As much as we love to have our companion buddies around, they can be a real big pain in the you-know-what from time to time, especially when your cats end up on your counters or tables. Occasionally, you might hear of a cat owner who simply told the cat sternly "No!" and never had to deal with the problem again. For most cat owners, however, that situation could be farther from the truth. While a stern yell might get them off at that instant, that won't prevent them from getting back on your tables and counters while you're gone.
Luckily, through the ingenuity and cleverness of cat owners themselves, some traps have been devised to keep them off. These techniques do work, although the duration of its efficacy is questionable. Because cats are generally stubborn, they might eventually become immune to these tactics.
Before anything else, though, make sure that there is something to keep your cat entertained. They love high places and exploring, so they will naturally want to go as high as they can simply because it's in their nature. Invest in a cat tree and make it interesting from time to time by hiding a treat in a cubby hole or on the highest perch. Make it even more interesting by hanging a toy directly above the cat tree. It's amazing how a simple thing like that can keep them entertained for a good while.
You can lay down double-sided tape onto your counters and tables. Cats generally do not like having anything stuck onto their paws and will associate the tape to hopping up on the counters. Some people have also tried sprinkling dried pepper flakes or cayenne, but that doesn't really sound like a good idea. For one, the cat might not lick his paws when he's on the counter, so he won't even know that the peppers came from the counter.
Cats hate loud, startling noises. Period. An airhorn will do the trick, but you have to make sure that your cat doesn't see you using it when he jumps up. There is also the can trick, which requires you to tie several cans at the end of a long string that is placed atop your counter. This string acts like a trip wire, and when your cat hops up, he will trip on the wire and cause the cans to make a huge, clattering noise.
If homemade concoctions do not work, there are gadgets you can invest in. One such gadget is a motion-sensor spray. Simply place the spray where you want to keep the cat away, and when it detects the cat, it will shoot out a spray that is sure to scare. One other deterrent is a Scat Mat, which is a placemat-like device that delivers a small static shock when it is stepped on. Although some cat owners think it an inhumane device, it is really no different than yelling at or spraying the cat with water.
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