jumping

I have owned cats my whole life (I currently have 4) and every cat I have ever owned sits on kitchen counters and/or tables. Some prefer the top of the refrigerator! As others have said, cats like heights, and climbing, and jumping, and he/she will sit on the counter anyway whenever you aren't home, so why bother trying to deter it? The important thing is to distinguish between the COUNTER and the STOVETOP, especially if they are connected. I yell "no" at any cat that goes on the stove, and quickly pick them up and put them on the floor--over and over again, every time one does it, so the cat understands the difference. I also use a "noise" can--you can use a coffee can filled with a few pennies--and a spray bottle as a LAST RESORT. As others have often said, never, ever hit your cat--the cat won't understand, and just become aggressive. If you are really desperate to keep the cat off the counter, you can try putting tinfoil down on it--some cats don't like the noise/texture of tinfoil under their feet and this might discourage it, but no guarantee. Good luck.

Cats by nature prefer a higher view. It is an instinct and there isn't too much you can do to change their instincts. DON'T HIT YOUR CAT!!! All you will accomplish is making the cat afraid of you. Spraying him with water won't accomplish much either. You might try putting some pebbles in a coke can and sealing it so the the pebbles don't leak out. Then when the cat is on the counter either shake the can and yell NO at the cat or toss the can on the floor beneith where the cat is so that the can will rattle and frighten the cat. Provide the cat a place where they can perch that is their own. Cats will climb trees, telephone poles, and almost anything to reach a height that they can feel secure in and observe what is going on around them. My cats love perching on top of the refrigerator. I also have several perches for them through the house, areas where they can climb up and sleep without worrying about getting in trouble. Another thing is to make sure that the cats also have a good supply of clean fresh water. I keep the cat's water in the bath tub so that it also stays cool. They also will crawl into the sink for a cool place to sleep during the summer. Another reason is that they may smell prey. It could be bugs or even mice. You might not have them, but the scent could come in on the packages that you bring home. So, cut the cat some slack and stop "spanking" the cat and try making a big noise to make the cat realize that each time that it gets on the counter something noisey will happen that aggravates it's senses more than getting hit.

cats like to be high, and if he's got the idea he can do this (and I'm sure he does it all the time when you aren't there) it can be impossible to convince them other wise... they do have a few thing that will keep them off, one is a Scatmat http://www.scatmat.com/ these folks also offer a spray deterrent, that is motion activated..

Alot of cats will jump up onto anything,as they are curious to what is up there,aswell as to see if they can find something to eat ot kill.If you watch a cat when it is outside it will jump up onto lots of different things,even just to smell if another cat has been there.Cats will always climb and jump,even when you are not there.

Aside for punishing him and everything. There is no other way to train him not to jump on the counter. Cats by nature love tall high places. So sometimes an alternitive will help keep him from your counters. Seeing that you can't watch him twenty-four-seven if you can close off your kitchen when you're not in it, then you're out of luck. Cats are tricky creatures. You have to understand they will always do things you may not like. Training them while they are young is the easiest thing to do. But, the older they are, or the longer it goes on. The harder it tends to be. Just keep trying that's all I can offer for you to do.

He just wants a better view. Try putting a tree in there, even a fake one, he'll climb it for sure. How do you spank a cat? How could you spank a cat?