Posted by Solstice on September 23, 2011, at 10:18:21
In reply to Re: Squirting cats, posted by jane d on September 22, 2011, at 1:11:50
> > A squirt of water is a good way to help train the cats on what not to do. I think being on countertops and tables should be discouraged. Keep a spray bottle or water pistol handy at all times.
>
> I've done this when desperate. But my experience is that all it teaches that cat is either to not jump up when you're around or to not jump up when you're around and have the water pistol handy. At this point I think I'd only use it for an urgent situation like breaking up a fight.Yeah.. I've never found water squirting to be very effective either.
Here are some alternatives:
1. There are commercially made cat repellants. The avoid certain odors. Citrus is one of them. Maybe you could keep a bowl of stuff on your table and include a lemon or lime, opening it.
2. Cats are very picky about what they put their feet on. You *could* cover your table with strips of tape that is sticky side up. Maybe leave spots on the edge big enough for a plate (so you csn keep using it). After the cat has done that a time or two, they'll avoid the table like crazy. You just have to leave the tape up long enough for the cat to try it when you are, and aren't there - I'd say a couple of weeks- and then take it off gradually - around the edges first and work toward the middle. Maybe leave some tape hanging off the side of the table will startle his memory about what might be up there if he jumps :-)
4. Works in flower gardens too. Broken up pine cones will keep neighborhood cats from using your garden as a litter box. I use lava rocks that lay amongst my plants. Cats hate the hard, rough and pointy surface.
poster:Solstice
thread:997118
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20110910/msgs/997655.html