Please help, I have a wonderful Maine coon cat who will not stay off of my counters,?

Question

She does not get into anything, she just likes to sleep on them.

Answer 1

LOL! We had a Maine coon for years. He would get up on the counters or on the table. Nothing we could ever do would break him of it. We tried the squirt gun, the tape, the smelly things and of course lots of yelling. He got to the point where he'd just jump down when we came in the room. That's the first thing we'd hear when we came home from going somewhere. As soon as the key turned in the front door we'd hear then "THUMP" of Hobbes hitting the floor.

It got to be so aggravating that we just gave up. As long as he wasn't on the counters or tablet tops in our presence, we never raised a big stink. Occasionally he'd test the waters and jump up there whenever we were in the room. I'd yell and then he'd jump down and make a big show of washing his butt. I think that was Maine coon for "I was getting ready to get down anyway. See where I'm washing? Kiss it."

We had him about 12 years I think. He died just a couple of months ago. We miss him a lot. You know, I wouldn't yell at him at all for being on the table if he could come back.

Answer 2

I too have 2 Maine Coons, one that likes to get on my counters and one that does not. I would suggest that if you don't like her up there, put pieces of aluminum foil on the counter. For some reason cats don't like the feel or sound of it when they step on it. I don't worry about my cats getting up on anything. It's a cat thing and I always wipe my counters off with Clorox wipes (just like the previous person suggested). Cats will be cats and even if they stay off the counters when you are home, how much do you want to bet that they walk all over them when you're not! ;-)

Answer 3

Yea I have a Maine Coon also who sleeps in the sinks, on counter tops, on top of my hutch you name it, I have tried everything including a water bottle he's an aunry(sp?) bastard who knows what he wants, I just pick him up and put him on the ground and and hour later I'm doing it again, oh well what can ya do, but deal with it I guess; he's the sweetest thing though so maybe that's why I don't get so angry with him.

FYI-I use Clorox Wipes on my counters the cat still lays up there.

Prince Uranus- you make me laugh it's the same thing with mine, as soon as he hears you coming you hear THUMP on the floor and when he walks around it's great it's as if he has lead in his feet he walks so heavy on them, thump thump on the wood floors as he walks around, they are so darn lovealbe though, he even drools when you pet him to much it's gross

Answer 4

Hi there...consider using double-sided sticky tape to prevent counter surfing. Cats dislike having their paws stuck to the tape and eventually give up after trying a few times wherever the tape is located. Water bottle squirts are partially effective when you are present to catch the kitty, but when you are not in those areas, the tape is a back up method.

Answer 5

Wipe your counters down before you cook or do something you don't want cat fur on. It's normal behavior and impossible to break. Counters are elevated and cool and they can see their home from them, much like a lion perching on a rock overlooking the tundra.

Answer 6

Put foil out on the counter. I guarantee the cat will not go on it. After a while it will just stop trying.

Answer 7

You can try double sided tape as Seattle suggested, that works really well. If that doesn't work for you, you can try putting a clear runner mat, or foot mat like you would get for the floor of your car, but put it upside down so that the little bumpy things on the bottom are sticking up.....cats hate that. good luck!

Answer 8

Unfortunally exotic cats are very stubborn, expecailly if they are only a few or no generations removed from the wild. We have a very, very stubborn Asain Lepoard Cat.

We have found that pepper works the best. Ours likes to jump on top of the mantle, bookshelf, so we just sprinkle a little bit of pepper up there and she totally avoids going up there. I guess it works better if the spot itn't visible to the human eye.

Answer 9

Use aluminum foil, put it on the counter, they don't like it. Or, you could use a water spray bottle, if you want to teach him to stay down. Most cats do not like water.

Answer 10

If she likes to feel the safty up there, than don't change it. I think that's why she does it.
However, in a local pet store you can purchase a bottle of spray that leaves the animals in areas where they supposed not to go into.
ask the pet store clerk, they will know what i m talking about. i bought it for my animals. it helps.;