It's a good idea to keep cats off counters for a number of different reasons – and it's especially critical to make sure your cat doesn't jump on your kitchen countertops. Even if your cat is constantly grooming herself, she can still carry parasites like tapeworm, fleas, and heartworm, as well as bacteria.
Though jumping on the counter might seem like a harmless habit, it can have dangerous consequences. Aside from being a nuisance when you're cooking and cleaning, your cat could get burned, ingest toxic foods or cleaning chemicals, and track bacteria onto the counter that could make your family sick.
Our readers were more likely than veterinary professionals to allow their cats on the counter: 28 percent answered affirmatively, 11 percent said rarely and 48.1 percent said no, with the remaining readers opting for "other." So, while veterinary professionals are less likely to allow their cats on the kitchen counter ...
Discouraging Your Cat from Jumping on Countertops and Tables
Cats are sensitive animals, so it's never a good idea to shoo a cat away with your hands or threaten her with a spray bottle. Too often, your cat just learns to be afraid of you.
“The cats' motivation to get on the kitchen counter is usually one of two things,” certified feline behavior consultant Ingrid Johnson tells me. “They're seeking either food or attention.” Keeping the area clear of scraps will help with the former, but you've unwittingly been feeding them the latter for years.
Buy several cheap plastic placemats and cover one side of them with double-sided tape. Keep the placemats on your counters and tables when they aren't in use. Cats don't like sticky surfaces, so the goal is for your cat to jump up, feel a painless but uncomfortable sensation, and jump down.
Take away the thing that interests them
Try to keep kitchen work surfaces clear of food and anything else that may tempt your cat so they become boring for them. Remember to make sure they have plenty of alternative toys to play with in other places and that they are getting the correct diet for their age and weight.
Spraying your cat with water can make her uncomfortable
Spano explained. “[So] equating the discomfort a human feels upon being spritzed with water to the discomfort a cat feels upon being spritzed with water is unfair and not rational.”
“The more points on a cat's body that are touching your body, the more comfortable and relaxed your cat will be,” says Mikkel Becker, a cat training consultant. Never pick up a cat by the scruff of the neck or by the front legs. Picking up a cat the wrong way can cause the animal discomfort or even injury.
From 1 July 2022 all cats will be required to be registered, with details to be updated annually. Existing owners will be able to register their cat for free while new owners after this date will pay a small one-off fee. The new requirement for cat registration and fees mirror the ACT's annual dog registration scheme.
Last year, the Australian Capital Territory began a district-wide curfew for cats bought after July 1. Western Australia and NSW remain the only two states that have no restrictions. Domestic cats kill about 252 million mammals each year.
All cats 3 months of age and over must be registered with the local council. Existing registrations must be renewed by 10 April each year. If being registered for the first time, cats must be microchipped before registration.
Shortest Cat Breed: Munchkin
Munchkin kitties can't jump high, which is perfect if cats on countertops drives you nuts.
No. Here's the problem with spraying a cat with water: The only thing the cat learns is that when he sees the water bottle, it's time to run. “Run whenever you see this bottle” is not a particularly useful cue to teach, and running to escape punishment is not a positive way to interact with your cat.
You can train your cat to scratch only in the areas you want to — yes, cats can be trained! You can try: Having scratching posts available: Get sturdy scratching posts and position them to protect your furniture. A post will keep your kitty occupied and let them satisfy their scratching urges.
It may take time for your cat to learn to stay off the counters, especially if she's already in the habit of climbing them, but she'll eventually learn that climbing on the counter is a no-go, and you'll be able to reclaim the kitchen table and countertops for yourself.
In many parts of Australia, municipalities are instituting cat curfews or restricting free-range roaming altogether over fears that felines pose a threat to the country's wildlife, including small creatures such as bilbies and numbats, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.
The presence of cats in Australia brings with it significant value to humans through their roles as companion animals, but also results in a number of potential negative consequences related to: the environment (eg negative impact on ecosystems), animal welfare (eg predation), urban communities (eg nuisance, hygiene) ...
How long you leave it before letting your cat outside depends on the cat's personality and how quickly they settle. You may be tempted to let your cat outside as soon as possible, but generally it's best to allow at least 2-3 weeks and up to 4-6 weeks after you first take them home.
The natural environment also benefits when cats are kept indoors, as nocturnal feline hunting can threaten Australian native animals. At Cat Protection, we encourage all cat owners to keep their cats indoors, or if outdoors, then in a securely fenced area and always inside from dusk to dawn.
Cats Protection recommends that you keep your cats in at night. Cats are natural hunters, making them more active at night time, and some studies show that more road traffic injuries happen at night.