I need help training my kitten to stay off tables and countertops?

Hi Pamela...the problem with squirt bottles is that they fail to be useful when kitty is tabletop surfing when you are not present. Therefore you need to use items which will discourage the behaviour while you're away such as double-sided sticky tape or something that startles her when she jumps up onto the table top. Cats dislike having their paws stuck to the tape and soon learn to avoid areas which are unpleasant after a few attempts. The idea is to get her to learn for herself what is a rewarding place to be and where they are not. When humans intervene they do not have the ability to learn this as well as they do on their own.

There are several methods you can try.

Squirt bottles are great as long as you are present. If you use one, don't use water. Use apple cider vinegar. The cat will soon get the idea...

Two sided tape is always good. Cats hate to get stuck to anything.

You can use spices. Cayenne Pepper or Ginger works well sprinkled in the area where you do not want the cat to be. The cat may still may get on the counter or tabletop a couple of times, but after that, it will be a no-go.

You can take large cotton balls and put about 15 drops of peppermint oil on each one ... place several in the areas you don't want your cat to go and it will stay away. It will also repel mice, roaches, fleas, and other unwanted vermin. Plus, you will have a nice smell in your room as well.

There are plants you can buy and put in the areas you don't want the cat to go. Ask at your local lawn and garden store. I'm sure they can advise you of natural plant repellants.

"Scat Mats" have been known to have great success. Plus, once the cat has gotten the mild shock from the battery operated mat a few times, you can put a dummy mat anywhere you don't want the cat to go and you will have immediate control. I don't know what these cost, but I'm sure you can find them online.

Good luck in training your kitty.

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You can lay tinfoil on all the areas that you don't want her to go. For some reason cats hate tinfoil. I don't know if it's the sounds it makes when stepped on or what. The only porblem is that then you would have tinfoil all over the house. Another option is if you have a water bottle sprayer you would have to catch her as often as possible when she actually first jumps up and hit her with the water. They get startled but it is not harmful at all. If you don't get her right when she jumps up she is not learning not to jump up there only that you now want her down.

Good luck,

Dale

I had the same problem w/ my kitty. I tried spraying her with water, but since she's a Maine Coon who loves water, that didn't faze her. Then i got a mat w/ sharp points at the pet store, but she's so agile, she maneuvered around that! Finally, I got 2 sided tape and put it on the counters. That worked, but it is kind of a pain. It's a tough one...good luck!

Squirt bottles work GREAT! The second she jumps up give her a squirt and say DOWN! Eventually she'll catch on and you won't have to squirt anymore, just say down, and then after some good training she won't jump up anymore. It helps if for the first couple days you always have the squirt gun in your hands....otherwise by the time you squirt them its too late. If your kitty becomes sly to your efforts with the squirt bottle, or just doesnt care if you squirt her (some dont care) try putting some pennies in an empty soda can bottle and taping up the opening....shake it when she jumps, the sudden noise will startle her, and then say down. Either method should work, good luck.

Can't be done. I think 26 cats/kittens have come through our house and not one of them has ever not jumped on the counter.

No, we're not cat freaks. We're just good summaritans that pregnant cats tend to seek out. Maybe we put out the "We'll find good homes for you and your kittens" vibe. Only two of our cats have been dropped off at a shelter by us, and one was because she was spraying everything and that's where we had gotten her, and the other was a stray that would easily find someone to love her. Cute little calico barely weened, who wouldn't want to take her home?

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We have the same problem.Training cats to stay off things where they are not wanted is hard.Best solution is to squirt .Put vinegar in the water and they will lick their fur.It sounds cruel but not at all.Best of luck. The mother is slowly learning but the kittens all 5 are learning off their mother.

i had this problem too, try covering the counters with saran wrap or tin foil. most cats hate the feel of these on thier paw pads and will learn to avoid the table and counters if they think it's on there.

Scat mats from www.safepetproducts.com - you can't be there with a squirt gun 24 hours a day...