I have had a cat all my adult life and have NEVER had a cat get on my counters or table. I had a neighbor once who happily fed her cat off her kitchen counter and kept the food and water up there. I was grossed out. I love animals but DON'T want them in my food prep space. I agree with Annie in that they can be trained to know their boundaries.

This is why all dining rooms, should have French doors, or at least pocket doors :)

Great kitty pictures!

I apologize for my knee-jerk reaction comments in this thread. I think I read the first two posts and thought, "setting mouse traps to protect a tablecloth? wha?!!!"

I don't try to keep the cats off things unless they can get hurt or something, but I do make an effort to keep my counters and tables clean. Of course, I don't eat directly off them, either.

Of course I don't "allow" my cat to lay on my counters, and I physically remove him when I find him up there. Because I cannot monitor him 24 hours a day I always clean the counters before I begin working in the kitchen, but I would do that even if I didn't have a pet.
I thought it was funny that when I came in to take a picture of my brand new countertops, there he was cooling himself off on the granite.

My cats don't get on the tables, or the counters, but they do love to sit on all the chairs...and steal my ice water, if I leave it on the end table! Although, they stand on the arm of the chair, to do it :)

No, I don't drink the water! LOL

Gosh, I guess I misunderstood the topic of this thread. I thought you were referring to table decorating and cats goofing up the decorations. Our kitty never jumped on the cupboards or kitchen/dining room table. Just the table in the bay window that was used for decorative purposes. He liked to lay and look out the window and watch the birds at the bird feeder.

Lavender Lass, my one cat can open the sliding doors to the closet! Freaked me out until I figured out that there really aren't monsters coming out of hiding in there, just a kitty curling up on the beach towels. French doors, then, with knobs not levers. Cats are too smart for our own good.

Lucille, maybe you could borrow Tracie's parrots and train them to say "Down! Bad cat!" and hiss. Kitty will come running to you and you can be the "good guy" and give him snuggles.

well let me say that I am "fairly appalled" that other people would imply that I value possessions over my animals. Time to trot out my credentials. I recommended something that helped train many many cats (and dogs) over the course of 40 years, and never a cat( or dog) harmed. The cloth or newspapers placed over the mousetraps protects the animal and provides a sudden snapping sound. This is a natural consequence which is a mildly uncomfortable surprise to the animal and the animal learns
to avoid it. This technique was recommended as a safe and non abusive method to teach a cat or dog to avoid a certain area by the veterinarians who worked with the humane society where I served as a state licensed volunteer humane investigator for 7 years. This training method was used successfully by many humane society volunteers in multiple scenarios with many animals
to help make good citizens out of feral, untrained, unruly animals and ensure that they had the best chance of getting good homes.
Most animals understand the concept of boundaries and dominance. In a household, you must be the alpha dog or the queen cat. Watching cats and dogs interact with each other, you will note they are far more cruel to each other than this technique, since they use jaws, claws, and physical force with each other to enforce dominance and submission. I do not chase or hiss at or physically intimidate my pets, nor do i lay a violent hand on them.
I spent over 40 years doing rescues and rehabs and thousands and thousands of dollars on spays, neuters, surgery and food and regular vet care for several hundred animals over that time. I have spent uncounted hours working with animals to retrain them and help them become good citizens and would not recommend anything which would harm them. .

You wrote:
"In a household, you must be the alpha dog or queen cat"

The 'alpha dog' concept is outdated. One does not need to dominate a pet animal by force.
The problem with mouse traps is that the paper or cloth may fall or be pushed off by the kitty, exposing it to serious injury. And even if it is covered, I think that such a sudden correction is going to frighten the kitty.

There have been many good suggestions in this thread and I appreciate the time everyone has put in to give the suggestions and opinions.
Out of all of them, the only one I see as not being appropriate for a critter who is now part of my family is the mousetrap. It is just not in line with the way I want to live my life with my critters.

Here is a link that might be useful: alpha dog theory debunked

alpha or queen in the context I used it does not mean using force but becoming leader/caretaker or mother figure in the animals life. I remember now why I hadn't belonged to a forum in a long time. too many misinterpretations and miscommunications, too many gang ups and put downs, and sanctimonious people demeaning others in attempt to
enlarge their self images. Have fun with that.

Egbar,

This is a message board. Each of us is as entitled to voice our opinions as you are to voice yours.
If you are saying that because some of us have disagreed with your point of view that we are somehow demeaning you, I think you know that is not true.

This post was edited by lucille on Wed, Sep 18, 13 at 9:49

Egbar, I hear you and I think you expressed it well. The cat whisperer guy calls it being their guardian...

Egbar,
Thank you for sharing your experiences in training and rescuing all of the animals over the years. I applaud you for your willingness to help make unwanted animals adoptable.

Posted by egbar (My Page) on Wed, Sep 18, 13 at 8:41

alpha or queen in the context I used it does not mean using force but becoming leader/caretaker or mother figure in the animals life. I remember now why I hadn't belonged to a forum in a long time. too many misinterpretations and miscommunications, too many gang ups and put downs, and sanctimonious people demeaning others in attempt to
enlarge their self images. Have fun with that.

Egbar

I noticed you erased your original post. I don't know whether you decided that you changed your mind about what you said, but again, you are in fact entitled to express how you feel, as are the rest of us. Some will agree, some will not, (I did not) but that is true of almost everything in life.

Lucille, if the original poster chooses to remove his/her post, I don't think it's appropriate to repost it. S/He retains ownership and has the right to withdraw it should s/he so choose.

Annie,

I did not repost the post she removed.

"The cloth or newspapers placed over the mousetraps protects the animal and provides a sudden snapping sound."

Yes, OK, I get it now, and I can see what you were describing in your first comment. Assuming whatever the material is is thick enough and will stay in place of course. I don't think I'd do it with just a few sheets of newspaper or material that was too thin...Apologies for jumping to conclusions without thoroughly envisioning the set up first as you use it.

Although I should say that for my cats, the clicking sound and motion of the trap snapping shut under the cloth or newspapers would have made everything even that much more interesting. One click of a hidden trap, and they'd have been up on the table every day, waiting for the game all over again!

Bpathome- That's so funny! It must have made you wonder, the first few times :)

We had a Maine Coon cat (clever guy) who not only learned to slide open the closet door...but went through several bags of unwrapped Christmas presents and pulled out his little stuffed bear. It's sad, when you can't even hide presents from the cat! LOL

My cousin's cat could open doors too.....if you forgot to lock the bathroom door....surprise!!! And even if you did lock the door, she would be on the other side jumping up to open it a million times. It's a wonder curiosity didn't kill this cat.

My cat leaps to open the lever type door handle on the bathroom when you're in there. We get no privacy around here!

We have never been able to keep our cats off any horizontal surface in our house and we gave up trying. What I do find effective though, is to just leave a small shoe box on the table and the cat will sleep in there.

Cat's seem to love small boxes because it makes them feel secure. It's actually kind of funny to watch my 16 pounder laying in a shoe box with the sides bulging out...lol.
Maude

bpathome posted: Lucille, maybe you could borrow Tracie's parrots and train them to say "Down! Bad cat!" and hiss. Kitty will come running to you and you can be the "good guy" and give him snuggles.

LOL bpathome, mine would be more inclined to make a raspberry noise at the cat, then dive bomb it. I did read a story once about a parrot who observed the dog scolded by the owners for scratching at the door. After the dog eventually stopped, the parrot took to mimicking the scratching noise and the dog was scolded again until the owners got wise. Then, the parrot turned to making the scratching noise and immediately scolding the dog himself! :D I'm glad my two small parrots aren't so articulate as to be able to do that (yet - one can do a pretty good water gurgling though)!

You all have great animal stories...love the one about the parrot and the dog! And the big kitty, how did he know the bear was even in there?! Was he spying on you gift-wrapping? Or did he read his own name on the tag? Or smell the bear's catnip stuffing?

Yeah, there's no keeping them off the counters, too smart for us. They'll know when the traps and repellers aren't set, they'll know when the parrot has laryngitis, and SWOOSH up they'll go in a cloud of fur. That's why we love them...most of the time.

The funniest story I ever heard was about this lady who bragged and bragged how her dog never, ever, gets on furniture.

One day her neighbor told her she had a beautiful dog. The lady asked "Did it get out?" Meaning out of the house. "No" replied the lady, "She lays on the DR table all day looking out the window while you're at work."

They're gonna do what they wanna do regarding getting on counters and tables. Lizzie is my only cat, she drinks from the faucet (she has this thing about fresh water, not bowl water) and I keep my granite washed down several times a day. She doesn't get on there to walk around, she gets her water and leaves.

Since urinary infections are common and lethal to female cats, I let her have all the water she wants. As long as I keep the counter clean, it's no big deal.

There was no catnip. I get 'kids' toys for the cats...they chew up kitty toys and kids toys are more durable. He went through each bag, found one of the two small bears (one was for his brother) and carried it around the house...he was very proud of himself :)

Lavender_lass,

That's almost scary how smart your kitty is, he sounds wonderful.
I think most dogs and cats are a lot smarter than we give them credit for sometimes.
After all, they let us work and provide food and shelter for them while they mostly sleep all day.
They are so worth it, though.

I gave up years ago!

He was very smart at times, but his 'brother' was even smarter. Little D (short for Demon) was a black kitty, with probably a lot of Siamese. When we would shine a flashlight on the wall, our Maine Coon cat, Tavi (short for Riki-Tiki-Tavi) would jump up at the wall and try to 'grab' the light. D looked at my husband (holding the flashlight) looked at the wall, looked at Tavi (shook his head, I swear LOL) and sat there, in mild disgust. I think he was trying to tell Tavi...Dude, it's a flashlight. He's holding it in his hand...you can't catch light!

Dawn- Cute picture! :)

I know many of us are "grossed out" by having a cat on the countertops, but I often wonder what difference it makes. I grew up with a beloved cat (she lived to be 21 and was with me as a baby) whose food and water were on the counter. The dog would have eaten her food otherwise. She went outside too ( at the time it was more the norm) so dirt from outside, the germs from those dead birds she would leave on the doorstep were all there next to my sandwich makings.

And, and, yet, I survived and am healthy! How is that even possible? I admit, I have a slight germaphobia today, love hand sanitizer, but that carefree childhood youth most likely built up my immune system.

It's not the germs from outside that gross me out, it's the germs/bacteria from the cat stepping in its litter box and then being spread to areas where food is prepared and eaten.

If you keep the litter box clean...then that's usually not a problem :)

These are not my kitties...mine are on the sofa but I saved this because it is so cute and says what I think mine are thinking when they are cuddled up like this.
Cute isn't it?
I just had to share since cats are the subject............and
a great subject too!!

That is an adorable picture!!
I see it is is from Icanhascheezburger.com. I love that site, have it bookmarked.

Sometimes, if I'm having a hard time and things don't look bright, I go over there and look at the pictures and they always make me smile and feel better. And while I'm looking, I can pet my kitty and the dogs that are sleeping at my feet.

Sometimes, if one takes the time to count one's blessings (between the kitty, the dogs and a few other critters I have a lot of blessings) life starts to brighten up again.

I'm thankful for this thread and for the people who have reminded me by their posts and pictures, of what is really important.

Here is a link that might be useful: Icanhascheezburger

This post was edited by lucille on Thu, Sep 19, 13 at 21:37

I agree lucille.
I use to post here all the time under a name that was
taken for my life and my home I loved.
I posted lots of pictures.
My dh passed away 5 yrs ago and 2 years later I sold our home and moved.
I had to change my GW sigh-on name because it was a reminder of a life that was near perfect. Silly, I know , but we do what ever it takes to make life easier.

I don't do any decorating, painting or etc anymore but
this forum calls to me because it is like a big family.
I love that its curtains and sinks and books and bread
and laughs and fur-babies and love.

Lots of different people on here now ......a few of the oldies and STILL such a great helpful bunch of very talented people.
I love this place and nothing brings me as many smiles as my grandd, my furbabies and reading the witty humor and the looking at such talent in everyones pictures.
Sorry to high-jack your thread with my Bio. :)

Citywoman,

I am so sorry for your loss, and I am glad you are here. You describe very well the attributes of this forum, it is like a big family.

Dawn_t, is that a comforter under the lace table cloth? You gave up AND embraced it!

Lavender_lass, I love the inspiration pics you have elsewhere, and am picturing cats on the dining room wing chairs by the fireplace, or on the windowseat when the cardinals are out. They may never make it onto the table.

Lucille and Citywoman, you are so right. And everyone here is so creative and get the brain going!

Perhaps this is the optimal thread to ask this .. I've been searching high and low for a cat-proof flower vase. It must be heavy enough that it can't be pushed over but tall enough to hold gladiolus. I'm envisioning something that's big and flat and round with a big tube emerging from its center ...? Maybe something like an oversized wine decanter, but out of ceramic?

Anyone seen or have a vase like this? My often-drenched dining table would be ever so grateful.

Circuspeanut,

I'm just brainstorming here. Measure your favorite vase that can hold gladiolus like you want.
Then call your local community college welding school and ask if they can think up something like a simple yet decorative heavy metal base that they could make to hold the vase.

Such an invention might be useful to many of us with cats.
One that would be adjustable would be even better so one could use different vases with the same base.

City woman- I am so sorry for your loss. I came close to being in the same situation this past year. I just wanted to say ((hugs)) and don't you give up on your creative side. I understand wanting or having to change...but you are still a very talented person with a lot to offer. Don't give up that side of yourself. You jump right back in and start decorating. If you're like me (financial mess right now) go to Goodwill or reuse things you already have. Creativity has nothing to do with money, it just gives you more options. Take care of yourself and know that you're not alone. Take care :)

Tavi and D. are no longer with us...they lived long happy lives...but this little guy, Purr Meister, is 'helping' me move furniture around recently. {{!gwi}}From Home pictures

I neglected to confess that there might be someone with
a Shih Tzu that has been known to sneak on the table
when he gets the drift food is going to appear.
The second the table cloth goes on..............this is what
would happen every time.
This was made at my former home. I started putting done a strip of tin foil..............worked every time.
The cats never tried the table.........just my little boy.......
go figure.

He is adorable!!!(And looks to be quite the well fed doggie)

I would like to echo what Lavender Lass said, about not giving up on decorating or anything that brings you happiness now.

City woman- Such a cute picture! What a sweetie :)

Bpathome- Thank you. I think pictures can give you such a great feeling for the 'space' or what you'd like to do...that a plan alone cannot convey. One of my favorites...but not my home. {{gwi:1422907}}From Lavender Lass farmhouse pictures

I've caught my 50 pound dog standing on top of the dining room table - I was shocked! She's trained me to ensure the chairs are always tucked under the table to prevent her table surfing.

If you aren't using a tablecloth get some museum putty (amazon) and stick it to the bottom of the vase and it won't get knocked over. The putty won't harm table surfaces either.

I have to do this with my breakables and it really came in handy!

I wanted to share this from the pet forum...
Funny stuff for cat lovers.

Here is a link that might be useful: Cats In Boxes

Lucille, I have to admit I have not been successful with training cats. I think I almost gave one of my previous cats a nervous breakdown by throwing keys near him to discourage climbing the Christmas tree. This was a recommended method of training but I couldn't continue as he became very nervous. He eventually grew up and never climbed it again.

Before I had cats as an adult (had only had them as a child previously) I was appalled when a friend allowed her cats on the kitchen counter. Now that I have had various cats for the last 26 years I understand how difficult it is to 'teach' some of them. I now have 2 cats and only one of them jumps on the table or counter when I am in the room. When I tell her to get down she obeys so I suspect she does it for attention and may not do it when I am not home. However I do clean all surfaces well before prepping food as I don't really know.

Only once did I find my 12 pound dog on the table but try to always keep the chairs pushed in as it could be dangerous for her if she jumped off.

I now leave tablecloths off until immediately before a meal and only use a placemat or small cloth under the tablecenterpiece daily. I've washed too many tablecloths 'just because' the cat probably used it as a bed.

Thanks forboystoo for that link - so cute. Some pics in that link reminded me of how my big Maine Coon likes to sleep in the guest room bath sink which is not a large sink. He fills it but seems very comfortable there. When I can't find him that's where he often is - sound asleep. He has never to my knowledge jumped on tables or countertops altho does sometimes sleep on the kitchen sideboard. Not a health hazard as it's never used for food prep.

Luckygal- Oh my gosh...your boy reminds me so much of my Tavi! What a handsome guy...and he looks quite at home, on the dresser :)

Tavi's one bad habit...I could not leave roses on the dining room table. My boyfriend (now husband) was living in a different city and would send them to me for my birthday and Christmas. Tavi would very carefully pull all the baby's breath out of the arrangement...and then chew the dry stems into smaller pieces. He didn't touch the roses, but what a mess! (LOL) Other than that, he was a very good boy.

When we installed our sink last spring, it took exactly 2 minutes for our cat to check it out. They just can't resist.

Off topic (but it's a decorating forum so I guess it's OK) but Beaches that is a wonderful spot for a sink, very clever.

I have several dogs, one is a very old chi who is totally in love with my grown son. When my son visits, Mojo dances around like a puppy, leaps up on my son's lap, and gets on the table only for a minute then I lift him off. He never does that when my son is not there.
An interesting update on the cat.
I've decided just to clean the tabletop and put a tablecloth or mats on right before eating. But since I removed the placemats that were there and left the tabletop bare (except for the candy dish), she doesn't seem to want to stay up there as much, I guess the fabric mats made the table top more comfy.

Fun thread - I love people who love animals. My cats and I observe a "social compact." They stay off the table and counters WHEN I AM HOME - well at least when I can see them. I often head toward the kitchen and hear a THUD before I enter the room. Oh well . . .

On a serious note: I have used the Scat Mats very successfully to keep my cats off certain pieces of furniture. They give a minor shock - unpleasant, NOT painful. I know this because I have occasionally forgotten about them and sat down on one. The sensation was startling; it got my attention immediately. Needless to say, it was uproariously funny to family members who saw me do it or heard about it.