how can you keep cats off of countertops and tables?

Answer 1

a squirt bottle of water will do the trick, give a few shots every time they jump up..they'll get the msg after awhile.......

Answer 2

As a cat owner, I will tell you are fighting a loosing battle here. Yes, you can train cates with a squirt bottle or squirt gun that they are not to get up on the counter (I have done this). You just squirt them as soon as they get on what they are not supposed to, and you will see that they quickly stop doing so. BUT, what the adorable little jerks really learn is to not get up on the counter when you are IN the house! When you are gone and they know you can't squirt them, rest assured that they are going all the places you do not want them to.

Answer 3

Give them a swat with a rolled up newspaper and make some
noise, they won't like that, and will stop jumping up when you
are home at least, when they hear the rustle and feel the
swat. Telling them to get down or saying 'NO' sharply and
firmly. Cats are smart, but hard headed. Sometimes they will
need a reminder. And not all cats will jump up. We never had
one cat try that. Maybe you have tasty smelling things on the
tops of your counters that make them try that? Cover them
up with something and see if the cat is tempted then.

Answer 4

with our first cat we used a squirt bottle of water and that worked well. with our second cat we told her "no" sharply and took her off the counter, she eventually understood.

Answer 5

go to your local discount store..or where ever..and get strips of plastic (that some people use on carpet)...it is slick on one side but NUBBY on the other side...Lay with the NUBBY side up...and when the cat jumps on it..they won't like the feel and you eventually can deter them from this bad habit....The aluminum foil is a good idea..but it will "slide"...and the platic nubby won't.

Answer 6

I spray them with water from a laundry bottle!

Answer 7

Put aluminium foil on the surfaces, they don't like the feel.