Hi

I am new to the PetForums and have been reading through your messages and great bits of advice.

However, I have 2x 5 month old kittens (brothers) and they are forever getting up onto the kitchen work surfaces, which is a bit of a pain when you have 2 cats forever with their noses in your dinner preparation.

Can anyone offer me advice on how to best deal with teaching them it is not acceptable?

Many thanks

ThePlummers

It's a bit like painting the Forth Bridge Everytime they get up you put them down with a firm no. You could try a water spray, you could try sticky tape or foil along the edge of your work tops, you could try citrus juice of some kind. Or, like many of us with cats, you get an antibacterial cleaner and learn to live with it
There are some cats that learn it is forbidden but I think most will get up there as soon as your back is turned - unless you shut them out of the kitchen of course
Oh and welcome to PF

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How we behave toward cats here below determines our status in heaven. - Robert A. Heinlein
http://www.lambchopsiamese.webs.com

Wish I had a pound for every time this question has been asked .IMO it is not worth the hassle even trying.Just keep a cloth and cat friendly spray handy and learn that cats will do as they please.Yes you can lift them down,say no,all the other things that people suggest, but,the moment your back is turned they are having a party on your work top and unless you catch them you will never know The only way to be sure they stay off is to never let them in the kitchen.





Must type quicker. Well said lymorelynn

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I think mine know they aren't supposed to be on the counter and steal my food so when I am cooking they tend to keep out of the way (unless tuna is involved!) but as soon as I am finished I know they do go back up there.

So you can make some headway just by being persistent...

I can't keep mine off the tv which I find more concerning

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what brands are particularly cat friendly. I use bleach based cleaners and at the moment I'm having to use tons and tons of water to wash them off so it won't hurt the kittens. There has to be an easier way?!

We simply keep them out of the kitchen Saves a lot of hassle.

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Where do you keep them?

Mine can't be in the living room unsupervised because they cracked a vase and they have nearly knocked over the tv loads of times, if you stick them in a bedroom it's isolating them and I don't have a dining room.

Well we packed away all breakables hun. Put cable tidies on all wires, and if any areas were not safe for the to go (like behind the TV, small hole or under the sofa) we blocked them off with cardboard and tape It's just easier to cat proof everywhere and then you can relax a bit more. It's only until they grow up a bit, so it's not a permanent thing. Or you could put them in the bedroom to play when you can't keep your eye on them, such a preparing food. It's not like it's for all day every day, so don't feel bad. Besides it's just as much about keeping them safe as it is your favourite possessions

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Johnson's do a pet safe cleaner, available in pet shops

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How we behave toward cats here below determines our status in heaven. - Robert A. Heinlein
http://www.lambchopsiamese.webs.com

Not so easy to shut the door when your whole downstairs is open plan!