Cats on Counters

[This was originally posted to Fairmount Animal Hospital's website on 17 November 2008.]

Dear Dr. Lee,

I absolutely adore my kitten, Max. My mother is having fits because Max jumps up on the kitchen counters to investigate. Mom says that is where she prepares meals, and cats should not be up there. How can I teach Max not to jump up on the counter?

Smitten to the Max in Dewitt


Dear Smitten,

Kittens are normally energetic and inquisitive creatures. It is not surprising Max has discovered that the kitchen counter is an interesting place to be. Thus it is important to keep the counter free of food and potential playthings (i.e., twist ties, plastic bags, etc.) so that he does not have the opportunity to self-reward himself for being up there.
Some cats can be negatively reinforced from certain behaviors by a squirt from a water gun. However, most cats learn to avoid the behavior when the squirt gun is present, and when it is not, they feel at liberty to pursue the behavior because there is no consequence.
There ares battery operated device called Ssscat! and Spray Sentry that can help to reinforce boundaries in a non-painful way, even if you are not present. When the motion sensor is tripped, the device emits a jet of compressed air (hence the name), which startles the cat.

Sincerely,
Dr. Lee