How to Keep Your Cat Off the Countertop
Written by Small Door's medical experts
Instinctively, cats are climbers and love being high up off the ground. In the wild, cats love to explore vertical spaces, and they will often climb trees, rocks, or other objects in search of the perfect perch. But what do you do if your cat has started using your counter as their preferred space for climbing? Read on to learn more about this behavior and the steps you can take to keep your cat off the counter.
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Cats are natural climbers and are predisposed to like being high up in the air, looking down upon their domain (or keeping an eye out for predators). It makes them feel comfortable and safe and gives them time to rest and take stock of their environment.
In the home, cats may begin jumping onto your countertops for one or more other reasons, such as:
Access to flowing water. Many cats love fresh, running water and will seek out a sink or faucet to drink from.
Food. If there is anything tasty (cat- or human-wise), this may entice them to jump up to try and steal a bite.
Access to a window. Your cat may be trying to access a window to sunbathe, or watch wildlife activity, such as birds, squirrels, and chipmunks (think of this as your cat’s version of television). Additionally, your cat may be trying to get a glimpse of any neighborhood cat activity.
Hiding or escaping. If your cat is trying to hide or escape from something (such as a vacuum cleaner, loud children, a dog, or another cat), they may jump onto a countertop to be out of reach from whatever may be scaring or disturbing them.
According to the International Society of Feline Medicine and American Association of Feline Practitioners, the first of five pillars for a healthy feline environment includes making sure your cat has hiding places and vertical perching spots so that their natural feline behaviors may take place.
There are several different strategies you may implement to discourage your cat from jumping onto the countertops. Try first to observe what your cat is doing while up on the countertop. If you know what is attracting your cat and why, it may help guide management. Consider these strategies:
Keep food scraps tidied away. Keeping any enticing crumbs or snacks from being out in the open removes the appeal of jumping onto the counter.
Fix leaking faucets. The enticing sound of water dripping in the sink can encourage your cat to explore the countertop. Ensuring there are no faucet leaks can discourage your cat from jumping up. If your cat is a water-lover, placing a cat fountain down on the floor or in a different area of the home can also help make the sink less interesting and appealing to explore.
Provide alternative places to climb and perch. Creating new, acceptable areas for your cat to explore and climb at various heights will help prevent them from being so interested in exploring your countertops. Perching areas should be soft, and wide and long enough so that your cat can fully stretch when on them. Climbing trees, cat towers, and cat shelving are great enrichment options that can give your furry feline fun and safe spaces to play and climb.
Always use positive reinforcement techniques. Using positive reinforcement is a great way to encourage your cat to focus their attention on specific areas within the home. You can use your cat’s food, favorite treats, or toys as rewards to encourage them to climb or play in the specific areas you want them to use. Try sprinkling treats or toys on a level of a cat tree, or feeding your cat in their cat tower. If your cat tree is near a window, place a bird feeder directly outside to encourage your cat to climb and bird watch. However, do not use these techniques in areas you don’t want them climbing. This will help your cat distinguish what areas of the home are acceptable for playing.
Avoid negative reinforcement. Negative reinforcement, such as shouting “no” or using a spray bottle filled with water, actually can perpetuate these behaviors in cats, as they cause anxiety. They can also make cats act fearful or cautious around the person displaying the negative reinforcement.
When these strategies don’t work to stop the behavior completely, your veterinarian may recommend:
Make the countertop less desirable with sticky tape or aluminum foil. This tactic of layering either sticky tape or aluminum foil will make the countertop an unpleasant place to land, which will help to reinforce to your cat that countertops are not a fun place to be.
Consult a behaviorist. In situations where all options have been exhausted, sometimes the next step is to consult a veterinary behaviorist. A behaviorist may help diagnose any underlying behavioral conditions that may be contributing to your cat’s incessant countertop surfing (such as anxiety) and provide necessary prescription medications or behavioral modifications that are targeted to treat that specific condition. Your primary care veterinarian will be able to provide you with a referral for a behaviorist.
While definitely a challenge, keeping your cat off the countertops is not impossible. Employing techniques such as enrichment and positive reinforcement can help your cat to learn to avoid jumping up onto unwanted areas. Contact your veterinarian for help with determining any underlying issues that may be contributing to their behavior and guidance in changing your cat’s behavior.
