Stop my cat from getting on food surfaces?

[theresnokey]

My cat "Maynard" needs to gain access to his litter tray while im out and about. The problem is he has to go through the kitchen to get to the small utility room where his toilet is so i cant keep him out of the kitchen area. I never leave home with out him being safe in the house with his food, drink and comforts etc. How do I stop him from getting on the surfaces in which I prepare food while I'm not there. He knows hes not aloud on them but every now and then I'll get home and theres a little dirty paw mark on one of the white cupboard doors, so I'm pretty sure he gets up on them. Its only once in a blue moon, but I have to disinfect all surfaces before I can make me dinner nearly everyday. Any ideas would be most appreciated otherwise i'll have to stay stocked up Dettol. P.S. He's always been a crafty and cheeky cat.

[lankeela]

Don't be so fussy - if he's got anything you will catch it anyway, living with him in the house!

I have had cats and dogs all my life, and the cats were fed on the kitchen work surfaces, and the dogs jump up and put their feet on them, and I eat all my meals with the dogs sitting around me on the settee waiting for me to drop a tasty morsel and then - doG forbid - I let them lick the plate!

[gelda]

My brother's labs always lick out the saucepans, makes them much easier to wash!!

[meltoadhall]

well you either just wipe away the paw marks and dont worry about the rest or you put him outside when you are out.
living with animals includes slobber, hair, and germs. you cannot live in a germ free house with a cat.

[drchasuble]

If you don't want him in the kitchen you'll have to move the litter tray and keep the door closed.

I personally think cats on kitchen surfaces or on the dining table is disgusting as they have a tendancy to stray very far afield and you have no way of knowing what they might pick up.
I do however let my dogs and cat lick saucepans and plates as hot soapy washing up water will blast away any potential lurgy in their lick.

[wolf63]

if that is his only bad habit you have gotten off lightly.

You only have to read some of the horror/funny stories on this site to get an idea of what cats are capable of.

You obviously love Maynard so you are just going to buy more Dettol and keep wiping the worktops.

[Taran]

There is no way i would let my animals eat from my plates or lick my saucepans, and i would never feed them on my worktop.

[kitty1981]

I have a cat. I have never seen her on the worktops but you never know what they do when you are out!! I buy CIF in a trigger spray bottle, it smells gorgeous and keeps my worktops sparkling. When i get in from work i just have a quick wipe round before i start cooking. Cats are very very clean animals so i am sure there is nothing nasty there but you never know.

[quonky6]

i think the whole cats on worktops is disgusting...and as for the dogs licking the plates which someone pUt that is VILE!! i hav a cat and a dog and they dont get on the worktop or lick the plates! you will have to mov the tray for them not to go in the kitchen.

[The Big Gill]

Spray the surfaces well just before you go out - but don't wipe them down until you get back and start using the kitchen. Use the spray bottle filled with a lemon juice solution. During the day, your cat ought to be discouraged by the lemon smell, and getting its paws wet. It might even slip on landing and be put off by that.

[winny]

My cat did this and although i am not a clean freak I dont like the idea. This idea worked from a local rescue lady. When you go out balance a row of baking trays on the work top edge. When the cat jumps up the trays fall and the clatter scares them. You will find after a few days the amount of trays you find on the floor will decrease. Finally push them all the way on so if he jumps up the trays will slide and scare him. That way he will never know if the trays are there or not and will stop. It worked for me although I still give the chopping board a quick wipe before I use it I dont do the whole kitchen. Also dont leave anything he might like on the top as he probably jumps up to find goodies. Cats are not daft if there are no goodies he wont bother.

[kaylamay]

first off, you will never stop a cat from going where it wants to go especially if you are not home. You said you disinfect the counters before you use them so i say that is all you need to do. My cat are forever jumping on the counters, but i keep a spray bottle of diluted bleach on hand and i wipe down the counters with paper towels each time before i use them
Problem solved. Well known fact: Cats do whatever they want regardless of what you want and sometimes in spite of it and for no other reason than they just can.
Mikala