Can Cats Be Trained to Stay Off Furniture

Preparation Your True cat To Stay Off The Kitchen Counter

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Cats jumping on counters. Information technology's 1 of the things many cat owners dislike and why some people don't have cats. Many people believe that there's no style to go on cats off counters and tables. But that isn't really truthful. Cats can be trained to stay off your counters.

Why Do Cats Like to Jump on Counters?

There are a few reasons why cats like to jump onto counters. They include:

• Cats like high places. Fifty-fifty a moderately high-up surface such equally a counter gives cats some feeling of rubber and lets them survey their territory.
• Cats like to wait out windows.Many times, counter-tops provide cats with access to windows.
• Cats are curious. "What'due south on the counter?" "What's upwards at that place?" "What are you doing?"

Why Do Cats Like to Jump on Kitchen Counters Specifically?

OK, so y'all tin run into that beingness high up in general is highly-seasoned to cats, but why is it so common for them to like to spend time on kitchen counters in particular?

• Their noses lead them there.There are often interesting smells emanating from in that location.
• Their humans spend a lot of time working there. Cats want to be shut to their homo companions when the humans are in the kitchen.

These are the near common reasons; some less common ones are discussed further down.

Reasons You lot Might Non Want Your Kitty on the Counter

Though it might seem like less trouble and fairly harmless just to allow your cat to exist on the kitchen counter, at that place are important reasons to put a stop to the beliefs, including:

• You don't desire fur (or worse) in your food (at least, non more than y'all may get already).
• There may exist dangerous things for your true cat on or adjacent to the counter, such every bit poisonous foods, knives, and the hot stove.

Seek a Win-Win Solution

Recollect of your strategy for keeping your cat off the counter this mode:

• Make the counter less attractive to your cat.
• Make culling places more appealing, if not irresistable, to your cat.

To borrow true cat expert and author Pam Johnson-Bennett's terms, combine deterrence with positive redirection. Don't simply say "no" to your kitty; likewise requite her an option to which she'll gladly say "yeah." With this approach, both of you will be satisfied.

Positive Alternatives to the Counter for Your True cat

Let'southward focus on the positive function of the strategy kickoff—making sure that your kitty has options as well the kitchen counter that meet her demand to be on elevated surfaces and her desire to spend time with her human family members when they're in the kitchen.

• If you're well-nigh to welcome a cat into your home, y'all desire to be proactive and gear up an surround that respects both your new cat'southward needs and your house rules.
• Cats will appreciate these steps even if there are no problems; they're preventive as well as part of a fix.

Cats live in iii dimensions.

Unlike cats, humans aren't always jumping and climbing; usually our feet are on or near the ground. Advisable some of the under-used vertical infinite in your shared domicile—the area from near from three feet high to the ceiling—for your kitty's demand to be elevated (physically, that is; she'due south already worshipped).

Yous tin create makeshift perches and ledges on the cheap:

• Put a throw blankets on the back of a couch nearly a window.
• Clear some space on window sills.
• Articulate some space on tables that are located nigh windows or in corners from which your kitty can keep tabs on household activity.

Keep in listen that your cat is going to lobby—perhaps persistently—to utilize this "prime real estate" anyhow. Cats are strongly motivated to accomplish higher-than-ground-level spots, especially ones with a view, and they get frustrated—and ordinarily human activity out their frustrations—if that core demand is non met.

Specially Designed True cat Furniture May Accept Many Benefits and Can Be a Long-Term Bargain

A multi-level cat tree is custom-made to satisfy a cat'southward need to attain higher ground and hang out there. A well-congenital one, with a wide sturdy base, lasts many years and typically provides scratching, playing, snoozing, and perching opportunities. Buy a cat tree with perching shelves that are large plenty to permit your kitty to sprawl and take a snooze. Many cats like a low-sided wall around their perching platforms, for a feeling of extra snugness and confidence that they won't fall off.

A cat tree is your kitty'southward own space, and information technology often becomes ane of her favorite places in which to spend time.

Mutually Acceptable Ways that Your Kitty Can Continue You Visitor When You're in the Kitchen

OK, you lot've got cat trees and other elevated platforms throughout the house, and they all have perfect views for cats – and your cat uses them. But being sociable and curious, she wants to be with y'all when you're in the kitchen. For these occasions, provide your kitty with spots other than the counter in which she feels close to you lot.

• Designate a sturdy footstool or chair in the kitchen for your kitty. That way, she'south right there just non sampling the dinner you're preparing.
• Depending on the layout of your home, yous may be able to position a cat tree or favorite feline sitting spot outside the kitchen but close past, where yous and your kitty can maintain eye contact.
• If you lot play with your cat and feed her only prior to preparing meals, she may settle in for a nap while you're busy in the kitchen. If she has a comfy snoozing area not far from the kitchen, your chance of success with this positive redirection increases.

Deterrents for Cats That Climb on Counters

In addition to supplying your kitty with highly-seasoned alternatives to the counter, make the counter a distinctly un-fun place to be from her viewpoint. Some other Pam Johnson-Bennett concept is the "Least Invasive, Minimal Aversive" or LIMA approach. In brusque, when it comes to deterrents, use the gentlest solution that works. With that in listen, hither are deterrent measures listed in approximate gild of increasing invasiveness.

• Commencement with the basics. Cover leftover food and clean nutrient off plates in the sink. Occasionally, doing this alone solves the trouble.
• Equally soon every bit y'all see kitty jump on the counter, handclapping your easily to get her attention, and say "No!" in your moderately loud, stern simply loving "bad kitty" vocalization. Then, if at all practical, pick up your out-of-bounds cat and gently move her to a more than suitable spot. Exist consistent with this response. One obvious downside to this deterrent is that you take to exist present when your kitty commits the misdemeanor.
• The 10-Mat is covered with raised bumps that kitty volition find very irritating. Place i or more than these on the counter surface, and virtually likely, your cat will be dissuaded from jumping on the counter.
• Sticky Paws is basically double-sided tape. Place this at strategic locations on the counter surface. Your true cat volition avoid the surface area because she doesn't similar her paws sticking to the tape.
• Ssscat is an innovative product that uses a motion detector and blasts a short, harmless, painless spray onto a true cat (or anything else) that sets off the motion detection system. Choose a location and spray bending of the Ssscat product and then that information technology simply sprays "offenders."
• The "pennies in a tin can" technique is tried-and-true. Put most 15 coins each in a few empty soda cans. Put tape over the cans so the coins can't fall out. Place the cans then that they're precariously teetering over the edge of the counter. When your cat jumps onto the counter, the cans will autumn off, making a loud noise, and probably causing your cat to hurriedly bound off the counter and scurry off.

Tips on Using Deterrents

When information technology comes to using deterrents for cats, there are some things to call up.

• Don't rely solely on deterrence to correct problem behaviors in your cat. Deterrent measures should piece of work in conjunction with environmental enhancements and other positive redirection approaches. It's essential that your cat have ample outlets for her cadre behavioral needs.
• Deterrents piece of work on well-nigh cats. Even so, some cats will find ways around them or learn to live with them. You may have to endeavor multiple deterrents and/or change the way they're practical.
• Unremarkably, once your true cat has altered her behavior every bit per your want, you tin remove "in place" deterrents such equally Glutinous Paws or coin-filled cans. But you may need to re-employ the techniques if the problem re-occurs.
• If you lot're trying to change the habits of one cat in a multi-pet household (or in a household with toddlers), some deterrents may not be appropriate—you don't desire to startle innocent bystanders. In item, the coins-in-cans technique is probably not a good idea in these circumstances.
• Some deterrent measures are ill-brash for cats that have had traumatic experiences or are profoundly skittish. You don't want to overly affright anyone and cause other stress-related inappropriate behaviors.
• Discuss deterrents with your veterinarian start, particularly if your cat is geriatric or has whatsoever wellness problems.
• Never utilize any deterrent that could physically harm your true cat or leave her with emotional scars. The goal with deterrents to keep her off the counter is simply to make her remember, "This is no fun existence here. I'd much rather be over there on the cat tree."

General Tips for Cats That Spring on Kitchen Counters

• Don't await instant results if the behavior pattern has get ingrained into your cat's daily lifestyle. Habits oft take time to break. Exist patient and understanding, trying to see things from your true cat's betoken of view.
• Make certain your positive redirection efforts are acceptable to your true cat. If she ignores the spot you've fix upwards, think most how y'all can improve its "cat appeal." Maybe modify the location, put a bird feeder outside the window (filled with bird nutrient, of grade, and far enough from the window so the birds tin dine in peace), or upgrade the wobbly old cat tree yous bought when y'all knew less about cats and cat furniture.

Special Cases

Scenario: Your cat is using the counter as a safe getaway. If your kitty is existence chased by a domestic dog or a child, she may seek the counter every bit identify to escape the harassment.

Solution: Provide adequate vertical escape routes (as well as horizontal ones, such as an interior true cat door that leads to a safe room) for your true cat, and don't leave your cat with a kid or dog who chases her in the same room without responsible human supervision.

Scenario: Your cat goes up on the counter because in that location aren't enough (desirable) elevated spaces in a multi-cat household.

Solution: Provide more than enough prime number perching (and scratching!) spots, at multiple levels, throughout your home, to back up the various preferences of the cats.

Scenario: Your true cat only jumps onto the counter when at that place's food on it and goes correct to the nutrient as if she'south ravenous. This could exist a sign of hyperthyroidism or other health problem.

Solution: Consult with your veterinarian about whatsoever suspicious or markedly changed beliefs in your cat.

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