I tried a Scat Mat from Dr's Foster & Smith back when Pooky & Bear were about 6-7 months old (2002). I think I paid like $60 or so for it at the time.

It worked really great at first and I thought 'ah ha' no more kitties on the counters. But then I started seeing them up there, walking right across the mat!! I checked, nope batteries a-ok. I finally turned it up to the highest setting figuring they were just used to the darn thing. You'd think the Doberman setting would sufficiently keep a cat off a counter right? NOPE.

Turns out Pooky & Bear were too smart. Bear has dainty feet, despite his large size, and was able to walk within the 1" space between wires. (the cat has to contact 2 or more wires to get zapped).

What had me baffled was how Pooky was managing to get across it with those huge, extra toed mitts of his. Well apparently he had so much FUR between his toes it insulated his pads from the wires. As far as the mat was concerned it didn't detect a cat on it, and I couldn't bring myself to trim the fur as I've always thought it was cute.

Fortunately Dr's Foster & Smith has a great return policy and since it was within the return period I simply returned it for my full refund, less the shipping cost I originally paid. Given that return policy I wasn't out alot of money to try it and see if it would work.