If you are privileged to own a cat, you may have noticed a specific cat climbing on the kitchen counters. At times, you may see this habit as usual, but it’s a bad habit in the real sense.
Cats express their instinct through climbing. Cats may sometimes climb, especially when stressed, to look for higher ground, according to VCA Animal Hospital. The cat jumping habit needs stopping because it poses potential hazards to their owners and the cat.
A cat with the habit of jumping on kitchen counters has a high potential risk of falling and landing on a hot stove or other utensils, which might be desirable. There is another risk for sanitary issues, especially if cats get into the cooking pot with food. A cat may also spread bacterial from the litter box using its paws.
The reasons that cause the Cats Jump on the Counter.
Love for the heights.
Cats have adapted to climbing trees and other higher grounds like countertops. They sometimes climb using their paws or find help from well-positioned objects to climb on higher floors. Primarily they seek higher ground if strained. Sometimes they reach for heights when seeking safety and, at times, comfort.
The kitchen counters smell good!
Cat’s sometimes attempt to jump on the Counter to get the foods such as raw chicken parts, tuna casserole, or ground beef. The cat’s carnivorous nature accelerates its desire to climb the Counter to reach for the food that falls under the category of its food chain. A not thoroughly cleaned countertop can also cause the cats to keep on climbing while seeking breadcrumbs and other spills.
Cats like fresh running water
A good number of cats like running water in the kitchen sink. They mainly use it as their source of drinking water. Running water from the kitchen sink is clean compared to other sources like the toilet. Search for water results to cats climbing on the counters. There are other alternatives for the water source for the cat to drink.
Cat’s natural climbing capabilities.
Sometimes cats jump to the Counter because it feels good, and they can do so. They do so while exercising their natural climbing athleticism. However, sometimes they do climb out of curiosity.
Methods of stopping cats from jumping on the counters
Training the cat.
As a cat owner, you can impose such cat training techniques to make your cat stay off the tops, especially the counters.
Apply the sticky tape mostly on the Counter’s edge.
Cats naturally don’t like walking on sticky ground. Once the cats encounter the stickiness on the Counter’s edge, there is a high probability of the cat getting discouraged on getting to the Counter’s top after a few attempts. The disadvantage is that you must keep on reapplying the tape. Once the tape’s adhesive gets to the Counter, it may not be easy to clean it up. On the other hand, the cat may find a way of avoiding the applied tape.
Tape a strip of crinkled aluminum foil along the Counter.
The noise that comes generated by aluminum once the cat steps on it deter the cat. The process may affect your countertop usage and may lead to wastage.
Use clicker training.
Cats are best known for adaptability through training. Positive reinforcement may make the cat respond to the offered gesture training since it may warn when a cat attempts to climb the countertop. If you notice that your cat is on top of the Counter searching for food, create a clicker sound effect to deter it, like dropping an object on the floor to entice the cat. Once the cat jumps off the Counter, reward the cat with a clicker sound. After some time, the cat will associate the clicker sound with a reward.
Eliminate the chair/table
Suppose the cat uses a chair or table to get help in climbing the countertop. Remove the chair or table and eliminate the aid for reaching the countertops.
Provide legal jumping targets
Create a cat tower or a climbing tree for your cat. First, make sure it catches the kitty’s attention by making it enticing. One of the best ways is to hide it occasionally, and once it’s made available, place the tasty meal on top. Next, pet your cat and praise it when it uses the climbing tree. As a result, it will associate positive feelings with the kitty furniture.
Always keep your countertop clean.
Food remains are the key determinant that temps the cats to climb on the Counter. Therefore, remove any food remains crumbs or other treats that draw the cat to the Counter.
Address the faucet.
If your cat has the habit of drinking water from the tap, try and find out what could be the root cause. If the drinking bowl is in a better condition, eliminate any unpleasant need that causes the behavior. Check the water temperature that your cat-like and match to the one on the bowl. Always ensure that the faucet is permanently closed and never leave it running.
If all the necessary precautions do not change the cat’s behavior, you may seek help from the cat’s behavioral therapist. Primarily for health inspection and medical advice based on the cat’s health history.