Does anyone have suggestions on how to keep cats from jumping onto the kitchen counter?
My cats have been walking on the kitchen counters while we’re not looking. It’s getting quite unsanitary with all the paw prints and sometimes tracks of cat litter on the counter where I chop vegetables.
We let our cat go everywhere, so I haven’t tried any discipline techniques on Dracula. But I’ve heard from other people that putting aluminum foil on the edges of the counters will keep them away. Apparently cats don’t like the sound or feel of foil. But, having foil all over the counter could be annoying as far as trying to use the surface yourself…
Making a loud noise (like shaking a can with coins in it) whenever they are jumping up there is another suggestion I’ve heard, but it might just freak the cats out in general and cause them to associate you with the unpleasant noise. Also, you have to be watching the counters all the time in order to make this work. And, they will probably figure out that the noise only happens when you are around and might still go up there when you aren’t home.
Some people advocate spraying cats with a little water to deter them from undesirable behavior. But, this has the same negative side effects as the noise solution above, and, it just seems mean.
I came across this product, which might be a good solution. It’s called Tattle Tale. It works using the noise-deterrance theory, but dissociates it from you as you are not the source of the noise, as you are with the can. Also, this will stay on all the time, so it will make noise every time they jump up – not just when you are watching. Also, it is small, so you can still use the space to cook.
Seems like a great product. Has anyone tried this?