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Expert: - 1/3/2012


Question
Hi,

We have a 7-month old Bombay male cat - and he loves to be on the kitchen counters. Lately he's combined that with searching for leftover "people food" from our meals... crumbs, a bowl resting in the sink, even cheese on a cheese grater. We've started cleaning food up quickly after meals, but he'll even try to get to the food as we're still serving it in the kitchen.

We've tried the conventional methods to train him not to get on the counter, but nothing phases him long-term. Squirt guns don't work - he likes water. A can full of coins used to work when he was smaller, but now he knows it doesn't really pose any threat to him, so that doesn't work either. Verbal commands, tone of voice, "growling"... nothing really affects him.

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. Thanks!

Answer
Chris,

I am not sure you can train an active, intelligent breed like a Bombay to stay off counters. One thing you might try is two sided sticky tape.  Cats hate walking on adhesives, so judicious use of two sided tape might be enough to discourage him from getting on the counter. Getting your dishes done immediately will certainly help, but cats have long memories and once they have had a treat, they remember how and where, and will persistently try to get more that way.

Another approach is "clicker training"  #See www.clickertraining.com#. Clicker training has been used successfully with many species, including cats.  Cats respond best to positive reinforcement techniques #as opposed to discipline, which is usually wasted on cats#. Positive reinforcement is the hallmark of clicker training.  In general, cats do not respond well to oral commands #they speak body language and reserve meowing for kittens and humans, who tend not to understand the cat's body language#.

Please let me know how things go.

Best regards... Norm.  

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Norman Auspitz

Expertise

I can answer most non-veterinary questions about cats. My particular expertise is pedigree cats, breeding and showing. However, I am versed in feline behavior, cat breeds and their characteristics, general feline husbandry, and the like.

Experience

I judged for the Canadian Cat Association from 1975 until 1982. I am currently an approved allbreed judge for the Cat Fanciers'' Association (the world''s largets cat registry), and have been judging for them since 1991. I have been breeding pedigreed cats since 1971 and have been exhibiting pedigreed cats in shows since 1970. I obtained my first pedigreed cat in 1970 and have never looked back. In 1971, I obtained my first Abyssinian which has become my primary breed. In addition, I have bred Manx and Persians. Currently, besides the Abyssinians, I am also breeding Maine Coons.


Organizations
Cat Fanciers'' Association, inc. (CFA) and the Manx, Maine Coon, and Abyssinian breed councils. I am currently Abyssinian breed council secretary.

Publications
Cat Fancy Magazine, The Abyssinian Chapter in The Cat Fanciers'' Association Complete Cat Book, and Articles for various editions of The Cat Fanciers'' Association Yearbook

Education/Credentials
I received a B.S. from Drexel University in 1968, a M.Math from University of Waterloo, in 1970, a Ph.D. from University of Waterloo in 1975, and a MBA from McMaster University in 1980. I received my approved allbreed judging status in the Cat Fanciers'' Association in 1999.

Awards and Honors
We have produced a number of Cat Fanciers'' Association (CFA) National winning Abyssinian and Maine Coons. We have produced a number of Abyssinian and Maine Coon Distinguished Merit females (an award for a top producing cat), including the first Distinguished Merit Abyssinian in the red (sorrel) color. I am the CFA Abyssinian breed council secretary and belong and/or hold office in a number of cat clubs. I am also a member of the CFA Judges Association.

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