Cats (6 month old) on counters and tables eating food constantly
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Anonymous
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Can you train a cat? We have two kittens, 6 months old. Ours get on the counter and eat ANY food we leave out. They jump to the table and eat food off of plates if we step away from the table. They will chew through bags to get to food or knock lids off and dump food. It’s SUPER frustrating. We can’t leave anything out: fruit (they’ll chew bananas), cookies (they knock off lids and eat it).
I’ll call the vet and ask also. Any insight appreciated. |
Anonymous
| Yes spray then with water when they jump On the counter. |
Anonymous
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Agree with the spray.
My cat learned because I had left some glasses out to dry and she jumped up and sent them flying with a great crash. Now she doesn't go there. |
Anonymous
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Also teach them the word "no!"
they understand this the best you can train cats is not to do things when you're looking. |
Anonymous
| I got this advice here and it worked: place a cookie sheet hanging over the edge of the counter where the cats jump up. When they try to, the cookie sheet will fall and scare them. Spraying water just makes them afraid of you, the cookie sheet makes them afraid of the counter, which is what you want. |
Anonymous
Hahaha I came here to say this. Sometimes I’m in the kitchen and I can see them giving me this “will you go away so we can get on the counter” look. |
Anonymous
| Are they eating enough? Kittens need a LOT of food. |
Anonymous
| They will exploit every single mistake you make. Leave food out for a minute to answer the phone, they’re on it. |
Anonymous
I think this is the right idea, although I'd be nervous the sheet would be heavy and land on your very young cats. The spraying really will not work, and your cats will end up seeing you as a source of discomfort, which you don't want. Cats aren't hierarchical animals, so they will not see you as the alpha person but as the not-nice person. For the counters, get cat tape, which is very wide double sided cat tape, and put it everywhere. It's no fun to have the cat tape on the counters, but it should only take about two weeks before your cats no longer want to be on the counters because it bothers their paws. Food really has to be put up in a non-cat-accessible place as much as possible. |
Anonymous
| This is why I don’t like to go to homes with cats. Just knowing they can jump onto counters makes me want to vomit. |
Anonymous
Oh my god, SAME! I am so disgusted by cats. Never mind that they walk in their own poop. |
Anonymous
They do not walk in their own poop. They are very clean animals. But their mouths are filthy. I would never let a cat eat my food. OP, you've got to get a grip on this. Shout at them and clap your hands whenever you catch them doing that -- and put your food away. If you feel slightly nauseous, it's from the cats eating your food. |
Anonymous
| Similar to the cookie sheet idea, I've had luck with putting strips of aluminum foil where I don't want our cat. I've done it with other objects as well that he doesn't like to walk on. Mind you, our house looks like crazy people live there...... |
Anonymous
| Try foil or the underside of plastic carpet runners. |
Anonymous
Considering the no one should be visiting I am sure any cat households are glad you aren't visiting. |