Keep My Cats From Going On The Top Of My Dining Room Table

Keep your cat off the table by cleaning up leftover food.

Cats getting on your dining room table can be a huge hassle. Many cats use litter boxes or roam around outside. While a cat cleans its paws frequently, that does not stop dirt or litter traces from getting on your dining table. Cats jump up on tables for a variety of reasons, such as to grab food or to see better. You can get your cat to stop jumping on your dining table in several ways.

Instructions

1. Wipe your dining room table down with citrus-scented cleaner. Cats generally do not enjoy the smell of citrus. Use a cleaner that features a prominent citrus scent and wipe the table down frequently. Not only does the scent deter the cat but it also eliminates any traces of food that might be tempting to it.

2. Provide other outlets for your cat to perch or lie on. Cats enjoy being up high. Provide cat furniture around the house, such as shelves near the window so the cat can see outside. Invest in a scratching post or playhouse that allows the cat to climb. When your cat has places it can climb and get up high, the table will not seem so interesting.

3. Start a training routine with your cat. Place a wand with a feather attached on the table. Have the cat jump on the table to get the wand. When the cat jumps on the table, give it a treat. Move the wand to the floor. Provide the cat with another treat when it jumps down to the floor. Practice this with your cat and slowly incorporate the word "off" into the routine as you lower the wand to the floor. Continue training your cat until it no longer jumps on the table.

4. Give your cat more food. When a cat jumps on a table or a countertop, often it is seeing if there is any food left over. Provide your cat with more food so it has no reason to jump on the table.

5. Create an environmental punishment. Place cookie sheets around the perimeter of the tabletop. Each cookie sheet needs to sit partially on the table with the rest of it hanging off. When the cat jumps on the table, it will jump on the cookie sheet, which will fall to the floor. This startles the cat and deters it from jumping on the table.

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