Keeping Your Cat Off The Kitchen Worktops

There are many reasons for keeping your cat off the kitchen worktops, not only from the point of view of your own food preparation hygiene, but also for the health and safety of your cat. Many kitchen cleaners that are commonly used to wipe worktops and kill bacteria also contain chemicals that are poisonous to your cat, and if your cat gets a poisonous substance on their paws and then tries to lick it off, the results could be disastrous.

It's best right from the very start to prevent your cat from climbing on the surfaces, and although the kitchen has always been a traditional place to feed cats, ideally you would identify another location so that the situation does not arise, maybe in a utility room, lobby or conservatory. Even if you persuade your cat not to go on the worktops when you are there, the chances are that they will carry on regardless when you are out. However, you could always try spreading kitchen foil on the surface tops as cats hate the feel and noise of it, and will almost certainly jump off again. You could also try cardboard with double-sided sticky tape on to put them off.

If the layout of your home means that your cat has to have access to the kitchen, you will need to devise some strategies for discouraging him from going on the worktops, although it isn't easy as cats are very determined creatures when they have decided they want to do something! If they can be dissuaded whilst they are kittens, so much the better, and a small kitten will often struggle to jump to such a great height, especially if you move away any lower objects like the kitchen bin or stools that might serve as a midway step. Try and keep temptation out of your cat's way by ensuring that you never leave any food out on the worktops, and that dirty crockery is washed up straight away or put into a dishwasher out of sight. Make sure that you wipe up any food spillages immediately so that Puss does not try and jump up to do the job for you with his tongue. And never feed your cat on the work top or you will be doomed to failure!

One effective way of removing a cat from your worktops is by using a child's water pistol or a plastic plant demisting spray, which you can keep filled up with tap water and out of sight, ready for when it is needed. However, although you want to deter your cat from this behaviour, you do not want to harm or frighten him, and so this should always be carried out by a responsible adult and never by children who might treat it as a game. You would need to make sure that you use a small water pistol, with a fine, low density jet that will not hurt your cat, just annoy him, and it should be used from across the room for this reason rather than at close quarters. This is usually very effective as most cats hate getting wet, and after a few watery encounters, this should have the desired effect, certainly whilst you are at home. Other similar deterrents might include a child's rattle or toys that make a noise the cat doesn't like.

You might also want to consider why your cat has climbed onto the worktop in the first place. It could well be in the hope of finding a rather tasty morsel to supplement dinner, but cats do like being above floor height so that they have a clear view of what is going on, and their natural instinct is to place themselves somewhere safe where they won't surprised by any unexpected predators. If you can provide some alternative higher platforms or shelves for them (ideally not in the kitchen), they may be persuaded to carry out their surveillance from elsewhere. You can buy some very effective 'towers' and similar structures made specially for cats and often covered in a carpet fabric, which you could place in the hall or even in the corner of the lounge.

Many cats are attracted by dripping taps, and like playing with them or even trying to drink the water as it comes out. Make sure your kitchen taps don't drip, and get them repaired if they do, in order to avoid temptation! If your cat is one of those that is attracted by running water, maybe you could distract his attention away from the kitchen by purchasing a feline drinking fountain, which you should be able to get in most of the larger pet stores.

Most cats want to please their humans and not fall out with them, and a simple 'No' in a loud voice might do the trick in some cases. Make sure your cat knows that you are displeased by their behaviour, and do not encourage them by laughing at their antics, otherwise they will get very mixed messages. But however naughty your cat is, you should never, ever, smack him - compared to your size he is tiny, and you will hurt and frighten him, possibly losing his trust in you forever. Cats can be very wilful, and it may be a battle that is not easy for you to win, although you should always do your best to let them know that it isn't allowed.