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

[smokey the elder]

I learned the hard way not to leave meat on the counter. Right after I got Bosun, I had half a chicken sub on the counter, to eat later. I went to get it, and found it on the floor, chicken missing! Meat gets stored OUT of reach from now on. Bosun will try to "inspect" what I'm doing when I'm cooking; I ask her, "should you be up here?" and she gives me a dirty look and gets down.

If the squirt bottle doesn't work, the coins in a can to make a loud noise might.

[Craftlady]

We went 4 years with having kitties and no one adventured up onto counters in the kitchen. In last year, Skinny, Eleanor and now Cindy have found the counters. Cindy is the roamer or the counters. Eleanor just lays on the straw mat next to the sink and sleeps.
In the living room I keep all the valuable collectables up on higher shelves on the credenza. Skinny only wants to lay on the open bottom portion. I have a squirt bottle handy when I'm home.
As for the kitchen, Cindy gets drenched during dinnertime with the squirt bottle. She has to inspect everything near the stove, sink area. She now jumps down when she sees the squirt bottle in mom's hand. LOL

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

Two words: QUAKE WAX. (TM)

Or I've found what they call Museum Putty. I found it at The Container Store, but I know you can get it elsewhere. There are two versions, the white pasty looking stuff and some clear more liquidy looking stuff. I use the white pasty stuff because it's cheaper and I'm not attaching crystal or anything. We use this stuff in the motorhome and let me tell you - IT WORKS!!! It is non-marring and non-permanent, but once you stick something down, it would definitely take more than an earthquake - or a kitty slipping by - to knock it down!

The only other advice I can possibly think of is, like someone else mentioned, put him in a closed room while you're gone. When Tubby was very very young, he was really quite the terror kitty. I would come home from work to find the house in a shambles. One time every single cusion on the couch was on the floor - strewed throughout the living room not just right by the couch! I never figured out how a tiny 8 lb cat moved at least 8 lb cusions, but the evidence was right in front of my eyes (and why I didn't take a picture I'll never know). Anyway, to solve this I put Tubby in the basement during the day while I was at work. It was a nice basement, not finished but with all sorts of interesting stuff for a kitty to investigate and sniff with plenty of natural light coming in. He didn't suffer down there, and my house stayed relatively intact.

However, I also have to mention that once he got a little older, he did calm down, but he never lost his love for counters, and he was never barred from them. There is no place in our house that is off limits to our cats. You just have to get used to it and kitty-proof your house....which you're pretty much going to have to do if you're having a baby anyway. Kitty-proof, baby-proof, same thing.

[Lobodeb]

I talked to my hubby about the museum putty. He's very skeptical and fears that it would damage his stuff. He also said that it doesn't solve the problem about Payton being where he doesn't belong. I have to agree. I don't need the house Payton proof, I need him to stay off the counters, shelves, etc. I have never had this much trouble with any other cat that's owned me, and they've owned me all my life.

I tried locking him in a room by himself today and that didn't work either. He destroyed that room. My husband has a bunch of throwback jerseys and he knocked them all down. Then he took all my shirts off the hangers. I ended up calling my MIL to let him out. He managed to destroy a room in 1 hour.

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

I talked to my hubby about the museum putty. He's very skeptical and fears that it would damage his stuff. He also said that it doesn't solve the problem about Payton being where he doesn't belong. I have to agree. I don't need the house Payton proof, I need him to stay off the counters, shelves, etc.

Well first of all, if the museum putty doesn't damage priceless objects in museums, I'm sure it will be ok on your husband's sports memorabilia. Secondly, what is going to damage it more, museum putty or being dropped to the floor from a high shelf? Thirdly, you are not going to keep Payton off counters, shelves, etc., so the best thing to do is secure the items that are there so they can't fall.

Since you say you've had cats before, I'm surpised you haven't figured out by now that cats are going to do what they want to do, whether we want them to do it or not. My suggestion for the future - adopt only older adult cats and stay away from kittens who are much more active and likely to jump on things.

[catnapper]

I agree with Deb. He is a KITTEN. Kittens are known to be exactly where they KNOW they are not allowed to be.

If he's on the counter after food all the time.... how often do you feed him? Kittens require a LOT of food. I feed mine every few hours. A little each time, but they get fed every few hours. Reduce the frequency as they get older. By a year old, you can be down to two or three times a day.

As far as knocking figurines over, well, the putty is a good solution. I guess I have graceful kitties, because they've never knocked over any of my collectibles, but then again, I don't react when they are up there. I just roll my eyes and ignore it. Its when we humans react that things come crashing down. They tense up because they see us reacting and then they knock things over. Of course, there are the cats who think its fun to knock stuff over. And if Payton is doing that, then perhaps a playmate or more playing time will help that.... because that stems from boredom. Is he doing it while you're not home? He's probably bored bored bored.

[Lobodeb]

I feed him 5 times a day. 4 times are kibble and once a night is canned food. I don't know that he gets all the kibble however, since Sammy tends to eat what's left over. But then again, Payton eats what Sammy leaves behind.

I, too, think he's bored. He only does this when we're not home. We play with him constantly when we are home, or he sleeps. I realize he's a kitten, but I've never had one this obstinant.

Next question. How do I keep him entertained for 8 hours a day?

[DJFyrewolf36]

Onyx is a little terrorist. Kittens by and large are explorers and Onyx is no exception. He is up on counters and in cabinets...basically any place he can get himself into (and not necicerily out of lol). He's getting better about things though, I think mostly because someone is home with him a lot of the time. Kittens are attention hogs, the more you give them the better. I've noticed they respond to emotional reactions...if you see a kitten doing something naw-tee the worst thing you can do is blow your stack because they love to get a reaction of some type out of you.

Cats are smart critters and they KNOW what displeases you and what doesnt. Kittens especially like to test boundries. I almost was driven to re-home Onyx, but I decided to stick it out because I knew he was just being a kitten.

Payton is going to explore as all kittens do. Don't be angry at him for being a kitten, be happy that you can watch him grow! He will get better as he learns what boundries he can push and what boundries he can't push.

*EDIT* As for keeping him occupied while you're not home...I wish I had advice for you. Spook and Remus pretty much are my "kitten sitters" when everyone leaves the house. They're young enough to keep up with Onyx but old enough to put him in line lol.

[catnapper]

This may not be what you want ot hear, but the answer to keeping them entertaind for 8 hours a day? another kitten.

I REFUSE to foster one kitten at a time. REFUSE. I need at least two or I lose my sanity. Angel's been with Jen all week... and Flutter's been driving me bonkers. I can't wait to have Angel back so Flutter and Angel can entertain each other, and I can have a break! LOL

Its only going to get more obvious once the baby is born. You'll be so focused on the baby that the time you spend with him now will diminish and he'll be bouncing off the walls.

[Lobodeb]

This may not be what you want ot hear, but the answer to keeping them entertaind for 8 hours a day? another kitten.

I think my hubby would ask for divorce papers! I can see your logic, however. I guess fat, lazy Sammy and ball obsessed Maggy don't do the trick for him.

[K & L]

http://www.ssscat.com/repellent/home.html

[RICHARD]

You can always tape your hubby to the counter....that will keep HIM out of the way...


T&P,

Museum Putty??

You midwesterners always take the Cah Lee Fun Nee Ah ideas, change the name and take all the credit!!!!


I have one sports collectible that I cherish....It's called my T.V. and the edster will never move it!!!

[jackie]

This has been bugging me for days. I couldn't place what this pic reminded me of, but I finally got it. He looks just like a hamster in a wheel! Hahaha!

[Lobodeb]

You can always tape your hubby to the counter....that will keep HIM out of the way...

Now THAT'S got to be the best suggestion that I've received so far!

[CalliesMom]

I'm sorry that I don't have any advice as my kitties are nawtee and do whatever they want..jump on counters while we're eating, complain constantly when they are "starving"....yes they are nawtee.

Good luck though.