How To Prevent Cats From Jumping On The Counter

We often get annoyed when cats jump on the kitchen counter and mess around with things like small living room tables, nightstands, etc. However, this is a common behavioral problem in cats, and of course there will be methods to prevent them from jumping on the table top as well as some other forbidden areas. Cat owners should follow the three methods described below, which include training the cat not to approach restricted areas, preparing other items for the cat to indulge in climbing habits, and making the surface the negative side becomes less attractive to them.

Table of Contents

Using Mechanistic Punishment

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Set penalty mechanism. Mechanistic Punishment ^{[1] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Going to the source} , also known as “remote punishment” ^{[2] X Research Source} , is cat discipline but not in front of them, so the cat won’t associate the punishment with you. If you punish your cat for jumping in a restricted area, they will only avoid it when you’re at home. You can make your own devices for remote punishment, but don’t hurt your cat with those devices.

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Spread thin baking paper on the edge of the counter. This measure works to prevent the cat from jumping on the shelf because the cat will come into contact with the paper when jumping. At that time, the cat will be scared by sudden noises and movements, but not physically harmed. Over time, they will associate the surface of the object with the sound and stress and will no longer jump on it.

You can fill the water tank with water and place it on the counter. Cats will be startled by the noise as well as the water inside. The downside of this method is that cats can dip their paws in the water, so if your cat is old or not agile, you should not use this method to avoid them stepping into the water and getting injured.

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Crafting sound traps. Tie twine around the contact point where the cat jumps on the shelf. Attach an empty, shake-able can to the end of the cord. If you put it in the right position, when jumping on the kitchen counter, the cat will hit the rope and shake the water can, creating a sudden sound that makes them not dare to jump on it again.

To make a more shocking sound, you can put a coin or small object in the water can.

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Apply double-sided adhesive to a non-cat-accessible surface. You can put glue on a few places so that when the cat jumps there, the glue will stick to the paws making them not want to approach again. Cats are easily distracted and annoyed when something sticks to their paws, so double-sided glue will help.

You can spread foil over objects. The noise will make the cat stop jumping.

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Buy a device that will startle your cat and place it on the counter. ^{[3] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to the source} These are devices that work to startle cats with loud noises, sudden movements, or double-sided glue. There are many models on the market, so you should do your research to see which works well.

A gas-activated dynamite is one of the electronic devices that prevents cats from jumping on kitchen counters or other prohibited surfaces or areas. The motion sensor will recognize the presence of the cat in the restricted area and immediately spray a strong jet of air at the cat, startling them.
Trigger alarms are another type of device that prevents cats from jumping on kitchen counters. The motion sensor triggers a loud alarm that startled the cat and alerted the owner. Some trigger alarms are pressure-sensitive, so they are activated as soon as the cat touches it or something is on it. There are also a number of pressure-sensitive cushions that you can use to spread across the table and activate when your cat jumps on it.
Silent trigger alarms are less annoying than other trigger alarms. This bell emits a high-pitched sound that both humans and dogs cannot hear, but effectively repels cats.
Cushions are non-harmful repellants that operate without the need for electricity, batteries, or compressed air. This type of mattress has small rough lumps that make the cat uncomfortable when touched. Upon contact with the pad spread on the counter, the cat will immediately jump down.

Providing Alternatives

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Provide supplies for the cat to exercise its natural climbing instincts. ^{[5] X Trusted Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Go to the source} For example, cats are attracted to what veterinarians call “cylindrical objects”; They will no longer be interested in the kitchen shelf when there is something else to help satisfy the climbing behavior.

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Place the cylindrical tool near the window. Pillars, storeys, or climbing posts are items that allow cats to climb, sit on high, and observe their surroundings. In addition, sitting near a window allows cats to observe natural prey to satisfy their curiosity and no longer pay attention to jumping on kitchen counters or utensils in the house.

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Close the cat shelf. This type of shelf is actually a piece of wood that is attached to the inside of the window sill. Like other cat posts and items, this shelf works to satisfy your pet’s curiosity and at the same time stimulate your pet. Choose a window that gets plenty of sunlight, as cats love to bask in the sun, and a cat shelf is the perfect place to do this habit near a window that gets a lot of sunlight. In addition, this is also a place where cats can sleep and/or observe what’s going on outside, distracting them from their urge to jump on the counter.

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Let the cat play with toys on the floor. This toy helps cats burn off energy ^{[6] X Trusted Source The Humane Society of the United States Go to the source} , making them less likely to jump on the counter. If you can get your cat to be attracted to toys lying on the floor, you’ll also make them less interested in jumping on the counter. It’s a good idea to change out toys from time to time so that your cat doesn’t get bored and start jumping on the counter tops or counters to find a new game.

Many cats love simple toys, like fake mice that you can throw around for them to chase. Cats can even bring you toys!
Some cats tend to avoid expensive toys, preferring instead to play with plastic bags, boxes, baskets, etc. You should experiment with different toys to see if your cat likes them. anything before buying expensive toys.
Many of today’s cat toys are usually electronic mice that are set up to run or have wheels to roll on the floor on their own. Some other toys have integrated LED lights and other technology. These are very stimulating treats for cats, thus distracting them from the desire to access restricted areas such as kitchen counters.

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Provide plenty of cat accommodation around the house in warm, sunny locations. Cats especially like places where they can “nest” or dig. Cats sleep for 16 to 20 hours a day, so they don’t have time to climb the kitchen counter. ^{[7] X Research Source} If you provide your cat with attractive bedding, you will encourage them to sleep on the mattress instead of the kitchen counter. In addition, you will also ensure that the cat spends all of its time sleeping instead of finding entertainment in the house like on the table.

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Keep the cat in another room while you are cooking. That way they won’t be curious when they smell the food on the stove. A cat’s sense of smell is 40 times more sensitive than a human’s. ^{[8] X Research Source} They can smell whatever food you’re cooking, and this will spark a curious nature when you’re not around, so they’ll jump on the stove to find the smell. food.

Cats often have an uncontrollable curious nature and may jump on the stove while you are cooking. In this case, you should carry them to another room to minimize curiosity about the dish on the kitchen counter and not jump on it.
It’s a good idea to let your cat play with toys and prepare a cozy place to sleep when you bring them to another room while you cook in the kitchen so they can stay excited and comfortable.
Not all cats will tolerate being locked in a room while you’re cooking, so don’t be surprised to see them whining in the room. If this is the case, you should not confine them for too long so as not to fall into a state of stress.

Making the Counter Unattractive

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Clean up human food that can attract cats. As mentioned above, cats have a very strong sense of smell, so leftovers on the counter can cause them to jump up and eat all the grease, crumbs, or food that you forgot to clean up. , in addition to scratching or biting the kitchen utensils. If you must store food on the shelf, you should put it in a sturdy container so that the cat can’t break it or chew it.

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Clean kitchen counters regularly. This step helps to remove the smell of food remaining on the surface. You can effectively clean your kitchen with a disinfectant wipe that helps remove odors that can attract cats and keeps your counters clean and hygienic.

Choose a bleach or sanitizer that smells like citrus, aloe, eucalyptus, or wintergreen. These odors have the effect of driving cats out of the restricted area. Alternatively, you can also use perfume to get the same result. ^{[9] X Research Source}

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Consider feeding your cat more. It’s possible that cats jump to the kitchen to find food because they’re hungry. You can determine this by feeding your cat more than usual. If they no longer jump on the stove after being fed more, then you have solved this problem. However, some cats overeat, even if you feed them a lot, they still have a habit of jumping on the kitchen counter. You should be prepared for this when feeding your cat more to handle the situation of encroaching on the kitchen area.

If you haven’t prepared in time, you can keep a bowl of dry cat food ready when they are begging. Many cats have a habit of eating several meals a day instead of a complete meal. If your cat has this habit, you should have a bowl of dry food ready, as long as you do not exceed the daily servings indicated on the package (unless your veterinarian instructs you to do so). You can also feed your cat several small meals throughout the day if that’s convenient, but mostly provide enough food so that they don’t jump on the stove looking for food.
Observe your cat’s eating habits and weight to prevent obesity if you change to a normal feeding schedule.

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Clearing items off the counter can encourage a cat to mess around. If the tabletop contains a cat toy or other item that makes the cat want to play, they will try to jump up to reach the toy. You need to remember that it’s not just toys that delight cats. They can jump onto counters to play with keys, pens, lip balm tubes, and papers.

You should also be aware that cat toys should not be stored near counter areas, for example in cabinets. If the cat sees you putting the toy in there, they will jump up to get their toy. ^{[10] X Research Source}

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Close the window near the counter area. You need to drop the curtains on the window that the cat can access through the kitchen counter. Cats love to look outside to see birds, chipmunks, and the natural world outside, so they tend to jump on counters so they can look out the window (see Method 2).

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Use alcohol or lemon essential oil to clean the surface. Cats don’t like the smell of lemons, so this step will work for them.

Warning

Never use mechanical punishment when the cat is in an unusually anxious state. Maybe they are too scared to move around the house normally.
Never hit or scold a cat to kick them off the counter. Cats don’t have the ability to associate punishment with behavior, so they just become afraid of you.

Things you need

Baking paper
Repellent device
Braided wire
Water cans
Coins
Whistle
Toy
Specialized furniture for cats
Detergents
Cat food

Steps

Using Mechanistic Punishment

Providing Alternatives

Making the Counter Unattractive

Warning

Things you need

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