Cute as it may be your kitty’s benchtop surfing is also kind of gross. Follow these tips on how to keep cats off the bench.
Perplexing cat behaviours
Cat behaviour is both wildly entertaining and, at times, perplexing. But one thing cat lovers do know is that kitties crave spaces with bird’s-eye views to observe their world – you know, like kitchen benchtops. But if you’re trying to keep foods toxic to cats away from your little lion, or you’re just fed up with constantly cleaning your kitchen to get rid of cat hair and little pieces of cat litter, here’s how to keep cats off benchtops for good.
Why do cats like to climb on benchtops?
It’s a curious conundrum: Why do cats like to hang out on our benchtops in the first place?
“Cats are both predators and prey, so being able to survey their territory from above keeps them safe from predators and allows them to spot prey to catch,” says Samantha Bell, a cat expert. That’s understandable, but domestic cats don’t have to catch their food, and they certainly don’t have to worry about predators, so why do they like to be up on the benchtop so much?
“Benchtops are so attractive to cats because they’re up high, sturdy, right in the middle of the action and full of food,” Bell says. (Which may be one reason your cat licks you when you’re making a meal – it smells food on your hands.)
Your actions can reinforce this benchtop-jumping habit. If you pet and talk to your cat while it’s on the benchtop, it’ll quickly learn that this is a place where it can get attention, says Ragen T.S. McGowan, PhD, an animal behaviour scientist with Purina. “Many cats will jump up on the benchtop just to be close to their human family members,” she says.
Can you train a cat to not be on your benchtops?
Absolutely, but there are two vital cat facts you should know when it comes to how to keep cats off benchtops, Bell says. To start, you can’t extinguish instinctive behaviours, like climbing high to be near the action.
Furthermore – and this is a biggie – punishment doesn’t work. In fact, it can even cause cat anxiety and destructive behaviours.
Here are a few ways you can teach your kitty to stay off your benchtops for good.
Remove the reward
You can train a cat to do a lot of things, and yes, staying off the benchtops is one of them. Here’s a critical question to ask when figuring out how to keep cats off benchtops: What is your cat’s reward for benchtop surfing?
We know our feline friends hop on benchtops to get food and attention and to socialise with humans. Maybe your cat is motivated by one or all of those factors. Or maybe it loves watching birds out the kitchen window. Whatever the case may be, you can train a cat to stay off the benchtops by removing rewards and positive reinforcement, McGowan says.
Let’s say your cat is curious about the water dripping from the sink tap, likes to watch birds out the window or wants to nibble on food left on the benchtop. “Remove the reward by drawing the shades, fixing the tap or removing food from the benchtops, when possible,” says McGowan.
And don’t fall into the trap of rewarding this bad behaviour. “For many cats, even the act of picking them up off the benchtop is rewarding and thus reinforces the behaviour,” says McGowan. Think about it: Your cat may rub against you while it’s on the benchtop and purr when you pick it up – both ways cats show affection. When you pick it up, you’re giving affection and attention and essentially telling your cat that climbing on the benchtop is a good way to get cuddles.
Redirect the cat’s attention
Your cat may be climbing to get your attention, but before you give in and pet it, redirect its attention from the benchtop. “If their motivation is touch [being picked up or petted], then tossing a treat or toy and petting them only after they are on the floor can help to redirect them,” says McGowan.
As tempting as it is, don’t pet your cat when it’s on the benchtop, as this can inadvertently reward the behaviour. Instead, call your cat to another part of the kitchen before giving it a treat or toy. Otherwise, McGowan says, it might learn a new trick: “If I get on the benchtop, Mum or Dad will throw a treat.”
Consistently provide the rewards when your cat is not on the benchtop, and it’ll learn that being in other places gets it a reward, according to McGowan.
Teach it that benchtops are boring
It’s the old switcheroo! With this technique, you’re training your cat to choose a new place to hang out, one that’s still at the height level it prefers. Place a tall chair or stool near the benchtop, then reward your four-legged friend each time it sits there.
We know what you’re thinking: This sounds counter-intuitive. Won’t the cat use the barstool to jump onto the benchtop? “Yes, but they were getting on the benchtop anyway. The point is that you only reward them when they’re on the stool,” says Bell. “When you catch your cat on the stool, reward them with something of great value to them.”
Don’t place the cat on the stool yourself. But you can lure it up to the stool by putting treats on it. If your cat jumps up on the benchtop during this training phase, play it cool. Remember, some cats have learned that being picked up from the benchtop means they’re going to get affection and cuddles. “Don’t say anything. Don’t look at them. Just quickly and gently set them on the ground,” says Bell.
The goal is to show your cat there is nothing exciting about being on the benchtop. It only gets rewarded when it’s on the stool or high chair. “They learn quickly which location gets rewarded,” Bell adds.
Granted, training takes some time and patience, but once cats realise rewards come when they’re on the barstool, you’ll have cat-free benchtops, Bell says. Once your pet nails the behaviour, you can stop giving it treats every time it gets on the stool. “That could cause a slot machine behaviour effect of ‘I’ll keep trying until I win,’” she says.
Set up cat-climbing alternatives
You’ve probably heard the saying “location, location, location.” It tops the wish list of most hopeful home buyers. For cats, that location is vertical. “Cats are drawn to high places to perch and survey the world, as they feel more secure from a high vantage point,” McGowan says. You can satisfy their desire for elevated living without sacrificing your clean benchtops.
For a simple and free option, Bell suggests putting a nightstand close to a dresser so your cat can easily jump to the dresser. Make it extra comfy and put a cosy blanket or cat bed on top of the dresser.
You can give your cat a bird’s-eye view with products that put it at eye level with the action – wall shelves and bridges, window seats perfect for cat naps and cat trees with built-in scratching posts, toys and plush hideaways.
These benchtop alternatives don’t just provide coveted vertical space. They also offer ways for cats to express additional instinctive behaviours, like scratching and hiding, Bell says.
