Try some double sided sticky tape on the counters for a while. Do you have a
kitty tree that he can explore UP on?

Karen

I gave up on keeping the cats off the countertops years upon years ago.  I
figure I must bring more germs into the house from the outside world, than
they deposit onto the countertops, anyway.  Plus, even if you think you have
them trained, guess what they're going to do, once you're out of their line
of vision? ;-)   (Someone once suggested sprinkling some flour on the
kitchen floor during the night &/or while you're out during the day, then
checking to see little floury pawprints up on the counters later.)

Cathy

--
"Staccato signals of constant information..."
("The Boy in the Bubble")  Paul Simon

news:RLSXa.152027$hV.9803853@twister.austin.rr.com...

He's not necessarily looking for anything.  Cats like to be in an elevated
location so they can survey their territory from a height.

Some people try to discourage jumping on the counter by putting something on
it the cat doesn't like, such as aluminum foil.

You might try putting a cover on the counter that doesn't matter if the cat
walks on it.  Remove the cover when you want to use the counter.

A more practical approach would be not to make a big fuss if the cat is on
the counter so long as you're not using it, and clean the counter before you
use it.  You normally want to do this anyway.  Then pretend to be surprised
if the cat jumps on the counter when you have guests.

Bill

Good luck.  :)

The problem with you shooing him off is that he knows darn well the only
reason not to go there is you. When you aren't there, he'll go there.
So, you need something he doesn't associate with you. He must decide he
doesn't like it there. Remove all items of interest (not just food) from
the counters for a little while and place something he won't like on the
counters, such as aluminum foil, double-sided sticky tape (like that
stuff people use to keep cats from scratching called Sticky-Paws), or a
scat mat (static electricity gives kitty a VERY mild shock like when you
walk across the room and touch the doorknob in the winter). Some places
also sell a mat with hard knobs on the top that make walking on them
unpleasant.

Keep in mind some cats are really smart and will just stay off the
counters when such material is there but go up there when it isn't. Most
cats, however, get out of the habit in a month or so. This is especially
effective if after the first week, you vary whether the unpleasant thing
is there and NEVER have anything the cat actually wants on the counter
(at least for the first month). The cat gets nothing out of it ever and
is sometimes unpleasantly surprised. He'll soon stop trying.

Also keep in mind that cats like to climb - does he have something he
CAN climb, such as a kitty tree?

Note that this takes time, patience, and consistency. Many of us give up
and just disinfect the counters prior to mealtime.  :)

-------------------------------------------------
~kaeli~
The secret of the universe is @*&^^^ NO CARRIER
The more ridiculous a belief system, the higher
the probability of its success.
http://www.ipwebdesign.net/wildAtHeart
http://www.ipwebdesign.net/kaelisSpace
-------------------------------------------------

Buy some plastic carpet runner - a few bucks a running yard.  Cut it into
strips and place them on the counter nubs facing up.  If the nubs are too
sharp, drag it across concrete to dull the points a bit.  After a few
pounces on the nubs, the cat should lose interest - he'll associate the
discomfort with the counter.

Another good feature of this technique is that the cat will experience the
same discomfort whether you're present or not and not associate the
discomfort only with your presence.

Good luck.

Phil.