How To Keep Your Cats Off The Kitchen Counter

Finding your cats on your kitchen counter is not only annoying, but it’s also unsanitary. After all, they spend a lot of time in litter boxes, and they’ll eventually track that filth on your countertops. That’s why you may understandably wonder how to keep your cats off the kitchen counter. 

You can easily keep your cats off the kitchen counter if you train them with a spray bottle. Gently spray your cats with the bottle each time you catch them on the counter, and they should eventually stop trying. You can also deter cats if you put double-sided tape and aluminum foil on your kitchen counter until they stop trying to jump up. 

It’s also a great idea to set out plenty of toys and scratching posts in other rooms to distract your cats. Play with your cats often to wear them out and stimulate their minds, so they’re less likely to act up. Follow along as we explore how to keep your cats off the kitchen counter.

How To Stop Your Cats From Getting On The Kitchen Counter

1. Use Natural Scents

Cats, like many animals, have a strong sense of smell, which you can use to your advantage. Many smells deter cats, such as thyme. Many people love the smell, but cats dislike it enough to avoid your counters altogether. 

Your best bet is to dilute some thyme with water and spray your counter with the solution. Let the solution dry on your countertops and check to see if the scent remains. Keep in mind that many essential oils that deter cats are also toxic. 

For example, peppermint is quite toxic to cats, so you should never spray your counters with mint oil. Citronella and citrus peels, such as orange peels, can also harm cats. Stick to safe deterrents to keep cats off your kitchen counter. 

2. Lay Some Aluminum Foil

Aluminum foil may not look great, but it can help stop your cats from getting on the counter. Cats hate the feeling of putting their paws on sheets of aluminum foil. It’s a sensory overload that can quickly make them get off your counters. 

The crinkly texture paired with the sound that foil makes when you touch it simply bothers cats. Many homeowners know this, but understandably hesitate to scatter foil throughout their houses. For example, nobody wants to put foil on their furniture, but it can stop cats from scratching it. 

You don’t necessarily need to leave the aluminum foil on your countertops permanently. Instead, place the foil on your countertops for days, weeks, or however long it takes to make them disinterested in your counters. That way, you can eventually remove the foil and enjoy cat-free countertops. 

3. Distract Them

Cats typically jump up on countertops, appliances, and furniture out of boredom and curiosity. This can cause problems for homeowners who don’t want to be on guard all the time. Luckily, you can largely curb these behaviors if you distract your cats and wear them out. 

The best way to do this is to provide plenty of toys and scratching posts. Play with your cats as often as possible to wear them out and help them calm down throughout the day. Wands, fake mice, and even DIY toys like shoestrings can significantly help cats stay calm. 

The more you wear them out, the less likely they are to jump on your counters and damage your belongings. It’s also a great idea to set up scratching posts far from your countertops to draw their attention elsewhere. 

4. Use Double-Sided Tape

Double-sided tape is much like aluminum foil in that it can easily deter cats from going where they shouldn’t. That includes your kitchen counters, where you can easily apply double-sided tape without drawing much attention. Double-sided tape, in many cases, is hard to detect on countertops, so it looks better than aluminum foil. 

Keep in mind that you don’t have to cover each inch of your counters with double-sided tape. Instead, simply put the tape on the edges of the counters, so your cats can see it. That way, the cats will notice the tape and intentionally avoid it.

They may still hop on the counters a few times and quickly jump down after feeling the tape. This is often enough to train your cats that the counters aren’t for them. Re-apply tape as needed until your cats finally quit trying to jump on your countertops. After a while, you can probably remove the tape, and your cats won’t try again. 

5. Keep A Spray Bottle Nearby

Spray bottles offer a reliable, humane way to keep your cats off the kitchen counter without harming them. Your cats may act dramatically and run away when you gently spray them, but they won’t get hurt. The sound and the feeling of the water are enough to make your cats get off the kitchen counter. 

Keep a spray bottle on or near your kitchen counters, so you can easily access it. Don’t soak your cats, as that is somewhat cruel and unnecessary. Spray bottles can also help you keep your cats away from fish tanks, furniture, and houseplants. 

6. Buy A Cat Fountain

Do your cats jump on the kitchen counter because they want to access the sink? If so, you can buy your cats a special water fountain to render your kitchen sink useless in their eyes. Today, you can find cat water fountains for roughly $20 to $60, and they can help enrich your cats. 

Running water can stimulate your cats’ brains and help keep them happy. This is also a rewarding way to hydrate them while also keeping them active. 

They are also cheap enough that you can set up several water fountains throughout the house. Your cats won’t be so compelled to get on your countertops if they have water fountains of their own. 

7. Clean Your Countertops

Cats love clutter, and every shiny object and bit of debris can catch their eyes. Messy countertops are more likely to attract cats, and that may be why you always catch them up there. That’s especially true if you leave dirty dishes and silverware on your countertops between meals. 

The scent of the food remnants paired with the visual clutter can entice cats to get on your countertops. You can largely curb this problem if you keep your counters as clean as possible. Ideally, you should wash your dishes and silverware after each meal instead of leaving them on the counter. 

It’s also a great idea to wipe your counters each day to clean spills and food debris. This is also an ideal opportunity to apply natural cat deterrents to your counters after cleaning them to be even more effective. 

Summing It Up

The best way to keep your cats off the counter is to use natural deterrents, like thyme, to keep them away with scents. You can also put aluminum foil or double-sided tape on your kitchen counter to discourage cats from getting on your counter. Keep your counters clean and fill a spray bottle to spray and train your cats to stay off the countertops. 

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