Keeping Cat Off Table!

pinkquartz, I agree. I also think it is cruel. BUT the alternative is a risky outside life. And they ARE adopted strays so whatever life I'm giving them is better than their alternative (although my DGS may be a bridge too far as far as the mogs are concerned).

I got one of those heatproof tops in a dept store. It was cut to size and can be rolled up when not in use.

Awwww he is so beautiful though Lyndiloo (and is the little girl) I find my cats had a 'flavour of the month' Kept moving about even when bought their own super comfy beds to sleep in. This included hard surfaces like mantle shelves too!!!! I just gave up but I can see why you don't want your new table scratched. Only thing can suggest, if you can't shut him out, is one of those heat proof tops that my mother in law had - kind of rubber or something? Not sure where you get them but does seem to be a lot of faffing about especially as you would only need to go upstairs and he could be on it!!!! Oh...the joys..... ha ha ha

It seems cruel to keep a cat indoors all the time. They are meant to be outside as well as inside.
But at least your cats are not using your neighbour's garden as their toilet.

Some years ago I had a herb bed dug and the herbs planted and the from across the road kept pooing in it.
I never used the herbs. Ever.

In my experience they do know they are not supposed to go onto tables and counters it's just whether or not the cat decides to obey.

I have had cats they seem to be very good and one that just waited til I wasn't looking. But he was very adorable.
Some cats do want you to be happy and some just do not care.

I don't like cats near my food. Also because of cat hairs. Which are gross in people food. I do know people where it is quite likely to find cat hair in mugs or food and I won't do that anymore. it is UGH.

Crumpled foil wouldn’t help in our house my two run round the house carrying it in their mouths n playing with it like a football, wouldn’t relish the thought of putting urine on top of the table, for outside cats my neighbour put a bit of cable on her grass. When I asked her about it she said it keeps the cats away they don’t like it. I personally would use orange peel cats don’t like the smell

GagaJo Yes, seriously! And your neighbours won't know - unless you tell them!

Lyndiloo, seriously???? I have a donor, just not sure how the neighbours will feel about me lobbing wee around!

Gagajo - human male urine is your answer! If you don't have a human male of your own to call on, maybe you could ask a kindly neighbour for a bottleful. (Would make a change from a cup of sugar!)

The crumpled foil sounds like a useful idea - not for my table - but handy to bear in mind.

Cats are wonderful.

My cat kept jumping on the cooker top and I found a piece of crumpled kitchen foil on the top of it, put her off. Cats seem to hate the feel and sound of it.
A couple of tries and my cat gave up.

I feel for you! I have a problem with a neighbours cat. It used to use the gravel in my drive as big cat litter and poo in it. I tried vinegar, disinfectant, pepper. Nothing worked.

Eventually, I gave up and had the drive concreted. What does the bloody cat do? Poo on the concrete!

I AM a cat lover btw. But my cats are house cats.

The table is in the kitchen/diner - where the cat-flap is, so we couldn't lock him out.

I guess the only way is to use the table-protector (which we use when the grandchildren come and play at the table). Such a faff, though. Might try the saucer of vinegar tonight ... Bloody cat! And he really has no right to be here at all! An adopted stray - who now thinks he owns the place!

I am another who has successfully trained all my cats to keep of tables and the kitchen work top.

As yours is only on the table at night, he knows it is wrong, so you might just get him to stop. Might being the operative word.

A saucer of vinegar on the table might help, most cats dislike the smell.

If there is a door to the room the table is in, close it before going to bed, after making sure the cat isn't already on or under the table.

Claws go through cloths though, if the need arises I’ll be using my old baking tins.

Yes but you would be using the cloth purely for the purpose of stopping the cat scratching the table LadyGracie, it could be removed in the morning.

Yes Baking tins make a noise and frighten the cat and possibly wakes you up, it also stops the cat getting on table/worktop.

A cloth would not. I like the glass idea though.

I have a piece of clear glass over my dining table to protect it, it's almost impossible to see it so not obtrusive. I had it cut to size by a glazier who them bevelled the edges.

Baking tins poised to fall off in the night and wake up the whole household!! A tablecloth would be quieter.

I like the idea of cats coming running to the sound of the rattle tin. I guess my cats .... well, they were kittens when I was training them .... were just scaredy-cats and so it worked.

I was told that cats don't like the smell of oranges and I used an orange scented cleaning spray. I don't know if it's still made by Flash. It seemed to work. I also kept a bowl of oranges on the counter.

We shut the lounge door at night, and when we are out, as there are some breakable items in there, and they may have a mad 5 minutes. Agree with Bluebelle, table cloth at night or door shut is the only safe answer.

Ours are not allowed on worktop, clapped hands and a firm voice work. What they do when we are not around is another matter. So I disinfect worktops regularly. Hygiene is needed with all pets (and humans).

My cat understands the word no when I put my finger upright and close to her face.

Put a tablecloth on..........

In my opinion, animals are much cleaner than a lot of humans. Not many men seem to wash their hands after they have been to the toilet but a cat washes itself constantly.

Sorry Hooty I missed your post.