🐾 Cats on the Counter… What Do I Do?
Published On: 8/7/2025
Last Updated On: 8/7/2025
By Callie, Seymour, Yebba, and Mama
Catch more claws-out reviews on The Cat’s Meow →
🚨 The Great Countertop Takeover (Confessions of a Reformed Climber)
Calico cat Yebba standing confidently on a kitchen counter next to a coffee maker, looking wide-eyed and slightly guilty.
Yebba here.
I used to treat the kitchen counter like it was my personal red carpet. I strut. I loaf. I nap next to the coffee machine. Why? Because it's there. It’s warm. It smells delicious. And because I can.
So when our hoomans started acting like the floor was lava and yelling “OFF!” every three minutes, we were confused. Isn’t this the Cat Kingdom?
Apparently not.
🧠 Why Do Cats Jump on Counters Anyway?
Before you panic (or Google “how to train a cat like a dog”), let’s unpack the real reasons we leap:
🌡️ Warmth: Counters are toasty.
🍗 Smells: You leave snacks. We find them.
🪟 High Views: We’re predators. We like height.
🧼 Clean Vibes: Counters are cleaner than floors. #Facts
We want to be apart of your world… because you are our entire world!
In other words… it’s not defiance. It’s instinct.
🙀 What Doesn’t Work (According to Mama)
Yelling – Just makes us jump and judge you.
Spray bottles – Traumatizing. We remember.
Sticky tape – We’ll find the one clean spot.
Aluminum foil – One paw step and we’re out, but also now we hate the kitchen.
““I came home to my house soaked in blood. Everywhere. We learned the hard way, DON’T USE SPIKES TO KEEP CATS OFF THINGS!”
✅ What Actually Works (Yebba-Approved)
Want to keep us off the counter without losing your mind or your dignity? Try these:
Yebba, from Stray Cat News enjoying her cat tower while her hoomans cook dinner
1. Provide Alternatives
Cat trees near windows
Elevated shelves or cat bridges
Bar stools or safe “lookout” zones
NEW* They started making cat beds that attach to tables and kitchen counter tops. (Never used, if you try it out email me and let me know how it works - meow@straycatcollective.com
2. Make the Counter Boring
No food left out
No cozy cloths or towels
No potted plants to knock over (sorry)
Yebba the cat uses the cat wall instead of going on the counter = success!
3. Positive Redirection
Reward us when we use the designated cat spot instead. Treats. Praise. Full royal ceremony, if needed.
4. Enrichment = Less Mischief
Vertical spaces
Daily playtime (feather wand = magic)
Outside time if allowed (safely, with leases or training!) ((or if you’re a senior like Callie, check out this cat stroller mom got!) ⬇️ ⬇️
callie cat from stray cat news berks county pa in her cat stroller
🧼 Yebba’s Final Meow: You’re Doing Great
We know it’s frustrating. But we’re not trying to be jerks—we’re just… curious little climbers with abandonment trauma and big dreams.
You don’t need to punish. You just need a plan.
And we’re here to help.
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