What is the best way to keep cat off of my table?

Question

My wife and I took in a stray cat a couple of months ago. We are both VERY much dog people, but it was hurt, starved, and looking like it wouldn't make it much longer. So, the Ace Ventura in us took over and we took in this cat. Well, like I said, it had a bum back leg that it sometimes limped on. The vet said that it was probably a crack or something that happened at birth and that it had healed up and she would be fine. Before today, she wouldn't jump on anything above 2 feet tall, and that was nice. Well, we must have fed her something good because she is now able to jump onto the waist high table. This is a no no. We have a Pomeranian because they can't jump onto tables. We aren't going to have cats up there now either. What can I do? I have heard of the coin-in-a-can thing but I want something more reliable because I won't be able to sit there with a can in my hand all day waiting for her to jump. Thanks for the suggestions!!

Thanks for all the great ideas!! Her food is in another room probably 20 feet away. I don't know how I would get a perch for her so she can be high but yet see us. (My wife is anul about docorating, so a giant perch is probably out of the question....) Thanks again!!!

Answer 1

There is a spray you can buy to spray on your furniture. I was sceptical of it but it worked amazingly! It's NOT the "bitter apple" spray to prevent chewing. The one we used was called "No Stay" and made by a company called Pet Organics. We bought it at PetsMart. It's got a garlic oil and a clove oil in it but we couldn't smell it at all. As soon as my cat would get on the furniture he would jump right down again and after a week of use he just quit jumping up at all.
Cats do love to be perched on high places though. Maybe you can find him a windowsill or somewhere he is allowed?

Answer 2

Hi Brian...some cats respond to either a gentle squirt or can rattling. However, these methods will not work if you are nowhere to be seen. Therefore to discourage this behaviour it's best to place something such as double-sided sticky tape on the table (or on top of a table cloth so you can quickly remove it when your family needs to use the table). Cats dislike being stuck to tape and avoid areas that are unpleasant. Consistency over time is key to discourage the behaviour as cats are naturally inquisitive and will return to areas that they thought was fine. Each cat is individual so this could take as little time as a week whereas other cats several months.

Consider feeding the cat on the floor away from the table when everyone eats so they understand the table is not acceptable. Also many cats like to be up high to feel apart of everything, therefore consider a taller cat perch/tree somewhere near the dining table so she can watch everyone rather than become the dining experience.

Answer 3

My cats do the same thing but it's okay in my book. I let them do what they want. They're spoiled like that. That's tough when you both work such long hours. Definitely keep using the water bottle, that will have some effect and if you do it enough hopefully they will get the message. It will be easier with the kittens as they are not set in their ways yet and are still learning. The older cats may be a problem. I'm sure we all can relate....aren't habits hard to break? Just keep working with them, it will take some time. Good Luck.

Answer 4

There's something called a sofa scram that you can buy. It's a mat that has a battery-operated sensor. When weight/pressure is detected, it sets off a horrid screech, much like a smoke detector. If you're talking about a dining room table, you'd have to buy more than one to cover the entire thing, but perhaps you can get just one or two and put them on the edges of the table when you're gone. Unless the cat is highly skilled, it'll land on one when it jumps up.

I think once or twice will cure him for good.

Just google sofa scram.

Answer 5

We ll if a cat jump on the table hit the cat and the cat will run if it keep doing that lock it in a room until you finish with the table. But usually when you hit the cat the cat won t go back on the table when you there.

Answer 6

We ll if she have to jump on something to get to the table like a chair or tool move it away from the table if she high enough to jump on the table put something high on the table like block the table with something so it will be hard for the cat to jump up.

Answer 7

I have 4 cats who like to jump on my table also. The thing that I found works the best is a spray bottle. Fill it up with water and give her a little spray everytime she jumps on the table. This will teach her that everytime she's on the table, she'll get a spray and she won't do it anymore.I worked for me. Good luck!!!

Answer 8

Cat's eat all through out the day. So always have her plenty of fresh food on hand. I bought a automatic feeder it works with gravity and the cat can also pull the food out with its paw. I don't allow my 3 cats that come in and out to get on anything in the kitchen and they get fed in there. What I did without hurting them is I made them think they almost died for being up there. It took some persistence but they finally got the message.

Answer 9

She'll probably just end up jumping up on it when you're not there :) Find something that will be uncomfortable on her feet. Think someone suggested on another answer one of those rubber mats, flip it over, has those little rubber nubbie things sticking out. Put that on the table when you aren't around, when you are, a water bottle works well.

Answer 10

weve always took a spray bottle, put water in it and sprayed it at the cat when he tried getting on the table. but then again theres always a few cats that wont be phased by it and will start to clean itself with the water.