How to get my cat to stop jumping on the counter? Before knowing about how to get my cat to stop jumping on the counter, let’s know why the felines are susceptible to jumping from the top. Cats are quick and smart jumpers. In this article, I am going to talk about how to get my cat to stop jumping on the counter.
How to get my cat to stop jumping on the counter
It is their natural instinct to jump over the top. Cats are also habitually curious to observe their domain from the top and love to see what is on the other side of the table or counter, out of curiosity.
The cat may also jump over in order to get a nap or play out there. Smells of any particular kind from the counter may also attract the cat.
According to Dr. Aimee Simpson, Medical Director of VCA Cat Hospital of Philadelphia, “Cats are natural explorers, always wondering what’s on the other side of any closed door or, in this case, what’s up there on the counter. In the wild, cats seek out higher points to observe their territory, keep an eye out for prey, and to protect themselves from predators.”
Jumping over the top is also a part of their exercise. They need their muscle movements for flexibility and digestion as Dr. Simpson says, “Cats have large muscles in their hind limbs that allow them to extend and lengthen, and a flexible spine with shock-absorbing discs for a graceful landing.”
Cats jumping over the counter or a table, especially in the kitchen, might be risky for the pet, especially when there is hot water, a stove, glass bottles, knives, and ceramics. It is also not hygienic for the human body with the risk of mixing a cat’s hair with food and causing food poisoning.
How to get my cat to stop jumping on the counter?
The first step is to stop the cat from entering the kitchen. If it is not possible, at least put a restriction on the cat to enter during the meal or cooking time. Change the routine for the cat and keep him busy with other business, with playthings, fun, or toys. Reward the cat when it doesn’t come to the kitchen or the other room counters.
You should be serious to train the cat from the very beginning, instead of altering any past habits the cat might have already. Yet we can’t say it’s not possible to infuse new habits in the cat. Deploy some other tools to distract the cat from being available in the kitchen.
Your cant might be hungry and may jump over the counter in order to find some food yet after you have cleaned the counter well. Some food, as well as food puzzles, can be useful for the cat to meet up its hunger. If the cat licks the counter only because of its bad habit, alert the cat instantly and reward it for not being visible in the kitchen.
As soon as the cat jumps over the counter, a tennis ball or a pop can filled with some coins, around the cat (not hit on its body) to give a signal to the cat to stop the activity next time. Whenever we see the cat jumping we will do the same in order to make the cat understand this is not an acceptable activity.
As the cats are one of the best tree climbers, keep an alternative place in the other room for the cat to make the exercise there. This similar place will be able to keep the cat away from the kitchen counter. You will find tree climbers in the market to arrange inside your home to enable the cat to climb.
The chat might be to visit the kitchen to get warmth and comfort. You can arrange a soft, comfortable bed and burrowing material in the home in order to allow the cat to pass leisure time there.
As we have said, arrange an adequate amount of its favorite food to feed with a short meal every now and then. In case your cat is not overweight, give the cat free access to food every day to meet up hunger well.
For additional safety, keep all the human food away from the cat and discourage it from having human food. It is another way to make the cat reluctant from the kitchen in search of food. For having the recommended pet food, reward the cat with appreciation.
The other fun way to punish our cat naturally. You should not rebuke the cat directly so that the cat doesn’t be permanently afraid of you. Rather, put on some still sheets or empty plastic bottles just at the edge of the counter. It will make a noise when the cat will jump over it.
The falling noise of the bottle or the sheet will make a noise that will cause the cat embarrassed and guilty. Therefore, it will not jump on the counter again to avoid unwanted sounds.
There are some devices available in the market that can also be good to stop cats from jumping over the counter.
As we have said, don’t scold your dog verbally, or physically to prevent jumping over the counter. As a result, the cat might permanently be afraid of you.
Don’t push the cat off the table or counter, that might cause physical injury to the cat.
Keep your cat busy with some fun and playtime, at least once a day, This fun will make the cat more friendly to you as well as retard it from being available on the counter.
Do Not use any mechanical device or harsh sound to get out of the cat from the kitchen.
Cats are naturally curious. Therefore, keep the counter less tempting and empty so that cats don’t find anything interesting over there. If it happens, the cat would not be interested in visiting the counter frequently.
Disinfect the counter and keep it free from all fragile and risky materials as a precaution so that the cat doesn’t get hurt in any way.
Positive reinforcement is a key part of the training. After getting success by applying all or any of these methods, don’t forget to reward the cat for the motivation.
I hope this article on how to get my cat to stop jumping on the counter was worth reading to you.
