Cats LOVE to be up high. So, it’s no surprise that your kitchen counters, dining tables and those bookshelves filled with trinkets are their favourite places to be. However, when you have valuables in your home or you want to maintain the cleanliness of eating areas, it can be frustrating to add a jump-happy cat in the mix.Â
Contrary to popular belief, however, you can train your cats to stay off those less desirable surfaces. It just takes patience and the right tactics. We’ve detailed them below.Â
Make The Space Unattractive With DeterrantsÂ
Items, such as double-sided tape, aluminium foil or motion-detecting sprays, can be quick deterrants for cats. It can make the space up high undesirable as it provides punishment, not reward, quickly teaching them to stay away from those areas. Be sure to monitor your cat when using these methods, as they can be distressing at first. Reward your cat for getting off to show them that everything is alright.Â
Keep Food AwayÂ
Cats love dining tables and counters as they also smell like food. This can attract them to scavenge for a meal. Cleaning food scraps and sinks immediately can remove the food smell. Try a citrus-based cleaner for these areas, as cats typically do not like these smells. This can mask the food scent and make your cat more avoidant of jumping up.Â
Provide them with higher spacesÂ
Cats want to jump on these surfaces as they’re typically some of the higher ones in your home. So, if you provide them with higher ones, they are more likely to jump on them instead of your counters. If you own your home, consider floating shelves that you can turn into an indoor cat run. If you rent, you can try suction-cup beds that you can hang on windows. This gives them somewhere high to perch and watch the birds all day, doubling as enrichment.Â
Enrich them in other waysÂ
Though they sleep a lot, cats crave enrichment. If they’re constantly jumping up, it could be a sign of boredom. To entertain them, consider automated toys or even puzzle feeders. These provide positive reinforcement about staying on the ground instead of jumping up on surfaces. Before long, they won’t find any interest in trying to find out what’s for dinner.Â
The PetNest team is here to help
Every cat has different needs. For this reason, each cat will also learn in different ways. Not sure how to train your cat to stay off those surfaces. Get in touch, we’re here to help.
