Expert: Dear Tabbi - 7/20/2009

Question
I am having a hard time getting her to stay off the counter. I have tried a rolled newspaper in my hand, I have tried a spray bottle. The newspaper hitting my hand or leg does nothing, the spray bottle she likes it. I have tried a firm No Skye, get down she just looks at me as if to say well make me.  Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.  I get the feeling she is extremely smart and she knows it.

Answer
Marlene,

Your hand isn't on the counter, why are you hitting your hand with the rolled newspaper? You need to bop the cat, not your hand! Knock her off the counter a few times and she will associate the newspaper with being on the counter. Say NO! loudly when you do it. The newspaper won't hurt her, just scare her. Wait a few minutes then love on her so she is afraid to get on the counter but NOT afraid of you.

Wooden mousetraps are another device to give your cats the message about being where they should not be. Get a few of the kind that aren't prebaited and set them UPSIDE DOWN on the countertops safely covered with newspaper taped down (to double the safety factor), or in small (preferably metal) wastebaskets set on the counter. The traps are NOT meant to hurt your cat or trap a paw, just to startle them. After they bump a trap, it jumps and closes with an noisy crack, helping to convince your cats that the area you've booby-trapped is scary and it's better to stay away from there.

If she is getting on the counter because she is hungry then free-choice feed her...that is leaving a bowl full of good quality dry catfood out all the time so she can much and won't go looking for something to eat.

Cats also like to be high up. Maybe get her a kitty condo scratching tree that you can put in front of a window so she can climb up on it and look outside.

I hope this helps.

Tabbi