Cats on counters HELP

walwin

Quackers wrote: »

I'v got an electric halogen hob that stays warm for ages. i'm trying to be really aware of shutting the door when I leave the kitchen so it has time to cool down but I'm really concerned about one of them wandering over the cooker and burning themselves

This is the one thing that bothered me about Winnie going onto the work surfaces. When we first had her we had an open plan kitchen, so couldn't shut out so I used to put saucepans of cold water onto the hob when I had finshed cooking.
We've subsequently moved, have another ceramic hob and don't have an open plan kitchen, but I'm not prepared to shut her out now so I still do the thing with the saucepans

Buttonmoons

I'm not sly enough for them not to know, and it's usually used when they are up to trouble, like chewing wires, so you have to be quick, and tbh I'd rather she knew I sprayed her because I'm the boss She's lovely anyways, it's the other cat that is a PITA.:)

talulahbeige_2

dannyjebb wrote: »

you have to remember that cats are totally different to dogs, were as a dog will learn from past "bad experiences" such as being squirted with water if he does something wrong, in my experience cats dont make this association

I have to disagree with this, my cat runs away from various things she has had bad experiences with
She used to love watching people use the hoover, then all of a sudden she bolts from the room, keeping as far away from the offending household appliance, whenever it is turned on. We can only assume that she went into someones house once and they were hoovering and they went for her with it to scare her off.
I also droped the ironing board near her once and now she panics whenever she sees the ironing board.
She was also once shut in the garage by accident, she will still go in the open garage but only if nobody is around, ie she knows it was a human who shut her in last time!

Can i just say, i'm not cruel to my cat it just sounds like it. 3 experiences in 13 years isnt bad going

Twirly

Hi,

Sorry I don't know if anyone has mentioned this already as I don't have time to read all posts today. My friend is an animal behaviourist and she told us that we would need to make it worth their while to come down. So, talk sternly to them to coax them down and then when they get down, treats and praise. Just be careful your cats aren't too clever because when mine sussed this, they kept getting up just to get the treat when they got down!

Claire_Bear

MrsE wrote: »

I disagree, I think if you forbid them jumping on anything they will think they live in a horrible house where they can't go anywhere.

I have two things they are not allowed to jump up on the kitchen worktops & the dining table. They will even jump on the dining chairs & sit there while we eat dinner, because they have learnt the difference.

But I think to make everything out of bounds goes against their nature of finding a nice high spot to watch the world from.

I didn't mean don't let them go anywhere, I don't think that's right either, I just meant that if they're allowed on certain places but not others then it might take longer to train them than a cat that wasn't allowed anywhere. Like I said, my cat is allowed to go anywhere she likes except the kitchen tops and the welsh dresser, she loves sitting up on the windowsill and clambering around on our bookshelves.

ninky_2

i wouldn't bother with the water spray idea. it might stop them doing it when they can see you but cats aren't stupid and will soon learn that they can still do it when you (and the water spray) aren't there.

have you tried some bitter / bitter apple spray (you can get from most vets) the smell will put them off. also try putting a physical block of some sort for a while if this is possible.

and treat reward them when they are not on the surfaces in the kitchen.

good luck!

Genuisscuffy

Hee, Hee sounds like we all have cats that have wound us round our fingers!!! My cat of 18 years used to love sitting on the chairs under the table! but my new little kitten has worked out that food is up there and wont jump up when I'm there but will when my son is in the kitchen (then found out he was shaking her food and letting her up to get some!!! We soon changed that!!!)
As for silver foil - my kitten loves it - flat she plays with it and then scrunches it up and chasing it all over the place. My other cat used to hate the smell of oranges and I used to make a pot pouri of orange skins cut up fine and then put where you dont want the cat to go - works until you get bored with it!!!

dizziblonde

So basically what we've established so far is that cats are contrary crafty little critters who win most battle of wits and wills hands down.

Mine CAN'T jump up on counters - but amputating a leg isn't exactly a strategy to be recommended! We water pistol snipe her when she starts to claw the sofa though and that habit stopped very very quickly.

clancy

Ive been using the tin yesterday & today and it seems to have stopped them going on so much, but its early days... Only problem i have is not being about to shake the tin when my kids are sleeping so i wonder how long it will take to realise i shout in the night but shake the tin in the day....

Apricot

Glad it's working out so far - perhaps when they come down you could give them a little treat on the floor?
Might encourage them to realise being up = bad, jumping down = good?