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Best way to keep young cats off the kitchen counter?
My household has a couple of young cats who are a few months shy of a year old. They are out of a litter of barn cats, very smart and curious, and also avid climbers; we've caught them in windows and on top of the washer and dryer, and one of them even got up onto the ledge over the French doors that lead out onto our deck.
The one place we can't let them get, though, is the kitchen counters--because they lead right to the parakeet cage we have sitting in the window.
Problem is, we can't seem to keep them off the counter. We've tried spraying them with water bottles, setting cookie sheets with water in them at the points most accessible to the cats, and even building constructions of cardboard and tape and chopsticks on top of the recycle bin to discourage the kitties from climbing up there. They're still quite willing to do it if they think they can get away with it, though.
Anybody got any brilliant suggestions as to how we can convince them to leave the counters--and by extension the birdies--alone? Thanks in advance!
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Post a commentYou might think of another place to keep the bird.I think as long as the cats see the "food" they'll do what they can to get to it.
I have 3 Ragdolls who never get up on anything anymore because I put wide packing tape, sticky side up on counters or chairs anywhere I don't want them to go. They don't like it on their feet and after once or twice won't even think of getting on the counters. Just put two or three stripes down and leave it for while they'll get the message, after awhile you can remove the tape. In the begging the cats would stand on their hind legs to see if there's anything still their so I'd quickly put some tape there, now they don't even do that. Good luck
Hi Annathepiper!
I had the exact same problem with two very inquisitive, stubbord and determined young cats. After trying all of the methods you have tried-even the packing tape suggestion-nothing would keep them off my counters!
A friend of mine told me about this little trick that his vet had heard of when he was trying to solve his same problem. Thinking it was a bit bizarre but really needing a quick solution I tried it, and voila! it actually worked!!
His vets suggestion was to place a few of the smallest mouse traps I could find scattered around the counters where ever I did not want them to be >mainly close to where they actually jumped/landed on the counters.
You have to buy the smallest little mouse traps, 5 or so, that you can find since you do not want to hurt them or actually snap them at all! Then you have to glue on an object-I used two small round magnets glued on top of each other-that will prevent the trap from completely closing/snapping and possibly hurting your kitties.
Your intent is to give them a quick startle along with a loud noise so when the cats jump up onto the counters and bump into a trap it will go off and startle them and make a nice loud noise when the metal bar hits the magnets!
Doing this once or twice will make them believe that the counters aren't such a great place to investigate after all!Seriously, this actually worked, worked immediately and left a long lasting impression on my two stubborn babies.
FYI: I actually used 2 small, round magnets together which I glued to the exact spot where the spring loaded metal piece actually hits the wood when it goes off. Make sure to provide a big enough space so that when they bump into it and set it off it will not actually trap or catch their paws in it at all, just startle them.
I hope this helps!!
Im still having problems with my cat, she was also a barn cat like the other letter, ive tryed everything, water, traps, ive heard ornange peels on the counters, nothing has helped, as soon as i come into the liveingroom she's up there, i dont want to get rid of her but i can't stand her up there i need help any more idea's from anyone.... Dawn
I had that problem with my adult cats and a friend suggested this method. It feels a little harsh but it worked really well. When you catch the cat on the counter, pounce on them and pin them down to the counter by their neck and their bum. Then you yell at them! Be really loud and threatening, making sure to pin them so they can't move. This doesn't hurt them but it makes an impression. After a couple times they will learn to associate that surface with that unpleasant experience and avoid it.
When you find your cat doing something "wrong", the worst thing you could possibly do is pay attention to the behavior in any way.
It's really hard because naturally the first thing you want to do is yell or get out the water bottle. My cat had her little list of things that she knew would upset me. As soon as started ignoring her, she'd be on to the next thing. Some cats really crave that sort of negative attention. It doesn't matter how much you spoil or pamper them, they will still seek out this type of attention for some reason. The best thing is to just accept it and love them for the little devils they can be. And getting rid of your cat shouldn't be in your mind at all.
Fill a squirt gun with water and a few drops of ammonia. Cats do not like the smell of this liquid. Start with only a few drops and then increase the concentration to achieve desired effect. Squirt when they are on the counter.
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