Cats' bad behavior?

Have your cats been used to being indoor/outdoor cats? The fact that they are trying to escape seems to indicate they certainly not too afraid of the outdoors. If they are bold enough to go outside and there are not busy streets nearby, would this be an option. Certainly you probably are concerned for their welfare. If you let them out, put break-away collars on them with I.D. tags on. Maybe if they get to run around outiside, they will be better while indoors. You would have to really weigh the pros and cons of that option, and decide if you are willing to take the risks involved. What about a kitty condo/tower with perhaps a little catnip on it. A cheap option to this is (found out by accident) a carpet roll standing against the corner of the room, for them to climb and stand on the top. Our cat thinks it is a tree trunk, and likes to climb it. Additionally, at the major pet supply chains' grooming departments, you can have caps applied to the cats' claws to keep them from being quite so destructive. I understand that it is not too terribly costly and they do stay on for quite some time, if applied properly. You would probably NOT want to do this if you intend on letting them outside, as they then could not defend themselves. Cats like to chase small, lightweight things around, such as little pom-poms, twist ties, and pieces of pipe cleaners. Regarding the stove, is the pilot in the burners on the top, or somwhere else? If it is on the top, what about placing a pot, pan or kettle over the burners so they do not get too near them. After I use the stove which has a glass top, I put a pan or kettle with a little water over the burner, to keep my cats off the hot surface. One of our cats did actually burn his paw on one of the burners. My friend used this to train her cats to stay off the counters: Apply two-sided tape around all the edges of the counters until the cats learn how uncomfortable it is to jump up there. It worked for her, but my own cats seemed to find ways around it. A spray bottle may also work for the counters or the screens.

You don't say enough for us to know what the problem is as many things can cause cats to pee where they shouldn't. The first thing is to have your cat neutered if he/she isn't already and the next is to have a vet check him/her over incase it's a urinary tract infection.That's painful for a cat and they can't help peeing a lot. Another thing that causes this is stress, have you a new baby or a new animal in your house ? Has anything in the house or even outside upset your cat ? Has anyone punished the cat by shouting, hitting, squirting water or anything else ? Cats don't understand punishment and it only makes them nervous of you and the problem gets worse. If it's any of these , then being calm and kind to the cat will help.Is the litter tray kept clean ? Cats hate using dirty litter, it's like us going to the toilet after someone who hasn't flushed it. As well as the above, you need to wash everything and everywhere your cat has peed, with biological washing liquid in hot water, that removes every last trace of smell.If a cat smells even the slightest trace of pee, it has to keep refreshing it. That might be your problem, if he/she did it by accident once and now has to keep topping it up ! Lastly and I hope it's not this, if your cat is declawed, peeing outside the litter box is one of the outcomes of this cruel operation.Even years afterwards, the cats can have pain in their toe stumps as a claw might grow back or a splinter of bone move...if your cat is declawed you need to get his/her paws thoroughly checked by a vet. Sorry, without more information I can't suggest anything else, I hope something I've mentioned helps you to know what your cats problem is and you can put it right.

Cats are naturally curious animals and seem to find a way to be exactly where they're not supposed to be. They also have a very stubborn nature and therefore think that discipline is for everyone else but them. However, with regards to the cats on the counter, the only way to train them is to ensure that they connect the action of being on there with an unpleasant experience.

Getting an old cleaning bottle and filling it with water to then spray mist at them whilst they are caught in the act will deter them. It's perfectly harmless, but they don't like it.

Once they start to connect the two occurrences they will stop stop climbing on there even when you are not around. Consistency is key, if they are allowed on the counter at some times and then chastised at others they will become confused.

As for the clawing and trying to escape, i would suggest double sided tape, an electronic pet mat (available at pet stores) or rubbing lemons, cloves etc around the areas to curb their enthusiasm.

As they seem so determined to get outdoors, it might be a wise investment to get an outdoor run. It may seem like a large outlay of money, but on the other hand it would save numerous security deposits and give the cats what they crave without the dangers associated with outdoor life.

If this can't be done (no garden etc.) then keep them as occupied as possible with toys, treat balls (make them work for their food). Another good idea is to purchase a pot of growing grass for them to chew on. (It doesn't make cats sick, they do it to gain valuable nutrients and because it tastes nice).

Hope this is of some help :)

I don't have any ideas on the screen, but as for the counter we have that same problem with our cat. We tried everything, from foil (which he ate) to saran wrap (which is just jumped over) to the water bottle (so he started jumping on the counter once we went to bed). We finally spread old t-shirts across the counter and let them hang over the edge slightly. Whenever he tries to jump up there he slides right back off because of the shirts. It has taken some time but he doesn't get on the counters any longer.

It sounds like you need something like the Tattle Tale.

From Drs Foster and Smith website:

Many cat behaviors that you dislike are natural, instinctual behaviors for a cat. These include scratching, marking, jumping on counters, and digging. Not only are these undesirable behaviors frustrating, they are also difficult behaviors to break.

As hard as you might try to "catch your cat in the act" while you're home, without the help of training aids and devices, you probably have little control over what your cat does or where she goes while you're away.

Spray them with water. I keep a spray bottle handy and when they get on or into things they're not supposed to, spray them with it. They stop the behavior immediately and there's no smelly chemicals or loud buzzers as there is with repellents.

It make take some patience but IT WILL WORK. Give it about a month, maybe 2 if you have stubborn cats. I've always accompanied the spray with the words "get down" and now i can usually say it w/out the water. Once in awhile I have to reach for the bottle but usually just seeing it is enough to deter them. It also works with dogs.

I tired the spray bottle once, my cat just sat and watched the water trickle down her back! lol put aluminum foil or saran wrap on the counter top,, cats dont like the feel of these on their feet, (do this of course when counters are not in use) and once the cats dont jump you wont need to put anything on the counters,, good luck

This does work.. fill a good squirt gun or spray bottle with some distance to it with vinegar and water.. cats HATE the smell of vinegar.. when they get on the counters.. squirt them.. when they climb on the screen squirt them..

it is harmless to them, they hate the smell and they reallyy hate that shot of wet..

The only thing worse than a cat on the kitchen counter is cat hair in your dinner lol..

This also works for clawing on furniture..

licks my hand then bites me

knock em upside the head a couple of times theyll learn