Please help! I'm at wit's end with this boy!

[Lobodeb]

I'm really losing patience with Payton. He is a terrible counter jumper. That is a big no no in my house. I have almost every possible flat surface covered with sticky paws. When we were away on vacation, he got progressively worse. He would go in the bathroom, knock down towels, toilet paper (which then is fair game to Maggy to shred), etc.

Over the weekend, I had left a bag of raw ground beef in the sink to thaw. We went to the store and came back to find the meat on the floor, a whole with teeth marks in the bag and half of the meat gone. Sammy has never gotten on the counters, and I leave meat out all the time, pre-Payton. Maggy has a very sensitive stomach and I'm worried about her eating so much raw meat. Besides, he doesn't need to be on the counters. He's not starving. There is no need for it.

Well, my hubby just called, and he did it again. I put a bowl on top of the meat so it wouldn't be as tempting to no avail. He got it again! On top of that, he found some other places where I hadn't yet put sticky paws and knocked more things down. Namely, my husband's sports collectibles! My house looks like a huge fly trap, and yet, Payton still keeps finding things to get into. He doesn't do it when we're there, which angers me even more because I know he knows he's not supposed to be up on things and waits until we leave.

I don't know what else to do, but with a baby coming, I feel there isn't much more I can do.

Any suggestions?

[catnapper]

No advice, only I know people with cats that like to be up high and they simply learned to put things behind doors that they don't want knocked over by their cat. Yet one more thing about life with cats that isn't perfect.

None of mine get up on counters, so I can't help at all. Pouncer DOES get up and knocks stuff over on my desk and such.... which isn't bad now since I have learned to actually put my folders away like they should be anyway.... so he just helps me keep a clean office! LOL

[jazzcat]

The only way I broke Ripley from jumping on the counters was to spray him with water every time I caught him. It took a long time to sink in, that or he got too old to jump that high.

As for the meat, I've always heard you shouldn't thaw it at room temp. Maybe putting in the fridge to thaw all day will take care of your problem and it's safer.

Ripley was so bad into everything that for about a year I wore a small water bottle on my belt. It was the only way to make him understand. He eventually got to the point where I only had to shake it to make him behave.

[Lobodeb]

The only way I broke Ripley from jumping on the counters was to spray him with water every time I caught him.

I would love to do that, but a) he only does it when I'm not home and b) he loves water.

As for the meat, I've always heard you shouldn't thaw it at room temp. Maybe putting in the fridge to thaw all day will take care of your problem and it's safer.

Thanks for the health tip. I haven't had any problem this far, but I'll try that for health reasons, but it still doesn't prevent him from knocking down other things in the house.

[jackie]

Maybe when you are out, you can put him in one room, and shut the door. It's not the greatest solution, but all I can think of for the moment. It is hard when you can't catch him in the act.

[Donnaj4962]

I gave up trying to keep my girls off the counters, tables, etc. They are actually very good though, as they rarely knock things off when they are there. (Okay, except for the Sasha and the evil bag monster incident of a few weeks ago!)

They mostly just sit there and watch out the window or watch what I am doing. Most people srown at me when they come over and see them on the table or counters. But hey, it OUR house, and we can do as we please!

I am sorry I don't have any advice for you... as I just gave up. But I can understand your concern since things are being eaten that should't be and things being broken that are valuable. I hope someone else can offer some advice for you that will work.

[Lobodeb]

Did I mention that he's a sock thief? I actually caught him in the act!




I even found his "stash."


I also found him with some evidence.

[orangemm]

Payton, what a bad boy you are!!! I can see why your meowmie has problems disciplining you, you have such a sweet face.

And, what's with the socks? Are your feet cold???

Wish I had some good advice for you. My guys get on the counters sometimes, but not too often. I do use the spray bottle and Archy jumps right down when I show it to him.

[jackie]

Those pics are so sweet. I bet you can't stay mad at that darling for long.

[Soapets]

Sorry, but I am DEFINITELY not the right person to try to help solve this problem! I laughed at the pictures of the little "sock theif"! How can any one get angry at such a cute, innocent looking little face! He didn't REALLY steal them. I bet he was just trying to CATCH the 'real' theif! He was probably taking the sock that you caught him with back to where it belonged! And the others that were hidden, well, he COULDN'T have been the one to do that! If he DID, it was only because he was trying to hide them from the 'real' theif!

As for the counters, don't you know that they belong to HIM, and anything you put on them for now is HIS? Your other kitties must have learned to be really generous if they actually let you use the counters, sink, etc., without investigating what you're using it for!

See, I TOLD you I'm NOT a good one to try to help you find a solution to your problem! I sure hope you can find something that works, though....

Deb

[Don Juan's mom]

Over the weekend, I had left a bag of raw ground beef in the sink to thaw. We went to the store and came back to find the meat on the floor, a whole with teeth marks in the bag and half of the meat gone.

It isn't safe to thaw meat at room temperature. Put it in the refrigerator, or thaw it in the microwave.

On top of that, he found some other places where I hadn't yet put sticky paws and knocked more things down. Namely, my husband's sports collectibles!

Two words: QUAKE WAX. (TM)

[catmandu]

Actually I am not one to give advice.

The Cats are pretty good when it comes,to counters,excet when JJJ3,and Scrappy 2,think,that there are TREATS!
My Scanned Photo,is Pouncer,and Mr Scrappy,befote they got friendly,20 years ago.

[G535]

Cats just have to be up on top of things, not much you can do. I also gave up years ago and every home I have had belonged to whichever cats I had at the time.

[Lightning SuperCat]

I squirt Lightning, and that works, so I don't have any idea about what else to say. I love the pictures of the adorable sock thief!!!

[chocolatepuppy]

My Missy isn't much of a jumper,too lazy, so she seldom gets on my kitchen counters. Sassy, on the other hand, gets up on everything! She likes to visit my fish. I never leave food lying around though because then they have a reason to get up there. They both know they're not allowed on the counters so they usually do it when I'm not home. Something I just have to live with, therefore no food left on the counter! I have one tall counter surfing dog also so it simply means, like I said, no food on the counter.