Sure, you love your cat, but you probably don't love the way he climbs on everything. Yes, it's a cat's natural instinct to climb and explore, but most cat owners don't want their feline friends to do that over every surface of their home. The kitchen counter and dining table are not places you want your cat to be walking. Just thinking about them digging around in their litter box, then climbing all over surfaces where you prepare and eat food...ick! The thought of it can make your skin crawl.

It can be a quite an ordeal to prevent your cat from climbing over those forbidden surfaces. Training a cat can be difficult, some would even say they are harder to train than dogs. But don't give up hope. Here are a few tricks you can try to get your cat out of the climbing habit.

Water Spray Bottle
Fill a small spray bottle with water and each time you see your cat jump on the table or counter, spray him once. Avoid spraying him in the face, as that can be quite upsetting. Anywhere else on their body works fine. It will startle them enough that they will most likely jump off and onto the floor.

Can with Coins
Fill an aluminum soda can or tin can with coins, pebbles or any other small item that makes noise when shaken. The moment you notice your cat jumps on the counter or table, shake the can vigorously so it makes a disruptive noise. Most cats are startled by loud noises, and your cat will jump off the counter or table as soon as he hears that noise.

Loud Noise
Don't worry if you don't have a spray bottle or can handy. You can be quite effective without them; just use your hands. When your cat hops onto the counter or table, loudly clap your hands. You can even shout and say “no!” or “get off!” while walking towards him. The loud noise and your voice will capture his attention and make him jump off.

Check-out our selection of Cat Training Aids.

Climbing Toys
One of the most effective things you can do is give your cat a fun place to climb so he isn't constantly preoccupied with wanting to climb your counters or tables. Purchasing items like elaborate scratchers, cat furniture or a window perch to set up by the window give your cat something else to climb and preoccupy himself with, and will distract from his fixation on the counter or table.

The key thing to remember is to be consistent. You won't get positive results if you only enforce these methods once in awhile. You will see better results if you make the effort to do these techniques regularly. Also, remember to put away any food; don't leave it out on the counter or at the dinner table. One reason many cats venture onto the dining table or kitchen counter is to eat leftover morsels. If you make it a habit to clean up after every meal, it can prevent your cat from even wanting to jump up on that surface in the first place.