing the source of the problem - if your two year old cannot be reasoned with (fair enough) then put in a couple of babygates so that the cat has somewhere to go your daughter can't.

We have tried the babygates but she is nearly 2 and a half actually and is able, not to open them, but shake them until they nearly pop out of the door frame (they aren't the ones screwed directly into the wall unfortunately). I am persevering at telling her no, and telling the cat no as well. Luckily he has plenty of places to go and hide from her, I am determined to make it clear to him that certain places are out of bounds.

kimmi_b

cyberbob wrote: »

The problem is with your daughter not the your cat. So you addressing the wrong problem. If the the cat is chased or distresses no magic product will keep him fom on top of the counter. Your trying to address the consequences not the action

As much as teaching a 2 year old isn't easy you need to be proactive with that. Try and get her to play with the cat (supervised) in a nice calm way so she starts to understand how animals should be treated. It won't solve it overnight but it will eventually.

She does play with him in a calm way, 90% of the time, most of the time she ignores him. When he comes running in through the cat flap to get to his food bowl it seems to excite her and she goes running up to him "Tiggy Tiggy, where you been, come and play". I obviously I have given the wrong impression of her, that she is being cruel to him. She really isn't - she's just being an excitable toddler. Also the cat isn't jumping up only when she is around, he is jumping up now whenever it takes his fancy - I am just thinking that his sudden jumping up on the sides has seemed to coincide with her becoming more mobile around the house and wanting to follow him wherever he goes.

I will persevere with telling them both whats acceptable and what isn't, but in the meantime I will try and search for the gel crystals as I don't believe I am being completely unreasonable at not wanting my cat jumping up on the kitchen counter and cupboards whilst I am preparing food, especially when I know that this naughty behaviour is new - would rather nip it in the bud now.

gemstars

taking a different point from whether you should be trying to restrict the cats movements...

These crystals you're talking about are made for the garden and should not be used in the house, especially where food is being prepared and especially where a young child is!

emlou2009

cats like to jump up high and sit on kitchen cupboards? mine do this and they certainly arent getting chased around the house? my friends cats both do this too, she comes in from work at the end of the day and finds them snuggled up on the top between the cupboard and the ceiling, ignoring their snuggly beds! they seem to love the top of bedroom wardrobes too!

part and parcel of having a cat is that they will go where they want to and do what they want to do, they are strong willed animals!

paddypaws101

Ahh, I think it is cute that your little girl wants to greet puss when he comes in, after all we crazy cat ladies have to start somewhere hey? I was the same as a little girl...and my dad built a cat hide away in the garden shed to help the poor animals escape.
I do however think that this is a bit of a losing battle for you...anyone taking on the task of trying to train or control a cat is fighting a losing battle! Your daughter is doing what little girls do...and the cat is doing what cats do!
I would say clear the decks so he has a clear run and can get to the cupboards as easily as possible, wipe up if you feel you need to...or just carry on as you were!

Errata

Why not just ban the cat from the kitchen ?

kimmi_b

We have shut him out in the hallway while cooking so he has freedom to roam upstairs, he scratches the door and little madam opens it up to let him back in again.....

We put him outside and shut his catflap, he jumps in through the kitchen window....

I am going to give up I think and allow him on the surface, and just tell my partner to order takeaways every night!

tootiefrooties

kimmi_b wrote: »

I have got a problem with my 10 year old moggie jupming up onto the kitchen counters and from there onto the kitchen cupboards. He has recently been displaying this behaviour for the first time, in response (I think) to my 2 year old daughter chasing him around the house to 'play'. The top of the cupboards is the one place he can escape to! Obviously it's not acceptable, especially when he leaps up or down while we are trying to prepare food. We have tried double sided tape on certain areas where he is not allowed, which has worked so far, but cannot tape the kitchen worktops as we need to use them! I've tried orange peel but that hasn't worked either.

A colleague has been telling me about a product he used to use, he thinks it was called 'Puss Off'. It was a green gel-like crystal which had an odour offensive to cats. Apprarently this product worked a treat, but I cannot find it on the web.

Has anyone heard of this, or know of an alternative I can try?

Thanks in advance.

My cat used to jump on the sideboards, until I started leaving tin foil along it to deter him. When they land on it, it makes a noise and they jump straight off again. After a week or two, he learnt not to jump up there and hasn't tried it in months, so I didn't leave to need foil out anymore. It's a bit inconvenient, but worth a try.

Definitely have a couple of cardboard boxes around / out of little arms' reach so that he can feel safe in a more convenient place, though.

hth