Cats are notorious for jumping up on kitchen counters and tables for several reasons.
For the most part, cats view these high surfaces as their rightful place—a vantage point from which to survey their domain. Also, cats love jumping onto surfaces as a way of killing boredom.
Some people think it’s cute and don’t mind it but it’s in your best interest to train your kitty to avoid jumping on the counter.
When your cat hops into your counter, they leave behind bacteria and fur, which can contaminate food and surfaces. Additionally, the cat may create a mess or even break something.
Some people resort to placing a cat bed on the counter because they reckon the cat will prefer to sleep in their bed than on the cold, hard surface of the counter.
While this is true, you may still have to deal with potential contamination of the counter with bacteria. So, how do you deal with this behavior safely?
Well, cats are very smart animals and easily trainable. And there are lots of readily available products that you can use to train your feline friend from jumping onto your kitchen counters.
In today’s post, we will discuss 10 products that can help you keep your cat off counters. Let’s jump right in!
Top 10 Products to Keep Cats off Counters
While some cats are content to stay off of counters and other surfaces, others see them as the perfect place to perch.
If you have a cat that loves to lounge on your countertops, there are a few products that can help keep them off.
Here are some readily available products that you can use.
1. Sticky Tape
Sticky tape is an easy and effective way to keep cats off counters. Simply line the sticky side of the tape along the edge of the counter and your cat will be deterred from jumping up.
Sticky tape is also safe for use around children and pets.
Another option is to use double-sided tape. This tape works in the same way as regular sticky tape, but it is stronger and more durable.
If you have a persistent problem with your cat jumping on the counter, the double-sided tape may be a better option.
2. Foil
Cats don’t like the feel of foil on their paws and will avoid walking on it. You can line the edge of your counter with foil to keep cats off.
Be sure to secure the foil so that it doesn’t come loose and create a potential hazard.
You also don’t have to leave the foil on the counter all day. Just lay it out when you are preparing food and then remove it.
Cats are pretty intelligent and they will soon learn to avoid the counter after a few fails.
3. Scat Mats
Scat mats are electrically charged mats that emit a mild shock when cats step on them. Another variation is a plastic one that has spikes.
Whichever variation you go with, these mats are safe for use around children and pets and can be placed on counters, shelves, or anywhere else you need to keep your cat away from.
Scat mats are a more permanent solution to keeping cats off counters and other surfaces. You can get scat mats from most pet stores or on Amazon.
4. Citrus Scent
Cats dislike the smell of citrus, so you can use this to your advantage.
Place a few drops of lemon, lime, or orange essential oil on a cotton ball and put it on the edge of the counter.
If you don’t have a cotton ball, you can spray it directly on the counter. You can also use citrus-scented sprays.
However, be sure to test the spray on a small area first to make sure it doesn’t damage the finish on your counter. The citrus scent will deter cats from jumping up.
5. Spray Bottle
A spray bottle is a simple and effective way to keep cats off counters.
When your cat jumps up, give them a quick squirt with the spray bottle.
After a few times, they will learn that jumping on the counter results in getting wet and will avoid it.
You can use the same technique to deter cats from scratching furniture or getting on the couch.
Another idea would be to spray the counter with some water. Cats usually try to avoid wet surfaces and so they will keep away from your counter.
You don’t want the counter to be too wet as that might result in a serious accident. A few drops should do the trick.
6. Tinfoil Balls
Tinfoil balls are a great way to keep cats off counters and other surfaces. The noise that the tin foil makes when it’s moved will deter most cats.
You can make your own tin foil balls by crumpling up a sheet of tin foil.
Make sure the balls are big enough that your cat can’t swallow them.
You can also buy ready-made tin foil balls at most pet stores. You can reuse them or dispose of them after a few uses.
7. Aluminum Cans
Just like tinfoil balls, aluminum cans deter cats with their noise.
You can place a few empty cans on your counter and they will make noise when your cat jumps up.
This will deter most cats from jumping on the counter. You can also use full cans, but be sure to remove them before they become a hazard.
8. Get Rid Of Food
Cats are attracted to the smell of food, so keeping your counters clean will help deter them from jumping up.
Always store ingredients and any leftover foods away after you finish preparing a meal.
Additionally, remember to clean the counters thoroughly to remove any lingering food smell.
Wiping down the counters with a vinegar solution will remove any lingering smells and make your kitchen less inviting to cats.
You can also try using an air purifier to remove any smells from the air. Air purifiers also have the added benefit of removing allergens and other particles from the air.
9. Cat Tower
Cats naturally love jumping and perching and if you don’t provide them with an alternative, they will resort to jumping onto your counter.
A cat tower is a great way to keep cats off counters and other surfaces.
The cat tower will provide your cat with a safe place to climb and explore.
Cats like high places where they can see what’s going on, so giving them a perch will satisfy that desire. This will deter most cats from jumping on the counter.
10. Commercial Repellants
There are several commercial repellents that you can use to keep cats off counters. These repellents usually come in the form of a spray or a gel.
You can apply the repellent to the edge of the counter and it will deter cats from jumping up.
You can get a good commercial repellant from Amazon or even from your pet store.
Conclusion
As you train your cat, remember that cats are crafty creatures and can often find ways around obstacles, so it’s important to be vigilant.
If you see your cat jumping on the counter, give them a squirt with the water bottle or make a loud noise to startle them.
With patience and consistency, you can train your cat to stay off the counters.
Also, you can try using positive reinforcement to keep your cat off the counter.
Every time they stay off the counter, give them a treat or some other form of positive reinforcement. This will help them to associate good behavior with staying away from the counter.
In time, they will learn to stay off the counter and you can avoid having accidents in your kitchen.
Hi! I am Eleanor Price. I started this website after my cat, Louie, almost died from a case of botulism (a type of food poisoning often caused by bacteria that grow on food items). Turned out that my cat’s diet was the problem. I have made it my duty to provide the best information and recommendations about everything cat lovers need to know about their felines’ health and wellbeing. My goal is to find the most informative content on anything feline-related and share it with fellow hardworking kitty lovers.