Some individuals don’t thoughts that their cats spend time on the kitchen counter, however others favor it to be a cat-free zone, so how do you retain cats off kitchen counters in your home? As a lot as I like my cat, I don’t need her on surfaces the place meals is ready, for the sake of cleanliness and for her personal security. I might hate for her to have entry to meals that would trigger her illness or hurt.
Why Does Your Cat Wish to be on the Counter?
To right the habits, it’s crucial to know the attraction to the counter so you may present an applicable different. There are a number of prospects of why your cat enjoys counter cruising. What most likely involves thoughts first is that’s the place meals may be discovered. Your cat has an unimaginable sense of odor, so he is aware of there’s one thing doubtlessly very tasty up there. In case your cat is on a restricted eating regimen or weight reduction program, these engaging smells may be exhausting to withstand.
Your cat could favor counter cruising as a result of that’s the place the perfect view may be discovered. Maybe your kitchen window appears to be like out on a chook feeder or part of the yard with attention-grabbing outside exercise.
Another excuse your cat spends time on the counter could possibly be as a result of he feels most secure there. When you have a multi-pet setting or there are young children within the residence, your cat could really feel the counter permits him to be out of attain. Being elevated permits him to even have extra visible warning time to see if somebody is approaching.
Counter cruising will also be an attention-getting habits. Should you’re working on the kitchen counter and your cat desires you to concentrate to him, he is aware of he’ll be nearer to your eye degree if he jumps on the counter.
Re-Coaching Your Cat
When you uncover the motivation for the habits, you may present a greater different. If the counter-cruising is as a result of engaging meals, then be certain no meals is left uncovered if you aren’t there to oversee. In case your cat is relentless in attempting to steal meals, put out puzzle feeders to maintain him occupied when you cook dinner. Puzzle feeders are merely toys that dispense meals when appropriately manipulated by the cat. You should buy or make puzzle feeders for dry or moist meals. Do a search on-line and also you’ll discover a number of firms that make puzzle feeders in addition to directions for making your individual.
For the cat who counter cruises for the elevated window entry, present a greater different within the type of a cat tree or window perch. In case your kitchen is giant sufficient you may place a cat tree in there, in any other case, find one close to an attention-grabbing window. Periodically place a deal with on one of many perches to entice your cat to go there.
If the necessity for safety is the rationale your cat hangs out on the counter, then you might have two jobs to do right here. The primary is to offer extra vertical places in different components of the home so he doesn’t really feel his solely possibility is the kitchen counter. The second half is to deal with the reason for the cat’s concern. Is the cat being focused by one other cat within the residence? Is the canine pursuing the cat relentlessly with a view to play? Is a younger baby being bothersome to the cat when he’s attempting to sleep or use the litter field? Along with addressing the necessity for extra vertical house, you additionally have to work on enhancing the cat’s relationship to whoever is inflicting him stress.
Now we come to attention-getting habits. It’s possible you’ll not notice it, however you is likely to be contributing to this undesirable habits. In case your cat jumps on the counter and also you discuss to him, pet him, or give him a cuddle as you place him again down on the ground then you definitely’re rewarding the very habits you don’t need to be displayed. As a substitute, gently take away him from the counter with out making eye contact, speaking or giving consideration. With a purpose to stop the habits from repeating itself, be certain the cat is getting sufficient of your consideration at different instances. Have interaction in interactive play classes a minimum of twice a day. Set out puzzle feeders to maintain your cat occupied throughout the day as effectively. In case your cat likes to look at birds or different wildlife, activate a YouTube video designed for cats.
Make the Counter an Unappealing Location
While you aren’t working within the kitchen you may arrange the counter to be much less interesting. Buy a plastic carpet runner that has little pointy ft on one aspect. Minimize the plastic runner into smaller, extra manageable sizes and place them on the counter with the sharp ft dealing with up. This may make the counter an uncomfortable location for lounging and cruising.
No Punishment
Don’t ever yell, hit, push your cat off the counter or squirt with water. All that can do is create concern and he’ll merely be taught to attend till you aren’t round with a view to get on the counter. Prepare with love and tenderness, resolve why he feels the have to be on the counter, present a greater possibility, and ensure everybody within the household is according to the coaching process. Counter cruisers may be re-trained.
The following tips will on the way to preserve cats off kitchen counters ought to do the trick!
Pam Johnson-Bennett
Licensed Cat Conduct Marketing consultant & Finest-Promoting Writer
Pam Johnson-Bennett is a licensed cat habits guide and best-selling creator of 8 books on cat habits. She starred within the Animal Planet collection Psycho Kitty, seen in Canada and the UK. She was a vp of the Worldwide Affiliation of Animal Conduct Consultants and based their cat division. She has served on an advisory board for the American Humane Affiliation in addition to different animal welfare organizations.
Pam is taken into account a pioneer within the discipline of cat habits consulting, having began her profession in 1982. A few of her books have been used as textbooks for habits programs and she or he has influenced many practising within the discipline right now. Her e-book, Assume Like a Cat, has been known as the cat bible.
Pam owns Cat Conduct Associates, situated in Tennessee. She lives together with her husband, two kids, a rescued cat, and a rescued canine.