Comments on: Oh, I think that’s a winner

By: OldFatGuy

OldFatGuy — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 02:12:26 +0000

Does anyone have any clever ideas on how to train a cat (stop laughing — I can hear that, you know) to stay off a dining table?

By keeping a dog on the dining room table, maybe?

By: tejanarusa

tejanarusa — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 17:50:32 +0000

Marion - if you see this - my first cat was well-trained to stay off the table - except when she used her being there to get my attention (”meow, meow, look where I am! Quit ignoring me!”)

Really, the only way is to use water spray. Either spray bottle (plain H20 please ) or squirt gun - used every time he’s up there - preferably as soon as he tries to jump on the table.
Preferably, you catch him off guard with the spray and he will not see where it come from. (It should seem like divine punishment, not just “Mom” saying No!)
Consistency is key.
My husband, whom I met while still a one cat person, was amazed that the cat stayed off the table, and behaved in other ways. In other words, she was “trained.”
However, it is much, much harder when there are multiple cats, so my tables are now not so safe.
Good luck.

By: inmymindseye

inmymindseye — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 14:24:10 +0000

Proud to be a UMass Boston alum. Way to go mates!

I have to believe the people of Massachusetts won’t let this seat go to a Republican.

I hope the Democrats end up with a decent candidate and have a comprehensive and capable GOTV effort. Wish I still lived there to give them a hand.

By: ralphbon

ralphbon — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:37:58 +0000

My wife suggests putting low-tack double-sided tape on the table to discourage the cat. Or put something on the table that scares the cat. Like a bigger cat.

By: ralphbon

ralphbon — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 13:18:50 +0000

Hey, my best cat ever was named Hoover! I named him partly in honor of the stock market crash of 1987, when I got him.

By: Kassandra

Kassandra — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 12:45:03 +0000

Actually, yes I do. But if your kitties are all grown up, it may be too late.
You can try a product called “Repel” they hate it. spray it on paper towels and put them all over areas you don’t want the cat to jump on. Trick is to keep renewing the scent every day. Sometimes you can reconstitute it with a few drops of water.
The best deterrent I have is my burglar alarm, set to pick anything above waist level of a human. When the Repel didn’t work as well as I wanted, the alarm going off ( cats hate loud noises)would bring them to god.
THE main thing is train them young and train them to say off EVERYTHING you don’t want them on. Yelling works wonders too. Never hit them. Or they’ll never trust you again.
Mine are now totally trained.
But they have lots of kitty furniture to climb on and scratch…so it saves my furniture too. Good luck.

By the by, I’d heard about the Andy Card thing and my stomach turned over to think of a neocon in Kennedy’s seat Bleh

By: PeasantParty

PeasantParty — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 12:42:44 +0000

Andy Card, once again thinks he is really important. Important enough to be in power again.

These people have serious mental problems.

By: Marion in Savannah

Marion in Savannah — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 12:16:17 +0000

Back later — Thanks for all the kitteh responses! Given Hoover’s stubborn streak (he has the courage of his convictions) I may have to try a double-barrelled approach, perhaps tin foil and a squirt bottle, but you’ve given me some good strategies.

By: sadlyyes

sadlyyes — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 11:52:45 +0000

they do everywhere……………….kerrist on a commode

By: sadlyyes

sadlyyes — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 11:51:28 +0000

my 34 was to you….g