How to Keep a Cat Off the Counter

Cats explore everything often to the consternation of their owners. Because of their tendency to do whatever they wish, cats often climb on counter tops and furniture where their owners don't want them to climb. There are several ways to keep a cat off the counter and at least one method should work for your pet.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Spray bottle with water
• Tin foil
• Clear tape
• Floor mats or carpet runners
• Automatic spraying deterrent
• Motion activated toy

1. Line the counter tops with tin foil. Cats don't like the feel or sound of tin foil beneath their paws and will usually jump down when they've landed on it. If the tin foil doesn't deter him or her, lay strips of clear tape upside down instead.

2. Spray your pet with cold water from a spray bottle whenever it jumps on a kitchen counter or table. Most cats despise water and will instantly run from a spray of it. Correct the cat immediately. If you wait even a few minutes your pet will not know why you're upset. You must catch him misbehaving to correct the behavior.

3. Use loud, sudden noises to surprise your cat. Loudly snapping your fingers, whistling or clapping your hands accompanied with a firm "No" tells your animal he's misbehaving.

4. Turn car floor mats or protective carpet runners upside down on the counter top. The rubber spikes on the bottom will not harm your kitty, but they create enough discomfort to keep your cat off.

5. Get an automatic spraying product. These types of products emit warning beeps whenever they detect motion nearby. If the motion continues, the product automatically sprays the cat. Place one on a counter or tabletop to deter your cat from climbing where it shouldn't.

6. Place a motion-activated child's toy on the counter top, preferably one that makes noise. Whether your kitty finds it scary or annoying, it works.

[bcoffeen]

on 10/6/2009 To save money, I just used regular tape. Expose the sticky side up. At both ends, just tuck them in and down to adhere to the counter. While I was putting the tape down this way, my cat decided to jump up on a different part of the kitchen, landed on the tape and immediately jumped down!