Got a new cat - need help

[80sFan]

Long story short, our cat we had for almost 12 years died a couple weeks ago and we adopted another cat a couple days later.

New cat is younger...not a kitten but not fully grown yet either (old cat was younger when adopted her).

As he gets used to his new home, we've had a couple issues.
We feed him a good amount of cat food, but whenever one of us is eating, he tries to get our food. He jumps up on the dining table when we're eating or have just finished eating, which disgusts me.
His paws can't be clean, he uses a litter box (old cat didn't dare go on tables, but she also didn't use a litter box).
I've solved that issue by enclosing new cat in another room while we eat.
But he still constantly jumps onto countertops. Again, I am grossed out by this. The only way to deter him is to line up cookie sheets the length of the counters with a few inches overhang...all it took was one time of him jumping on the edge of a cookie sheet that slapped him in the face and made a lot of noise and he didn't try to get up that way again.
But I can't keep the cookie sheets like that overnight...all I need is that noise waking everyone in the house.

I guess my main question is, what is a good way to keep a cat off the countertops/tables?

He is also getting on my nerves bothering with the Christmas trees and he's punctured a few tiny holes in our leather couch. I wasn't BFFs with our old cat at all, but she was a walk in the park compared to this new guy.

 

[GNTLGNT]

Long story short, our cat we had for almost 12 years died a couple weeks ago and we adopted another cat a couple days later.

New cat is younger...not a kitten but not fully grown yet either (old cat was younger when adopted her).

As he gets used to his new home, we've had a couple issues.
We feed him a good amount of cat food, but whenever one of us is eating, he tries to get our food. He jumps up on the dining table when we're eating or have just finished eating, which disgusts me.
His paws can't be clean, he uses a litter box (old cat didn't dare go on tables, but she also didn't use a litter box).
I've solved that issue by enclosing new cat in another room while we eat.
But he still constantly jumps onto countertops. Again, I am grossed out by this. The only way to deter him is to line up cookie sheets the length of the counters with a few inches overhang...all it took was one time of him jumping on the edge of a cookie sheet that slapped him in the face and made a lot of noise and he didn't try to get up that way again.
But I can't keep the cookie sheets like that overnight...all I need is that noise waking everyone in the house.

I guess my main question is, what is a good way to keep a cat off the countertops/tables?

He is also getting on my nerves bothering with the Christmas trees and he's punctured a few tiny holes in our leather couch. I wasn't BFFs with our old cat at all, but she was a walk in the park compared to this new guy.

....a squirt gun or spray bottle full of water is a good deterrent......

 

[80sFan]

....a squirt gun or spray bottle full of water is a good deterrent......

I forgot to mention, it seems to like water! Doesn't mind getting wet. It tries to get in the shower with us.
Also forgot to mention that it has pooped in the shower stall 3 times already, even though it had access to its litter box every time.

 

[GNTLGNT]

....tear gas and a mace?....

 

[Tery]

The pooping outside the box is a territorial thing. It should stop when he feels more comfortable there. You can't really discipline a cat unless you catch him in the act. Also, you need to get rid of the scent or he'll see it as a permanent potty spot. Use a good scent eraser like Dumb Cat or Angry Orange.

I saw one person hook up a blender to a motion sensor so that when the cat jumped onto the counter, it went off with a lot of noise. You should see that cat jump. The video is on You Tube. Some people use double-sided tape on the counter. Cats hate getting sticky stuff on their feet. It's silent and you don't have to make sure cookie sheets are in place.

You might try Jackson Galaxy's FB pae and ask the cat people for their advice:
Search

 

[80sFan]

Thanks Tery!
I bleached the shower stall after each time...hope it stops. Nasty.
Love the blender idea, and the double sided tape....good suggestions all

 

[Tery]

Bleach kills germs but won't remove the scent that tells kitty that he's gone tbere before so he can again. You need a scent remover for that. If you have a black light, look at the spot and you'll see the proof.

 

[mal]

I'd try some behaviour modification with a mix of intermittent and positive reinforcement.

 

[Out of Order]

Get a dog!

 

[arista]

Peppermint oil...Nope sorry that was spiders.

 

[DiO'Bolic]

When we went to the cat rescue place they told us we should really get two cats. That way they will keep each other company and therefore won’t be as destructive. My wife and kids bought that load of malarkey. So we got a pair of sisters. What I have found is just twice the level of mayhem. Then we had a tiny kitten show up at our doorstep in terrible shape during a cold spell. We took him in and to the vet the next day. It was undersized due to malnutrition, had worms, ticks, fleas, and something else that I can’t recall. The vet said if we hadn’t taken him in that day he wouldn’t have survived the cold night. So now we have three of the evil greedy critters. They know not to go on the tables or counters when we’re around, but they're sneaky creatures and do it when we’re nowhere to be seen. They jump off and run if they see they've been caught in the act. And the loveseat is destroyed. They don’t go outside, but I’m constantly telling them to go play out in the street. They just look at me with a dumb stare. Bottom line is cats don’t have owners, they have servants. No use in changing the ways of the universe. The battle is lost and I’ve admitted defeat. The danged things will probably outlive me.

Rather than the blender thing, which will wake everyone up in the middle of the night, take a look at this…

Keep Cats Off | CatScram | Planet Urine

 

[no bounce no play]

Long story short, our cat we had for almost 12 years died a couple weeks ago and we adopted another cat a couple days later.

New cat is younger...not a kitten but not fully grown yet either (old cat was younger when adopted her).

As he gets used to his new home, we've had a couple issues.
We feed him a good amount of cat food, but whenever one of us is eating, he tries to get our food. He jumps up on the dining table when we're eating or have just finished eating, which disgusts me.
His paws can't be clean, he uses a litter box (old cat didn't dare go on tables, but she also didn't use a litter box).
I've solved that issue by enclosing new cat in another room while we eat.
But he still constantly jumps onto countertops. Again, I am grossed out by this. The only way to deter him is to line up cookie sheets the length of the counters with a few inches overhang...all it took was one time of him jumping on the edge of a cookie sheet that slapped him in the face and made a lot of noise and he didn't try to get up that way again.
But I can't keep the cookie sheets like that overnight...all I need is that noise waking everyone in the house.

I guess my main question is, what is a good way to keep a cat off the countertops/tables?

He is also getting on my nerves bothering with the Christmas trees and he's punctured a few tiny holes in our leather couch. I wasn't BFFs with our old cat at all, but she was a walk in the park compared to this new guy.

I'm sorry for your loss but glad you gave another a home

When we went to the cat rescue place they told us we should really get two cats. That way they will keep each other company and therefore won’t be as destructive. My wife and kids bought that load of malarkey. So we got a pair of sisters. What I have found is just twice the level of mayhem. Then we had a tiny kitten show up at our doorstep in terrible shape during a cold spell. We took him in and to the vet the next day. It was undersized due to malnutrition, had worms, ticks, fleas, and something else that I can’t recall. The vet said if we hadn’t taken him in that day he wouldn’t have survived the cold night. So now we have three of the evil greedy critters. They know not to go on the tables or counters when we’re around, but they're sneaky creatures and do it when we’re nowhere to be seen. They jump off and run if they see they've been caught in the act. And the loveseat is destroyed. They don’t go outside, but I’m constantly telling them to go play out in the street. They just look at me with a dumb stare. Bottom line is cats don’t have owners, they have servants. No use in changing the ways of the universe. The battle is lost and I’ve admitted defeat. The danged things will probably outlive me.

Rather than the blender thing, which will wake everyone up in the middle of the night, take a look at this…

Keep Cats Off | CatScram | Planet Urine

Well... I never thought I'd ever call you a sweetheart but rescuing that tiny kitten makes me want to hug you

 

[Spideyman]

When we went to the cat rescue place they told us we should really get two cats. That way they will keep each other company and therefore won’t be as destructive. My wife and kids bought that load of malarkey. So we got a pair of sisters. What I have found is just twice the level of mayhem. Then we had a tiny kitten show up at our doorstep in terrible shape during a cold spell. We took him in and to the vet the next day. It was undersized due to malnutrition, had worms, ticks, fleas, and something else that I can’t recall. The vet said if we hadn’t taken him in that day he wouldn’t have survived the cold night. So now we have three of the evil greedy critters. They know not to go on the tables or counters when we’re around, but they're sneaky creatures and do it when we’re nowhere to be seen. They jump off and run if they see they've been caught in the act. And the loveseat is destroyed. They don’t go outside, but I’m constantly telling them to go play out in the street. They just look at me with a dumb stare. Bottom line is cats don’t have owners, they have servants. No use in changing the ways of the universe. The battle is lost and I’ve admitted defeat. The danged things will probably outlive me.

Rather than the blender thing, which will wake everyone up in the middle of the night, take a look at this…

Keep Cats Off | CatScram | Planet Urine

Thank you for rescuing all the kitties. Indeed, I agree 100%, cats have servants. Throw in some with special needs and they now have a concierge.

 

[danie]

Can you make it an outside cat? I have a cat which comes in occasionally, but is outside most of the time. I live where there's not much traffic though, lots of land and such. I used to have inside cats and the litter box and vomiting of hair balls was disgusting. With my outside cat, no worries. She comes in for an occasional nap on my lap, and then is ready to go back out.

 

[Out of Order]

Can you make it an outside cat? I have a cat which comes in occasionally, but is outside most of the time. I live where there's not much traffic though, lots of land and such. I used to have inside cats and the litter box and vomiting of hair balls was disgusting. With my outside cat, no worries. She comes in for an occasional nap on my lap, and then is ready to go back out.

Meanie, kicking the poor puss outside..........

 

[80sFan]

Can you make it an outside cat? I have a cat which comes in occasionally, but is outside most of the time. I live where there's not much traffic though, lots of land and such. I used to have inside cats and the litter box and vomiting of hair balls was disgusting. With my outside cat, no worries. She comes in for an occasional nap on my lap, and then is ready to go back out.

I would prefer an outdoor cat (no litter box yay!) but our other cat died in a freak accident that wouldn't have happened had she been an indoor-only cat :'(

(Totally off topic, but I adore your new profile pic, Danie!)

 

[danie]

I would prefer an outdoor cat (no litter box yay!) but our other cat died in a freak accident that wouldn't have happened had she been an indoor-only cat :'(

(Totally off topic, but I adore your new profile pic, Danie!)

Oh, I'm sorry about your kitty, 80s. I guess you'll be keeping the new one in then.

And thank you for the compliment! I like your new avatar too, but it's hard to get used to since you had the other for so long!

 

[DiO'Bolic]

Well... I never thought I'd ever call you a sweetheart but rescuing that tiny kitten makes me want to hug you

What a terrible thing to say about me. I can get kicked out of the Leland Gaunt fan club for things like that.

 

[80sFan]

And thank you for the compliment! I like your new avatar too, but it's hard to get used to since you had the other for so long!

I keep forgetting I changed it lol. This one is more in line with my screen name, I guess.
What's more 80s than a CPK?

 

[DiO'Bolic]

What's more 80s than a CPK?

Big hair?