Prevent Cats from Jumping on Counters

One of the biggest challenges any cat owner will face is the constant struggle of keeping your kitty off the counter. It’s in a cat’s nature to be up high, to play, and to treat your house as their own personal playground. However, we don’t always want our cats jumping up on our furniture, especially counters and tables where we eat or keep food. If you’re wondering how to prevent cats from jumping on counters, look no further! The Cat Clinic at Cherry Hill has a few tips and tricks to stop your cats from leaping up on your counters, tables, and other places you don’t want them jumping.

4 Tips on How to Prevent Cats from Jumping on Counters

So your cat thinks he’s king of the castle. We’ve been there. That doesn’t mean you can’t set a few boundaries to help make your life a little easier! Here are a few ways on how to keep cats from jumping on counters:

1. First, if you don’t have one, get your kitty a cat tree! Cats simply love to be up high. If you provide a cat tree or another high-up place (such as a window hammock or wall-shelf), your cat might prefer it over your counters. Make the cat tree comfortable and attractive – leave a soft bed, toys, and treats there for your cat to find. Bonus if it includes scratching posts to help your cat stop scratching your furniture, too!
2. Next, try making your counter an unattractive place for your kitty. Cats love to get up high and knock things over – this is just how they play! Remove food, small objects, and anything else that may be enticing to your cat.
3. Another solution you can try is putting mildly sticky tape up on your counter. Cats don’t like the feeling of the tape on their paws. After this happens a few times, eventually your cat probably won’t want to jump up anymore. If sticky tape doesn’t work, try tin foil. They don’t like how the aluminum texture feels.
4. Finally, when your cat jumps on a place that you do deem acceptable, like their cat tree, it’s important to let your cat know they’re doing a great job so they can tell the difference between good places to jump and bad. Cats love positive reinforcement! Treats, pets, and positive tone-inflection in your voice will help your cat learn what places are good for jumping.

The Cat Clinic at Cherry Hill is Here for All Your Cat Needs

If you’re still having behavioral issues with your kitty, don’t despair! Training your kitty isn’t a lost cause! It might help to talk to a vet. They can offer ideas or refer you to a cat trainer who can help. For more information on how to prevent cats from jumping on counters, or to schedule an appointment with us, call the Cat Clinic at Cherry Hill at 856-662-2662.