why wont my cat stay off the counter?

[luvmykitty]

I have a cat that I just recently got and I am having the hardest time getting her to stay off my kitchen counter. we dont leave food or anything on the counter so it's not like their is something teasing her up there. she always has fresh food and water in her dish, but she wont stay off the counter?:confused:

[mary]

She was probably allowed to climb where she used to live or if she is a kitten you have to teach her where she is allowed to go. I was always just firm with Kris, picked him up immediately and removed him from the situation, but he was a quick learner. my dad used to squirt his cat jake with a water gun until he learned not to do things like that, Jake hated the water.

[fatcat1]

I haven't had the counter problem but I have a cat that always wanted to lie on the beds. And I didn't want her on the beds. So I would squirt her with a water bottle. It didn't take more than twelve times before she learned and that was five years ago and have never had her on the bed since then.

[LoveMyKittyDuke]

My cat used to do that a lot. Actually, he still does. :o There's never food or anything left there for him, and for the longest time I couldn't figure out what he wanted. I recently realized that he gets on the counter so that he can sit at the window and watch out into the park behind our house. I let him because I know he's not into anything, but if you don't want him there I've learned that using a stern voice and taking him off the table or wherever has worked. He knows where he should and shouldn't be.;)

[luvmykitty]

I take her down and tell her no, and I think that she now knows that she isnt supposed to because if she sees me coming she will jump off the counter and go elsewhere, but I haven't figured out what she is so interested in up there, there is no window and no food up there. maybe I will have to try the squirt gun:) Thanks for the idea!! and she is an adult cat so maybe she is still following rules from where she came from.