I'm going to begin by admitting I did not thoroughly think through a kitten before I got Pepper. I wanted a cat, but got her on impulse because she was advertised for free on Gumtree and they'd had a lot of time wasters.
When my cat Sugar (who sadly was euthanized earlier this year) was a kitten she was really calm and good. So I was in for a real shock with Pepper!

She is driving me crazy I do not want her on the coffee table or kitchen table for hygene reason and the fact she knocks drinks over which have ruined many things already, but she does not listen! I tell her no, I clap my hands to try and associate going on the tables with an unpleasant sound. She knows she's not allowed (you can tell by the guilty look when she is caught!) but she goes up there anyway.
I'm at my wits end as she may have now ruined my camera by knocking water over it.
You may say not to leave drinks on the table, but why on earth shouldn't I?! It's a bloomin table, it's what they're for! I want her to learn.
Sugar knew what she was not allowed to do and was really well behaved, even at Pepper's tender age of 4/5 months.

Please, any suggestions would be very welcomed. I love her to bits. She is my pretty little lady, but at times I just despair

Have had the same problem with ours on the kitchen table and worktops too, we keep a small spray bottle with water in it on the side now in the kitchen and when we find them on the sides or table they get sprayed. One of them doesn't seem to mind but in general since we started doing this they are up on the sides a lot less. We dont use it anywhere else in the house but like you say it drove us nuts for a while and other things we tried seemed to make no difference. It's worth a try anyhow.

She is just a kitten at the end of the day and, like people, all kittens/ cats have different personalities and levels of intelligence. You may not want to move drinks away from expensive cameras but if you had a toddler you would do it until they had learned. I recommend the same until she has learned don't keep things on the table that can be ruined by water. My Minnii still jumps up onto the surfaces, she's two, she knows not to do it, if we get cross with her she does it more! SHe's a minx.

Does your kitten have a play/scratch post tree thing? Put her on that every time she plays on the table. Is it because she is bored and needs playing with? She will clam down as she grows but she is still very wee and maybe is extra obstinate or a little less well endowed in the brain area than your last cat.

YOu can spray water or make a loud noise and she may stay off the surfaces when you are there but she is a cat and I can almost guarentee that she will be up there when ever your back is turned - you get used to wiping kitchen surfaces over all the time.

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Thank you one, I did think about a spray bottle. I may try that.

Spid - I don't ordinarily leave my camera lying around where it was. My son put it there, lesson learnt on that one!
Your toddler comment has made it hit home actually so thank you! I was maybe being a bit ignorant to kitten behaviour and expecting too much from her. I suppose that's down to Sugar being so good.
I shall just persevere and hope she learns.

If you are going to use a spray bottle for aversion then the trick is to try to spray her without her seeing you do it. She has to assoicate getting sprayed with getting up on the side/table, not with seeing you.

Charlie is being a right rascle at the moment with climbing on things. I generally remove him from what ever he is climbing on accompanied with a firm no. The only time I use a spray is to break up games between the cats that have turned nasty.

__________________

"Because I be what I be. I would tell you what you want to know if I could, mum, but I be a cat and no cat anywhere ever gave anyone a straight answer."

~The Paw Relations Blog~
~Nikki~
Owned by :-
Izzy - Congo African Grey
Missy - Galah Cockatoo
Shen - Black Labrador
Thomas, Charlie and Lola - Cats
Honey and Mustard - Rabbits
Gill and Rocket - Goldfish
~ Rest in Peace ~
Deedee - Timneh Grey 31.05.01 - 22.06.06

We're having the same issue with ours.

We've tried the water thing, up to the point of dunking them in a bowl of water (only their bottoms and legs so they get wet) and it just isn't working. Taf simply doesn't mind getting wet.

was just about to post a question when I thought I would look for a running thread.

We're gonna get a bicycle pump as we were told they didn't like the sound of rushing air, but to be honest, I'm not holding out much hope.

I guess I can cope with wiping sides down but it's burnt paws and noses from the hob after I have finished cooking that worries me the most.

Hmmm, yes the burnt noses and paws wouldn't be good. I very fortunately don't have that problem as Pepper doesn't go on work surfaces, only tables. I'm hoping that does not change!
I've thought about cleaning with anti-bac spray, then lemon cleaner. They do not like citrus smells so it may work. Worth a go I guess.
I hope you find a solution that works for you.

A simpy soultion to the worry of burnt paws on hobs is to place a pan of water onto the ring after cooking.

__________________

"Because I be what I be. I would tell you what you want to know if I could, mum, but I be a cat and no cat anywhere ever gave anyone a straight answer."

~The Paw Relations Blog~
~Nikki~
Owned by :-
Izzy - Congo African Grey
Missy - Galah Cockatoo
Shen - Black Labrador
Thomas, Charlie and Lola - Cats
Honey and Mustard - Rabbits
Gill and Rocket - Goldfish
~ Rest in Peace ~
Deedee - Timneh Grey 31.05.01 - 22.06.06

Hmmm this is hard one. I know Ragdolls love being up high. This is a nightmare for all the kinds of reasons you have stated, I have a lovely unit with lots of little drawers in it (cannot think what they are called) and a lovely vase on top with no flowers. Misty likes to pull them out, resulting in them falling over, I have lost count of the number of time she has done this.

If I am cooking Misty usually has to go to her room (espcially mince or chicken, bacon) as she will jump up and it's very stressful cooking and kitty watching, much as i am able to multitask!

Then there is the ironing board. They lie on it, even when the kittens were here they used climb up the cupboards to get to it. Result = no ironing, although I could put them to their room.

I would go with the advice here and just keep at her, saying firmly NO and putting your finger on her nose. (Works for some) and yes, after cooking I always have a few pots of water ready to put on cooker tops.

Its when they climb up to the top of the kitchen units it get very annoying, I cannot reach them AT ALL.

Best of luck.

Thanks, I'll try to remember to put pans of water on the hob after cooking.

The ironing board is not a issue... I don't iron!!!

Knowing my boys they'll have their paws in them though. They both can be seen drinking from their water bowls by putting their paws in the water then licking it off. Duh!!!!