We all love our furry, four-legged feline companions. They keep us company when we’re lonely. Make us feel better when we’re down. And they brighten our spirits when they greet us at the end of a long workday. But there’s one annoying habit that, no matter how adorable our cats may be, will never be endearing: their affinity for hopping up on our freshly cleaned (and probably used for meal prep) countertops.

Of course, you all want to keep your Somerset County rentals as clean as possible so, without further ado, here are our tips on keeping those adorable fellas off the counters.

  1. Boobytrap the counter. No, nothing that’s going to harm the cat, but something that will make them think twice the next time they jump up. Something slick, like a cookie sheet, could shift and perhaps even slip off. Cats don’t like loud disturbances or being unstable on their feet.
  2. Have some extra sandpaper on hand. Sounds strange, but cats hate that rough feeling on their sensitive feet. So, throw some down on the counter when you’re not using it and it may help deter them.
  3. Block out the sun. Cats love to sunbathe. Maybe you have a kitchen window that perfectly casts a warm glow of light directly onto the counter. If that’s the case, drop the blinds and get rid of the temptation.
  4. Spray the problem away. We’re not talking about spraying water as a punishment. Rather, spray down the counters with a solution that has an odor you’ll find pleasing, but your cat will likely want to steer clear of. Peppermint is one option; another is a mix of black pepper, lemon, eucalyptus, cinnamon, rosemary, and lavender.
  5. Create a sticky situation. As a last resort, throw down some double-sided tape. Cats hate the stickiness on their paws; it makes walking extremely tedious and uncomfortable. So, while this may also be annoying for you, it can help them learn that the counter is not the place to be. Once they stop jumping up, you can finally ditch the tape.

And there you have it. Five quick and easy solutions to help make Somerset County rentals a little more sanitary by keeping those cute little paws where they belong: on the floor.