Understanding Why Cats Jump on Kitchen Counters and How to Stop It

Have you ever come back into the kitchen after leaving for a few minutes and found your cat on the kitchen counter? Frustrating, isn’t it? Do you know what else it is? Unhygienic. Think about it this way, you cat does his business in the litter box, walks around the house and then jumps up on your kitchen counters. Now, I do not care how clean of a person you are. I don’t care how often or how much you clean the floor and the kitty litter box. It is unhygienic and must stop. If you want to learn how to stop your cat from jumping on kitchen counters, please check out my article, How to kitten proof kitchen counters. That is unsanitary and people can get very sick from it. So, what’s the deal? Why do cats jump on the kitchen counters? Well, cats jump on kitchen counters for a variety of reasons.

How do you train a cat to stay off counters? Why is my cat suddenly jumping on counters?

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Kitchen counters smell good

Cats have a powerful sense of smell. Consequently, any kind of tempting smell will entice your cat to inspect your kitchen counter. Whether you are a careless cleaner or spilled something and haven’t gotten around to cleaning it yet, your cat won’t need a second invitation to enjoy it. You just have to offer them some or go to the bathroom for a few minutes.

There is food on the kitchen counter

Cats not only see and smell food. They know food is up there, and just because you aren’t in the kitchen, that doesn’t mean the counter is clean and void of food. Food is up there. And all it takes is a little jump to get at it.

Running away from another cat or pet

When it comes to jumping high, other pets can’t compare. They’re able to jump quite high and land not only gracefully but quietly as well. So, your cat may jump on counters to get away from your dog, or another cat, perhaps a kitten who is not able to jump as well. Or they could be trying to escape your two year old.

Kitchen counters provide a good view

Cats are extremely fond of heights and like to watch things going on below them if afforded the ability. It gives them a strategic view of things. Naturally in nature they are fond of this viewpoint, as we all are.

To drink water

Quite a lot of cats consider the kitchen sink a great drinking spot because cats prefer running water as opposed to stale pools of water. For them, the running water in the kitchen sink can be another motivation to jump on kitchen counters.

Cats are curious

Yes, curiosity killed the cat, remember that adage? Given the fact that cats like to keep track of everything that’s happening around them, kitchen counters are just perfect for the job and allow them to quickly investigate whatever is going on from a safe position.