Does Your Cat Live on the Counter? How to Keep Cats Off Counters!
My cats, Val and Halla, love jumping on the counters. They love jumping atop them and spreading their little litter infested paws all over the surfaces where I make breakfast, brew tea, meal prep. They love it so much, in fact, that it's like a little game to them. It's particularly bad during the holidays when I have to cat-proof my Xmas tree and decorations!
It's even grosser when she has some litter stuck to her paws because...maybe I didn't pick the best cat litter box!
My kitty knows she's not meant to be there—but there she is—and, by golly, what am I going to do about it?
Recently, and thankfully, Halla has lost interest in this pastime but Val—oh sweet, demonic little Val—loves this practice still.
When I first adopted them, I wasn't sure if I was ever going to find a way to keep them permanently off of my countertops but I have found a few tips and tricks along the way that have helped keep them grounded. Maybe one day someone will invent something awesome or even some 3D printed cat accessory to help keep them off the counter. Until that day, this guide is what you need!
A brief note on training cats
If you've ever tried to give a cat a bath, then you know just how different cats are from dogs. It's my understanding and experience that training a cat is not like training a dog (not that I have much experience with dog training, mind you) and I've found that, even if a tactic works for her for a few weeks, she'll still jump onto the counter and stare at me in defiance. Her tail will twitch. She knows she's not meant to be there—but there she is—and, by golly, what am I going to do about it?
Dramatics aside—cats are creatures of their own and need an ample amount of patience when dealing with them. (If you've ever tried to give a cat a pill, you know of what I speak!)
This guide will attempt to solve the age-old question: how do I keep my cats off counters?
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