Squirting them with water and yelling does not work with them. It's getting so bad. They constantly knock things down and make huge messes. Please help!
2006-11-22 05:57:54 · 14 answers · asked by gypsyintexas 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
Hi there...consider using double-sided sticky tape to prevent the kittys from counter-surfing and table-surfiing. Cats dislike having the tape stuck to the their feet and eventually avoid the areas which are unpleasant to them. Cats by nature are very inquisitive, so they will make repeated attempts, however each time they become stuck they will soon look to other places to venture their curiosities.
2006-11-22 06:13:10 · answer #1 · answered by ♪ Seattle ♫ 7 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Oh my gosh, please no hitting kitty and no mouse traps!!! Kittens are babies; their energy sometimes can be boundless. And like children, I swear they have selective hearing.
The best way to discourage inappropriate behavior is the squirt bottle. I know you said you tried it, but keep using it. Kittens, at first, can't figure out what hit them. But if you are consistent, they will begin to associate the table with the uncomfortable wetness.
The hard part is to be consistent. If you are gone all day and they have free roam of the house, I know where they'll relax. You might need to limit their freedom to a bathroom or small bedroom while you're gone.
I've used the squirt bottle with consistent results for over 7 years with my foster kittens. Usually, after only a few hits with the spray, and a firm NO!! from me, all I have to do is show them the squirt bottle and they walk away from the restricted surface.
Remember the spray and NO must be used together AND at the time the kitten jumps up. After she jumps down she won't associate your "disapprovel" with jumping on the surface, rather she'll associate it with jumping down. Never yell at, or scold, a kitten after the fact. They need to make the association with whatever behavior you are intending to correct.
The water doesn't hurt them or upset them. It just gets their attention.
Another trick is the magazine toss. When you see your kitten looking at the counter or table, toss a magazine CLOSE to him/her not AT the kitten. The noise usually startles the kitten and makes him forget what he was about to do wrong. The thing I've learned is that the magazine toss only works a few times. Then it doesn't startle a kitten who's socialized. If your kitten is already shy, use the spray bottle only.
Good luck. Train your kitten now, and you'll find an adult cat who stays off the table and counter tops.
2006-11-22 14:32:29 · answer #2 · answered by metaphysical_kitten 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is definitely wrong to hit a cat! They'll be scared of you and become more destructive when you aren't around. A while back I got a fish...guess what happened...crash! I put some ammonia around the new bowl, put the cats by it, and never had a broken fish bowl again! You will have to do that every once in a while though. I've heard the sticky tape thing works also. If you punish hit the cat or squirt them with water (and they see you do it) they may not mis-behave while you are there, but I guarantee, they will while you are gone!
2006-11-22 15:38:23 · answer #3 · answered by oneworld09 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I just got a new kitten, and she does that too. Whenever I catch her, I grab her by the scruff of her neck and bring her up to eye level. When you look a cat in the eye, its supposed to be a threatening gesture. If she looks away, I turn her so she looks at me again. Then I sternly tell her NO,and put her down. If that doesn't work, then if you give them treats or any sort of rewards, don't do that anymore. They might think that they are being rewarded for their behavior. In the worst case scenario, maybe give them a forceful but not harsh slap on the rear. Not too hard to hurt them, but forceful enough for them to get your point. That's all the advice I have, I hope it works for you!
2006-11-22 15:09:06 · answer #4 · answered by Breanna 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try using a small can with a lid and fill it with a handful of change. Next time one of them jumps on the counter shake the can or toss it near them (not at them). The loud noise will startle them and they will jump down. Hopefully they will eventually catch on.
2006-11-22 15:17:09 · answer #5 · answered by Summer 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
when they go on the counters yell BAD. OR SPRAY THEM WITH A WATER BOTTLE SQUEIRTER. CATS HATE ORANGE JUICE SO IF THE CATS LIKES GOING SOMewere you dont want it to buy the orange scented wipes and wipe it down.
2006-11-22 14:32:41 · answer #6 · answered by mycatzozo 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is really had to stop cats from climbing/jumping on your furniture. It's a cat's natural instinct to climb. If you really love your cats, you'll just have to live with it or confine them to one room but I'm sure you wouldn't want to do that. The older they get, the less they climb/jumb. My cats mean more to me than my furniture so they can climb/get on anything they want.
2006-11-22 14:04:51 · answer #7 · answered by Me, Myself & I 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Put something sticky or simplay larger objects around the edges of your tables, so there isn't any room for them to jump up!
2006-11-22 14:57:09 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Put stickies on the table, like, random pieces of tape, that way they won't walk right for a short period of time. Plus, it's very funny to watch them try.
2006-11-22 13:59:57 · answer #9 · answered by Cold Fart 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You can use mouse traps on the surfaces you don't want them on. Shouldn't take them long to figure out that if they jump up there, they are going to get snapped at.
2006-11-22 14:06:52 · answer #10 · answered by thatotherchick 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋