Should I use treats to get my kitten off counters without bad habits?

Training kittens is not like training dogs. Their brains are different. Water in a squirt bottle typically works very well to correct them when they do something you don’t want them to do like get on the counters. You can’t really train them to not get into your food if you leave it out. They are opportunistic. While you are with the food, you can use the squirt bottle to teach them to respect the boundaries while you are with the food. Most cats will learn quickly but most will take adavantage of a situation. You can also avoid these situations by putting the cat away at meal time. Always remember to rewards good behavior with praise, play, pets or treats. I hope this is helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! I am so sorry that Bingley is being so bad! First for your sanity, at night I would confine him so he isn't keeping you up at night. Put him in the basement (with food, water and litter boxes) or a separate room. That will keep him from getting in to things and allow you to sleep. The good news is that he will grow out of this behavior, he is very young still. As for getting up on the counters, etc: cats like high places. First provide alternatives, get a couple of cat trees or other things to enrich his environment. Make sure all food is put away and the facet doesn't drip so he isn't attracted to the counters. Then you have to make the counters unpleasant: cover the counters with textures cats hate — aluminum foil is one example; cardboard covered with double-faced masking tape or shelf liner is another. No, you won’t have your counters covered forever, but you will need to keep them covered while your cat learns to use the new perches. For the more determined cat, you can look at harmless automatic devices that discourage counter cruising by making sounds cats dislike when they trigger a pressure pad or electronic eye by jumping up. I hope this helps and have a great day!

Hi there and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. If you want to train your cat not to jump on the counter, you can try the following method. Obtain a spray bottle and fill it with water. Whenever Salem jumps up onto the counter, lightly spritz him in the face and say "off!" to show that this is an unacceptable behavior. I've had some clients use noise deterrants before where a motion sensing noise device is placed on the counter and whenever the cat triggers the motion sensor, a loud noise goes off. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any other questions or concerns and I would be more than happy to help you further.

Have you tried crating her? Or confining her to another part of the house like a basement. I wouldn't do this all the time but when you are cooking or if the baby is around and you don't want Isabella all over her having a place where she can be safe and confined might be a good idea. It will not eliminate the jumping on counters but when you are doing something that you don't want her on the counter it is a way to keep her out of the kitchen. There is nothing you did to condone this behavior. Sometimes cats just do this so don't think that it is your fault, because it's not. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

You could cover the counters with textures that cats don't like. For example, aluminum foil, placemats or cardboard covered with double-faced sticky tape. Many cats don’t like those surfaces, so the hope is for the cat to jump down once he/she touches the surface. Leave the mats on the counter at all times when not in use and, hopefully, she will stay off. After a few weeks without signs of her on the counters, remove a small section at a time and see if she will stay off.

Unfortunately this is a very common cat characteristic . I recommend to either a restricted area that Lady Bird has access to or to keep the countertops clean so there is nothing to knock down. There are some products to deter cats: motion activated fog horns, electric collars, and certain odors but they work with varying degrees of success. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

There are small water fountains you can purchase to use as her water source. This may keep her off of the counters. Restrict access to the rooms if possible. If not, a length of aluminum foil placed on the counter may deter her. Whenever you see her on the counter, gently remove her to another room. Be consistent and she will eventually learn the platform is not a place for her.