My cats don't get up on the kitchen counters - my kitchen is tiny, and there is barely any counter space. There's simply no room for them to jump up.

I had a scare last night. I read before I go to sleep, and I left the bedroom and when I came back in, my reading lamp was on the floor! I was afraid the bulb broke, but it was intact (although the fall made the bulb not work anymore). I was expecting the worst - glass and broken lamp parts all over. So now - no more reading lamp, until the kitten is older. Older cats leave stuff alone more than kittens - maybe that's why I've been so lucky.

As far as plants go, I only let non-poisonous in the house, and have the best luck with plants that have thick, tough leaves. THe cats don't like to chew on those as much.

I have a large collection of model horses. I keep all my expensive ones behind glass in cabinets. The ones that are replaceable I keep out. I know I'm tempting fate by leaving them out, but I have a lot of them, and not enough room for all of them to be behind glass. I'm crossing my fingers.