Do you often find yourself plucking your feline pal off the counters, even if she knows she isn’t supposed to be on them? Kitties are very cute, but they aren’t purrfect. Fluffy definitely has some bad habits, such as counter surfing. Understandably, this habit isn’t very popular with people owned by cats. After all, your pet may have just left her litterbox! Read on as a local Plano, TX vet offers tips on keeping your frisky furball off the counters.
Deterrents
Never punish your pet for jumping onto the counter. Punishment really doesn’t work with cats, so you may just make your kitty anxious and scared of you. However, there are some things you can do to make counter surfing less appealing to Fluffy. One option is to put sticky two-sided tape on the counter. Cats hate walking on sticky surfaces, so this may be enough to make your adventurous feline think twice about the pros and cons of getting onto the counter. Aluminum foil may also do the trick. You shouldn’t need to leave it up long, just long enough for your pet to get the hint.
Training
While we understand that generally cats train their humans, rather than it being the other way around, kitties can learn what is and is not acceptable. When you see your furball jumping onto the counter, say ‘No’ or ‘Get down’ in a firm, disapproving tone of voice. If that doesn’t work, your best bet is to do something that will startle Fluffy. Clap your hands, bang two pots together, or squirt her with water. These things won’t hurt your pet, but they will annoy her, which may be enough to do the trick. Fluffy will probably immediately jump down and make a beeline for her favorite hiding spot. Mission accomplished.
Give In. Sort Of
Fluffy isn’t jumping onto your counter just to irritate you: she’s doing it for a reason. There’s a pretty good chance that your kitty enjoys the view from the counter. If you think about it, cats can’t see very much from ground level. Consider getting Fluffy a cat tower, and letting her climb that. She may be purrfectly content with her new vantage point!
Do you have questions or concerns about your cat’s health or care? Please reach out to us, your Plano, TX vet clinic, anytime. We’re here to help.
