Perhaps they are curious as to what you are doing up there or just a better vantage point to survey their domain or just playing a game with you a test of wills maybe.

Having had cats my whole life, and many of them, the only thing I can tell you is that the sooner you give in, the happier both you and they will be. You cannot teach a cat anything that it doesn't want to learn.

My cat is on my counter alot, she jumps up to sit on the window sill in my kitchen and watches outside. and of course when i am doing dishes she likes to stick her paws in the water and splash it around.

Ok, I'm not as willing to give in as most I guess. I HATE cat hair on my counters, griddle, food, etc. If you're brave, dump them in the sink every time they are caught....they don't like that. Make sure the water is COLD. Also, duct tape or masking tape. We kept our cat from getting out the window from the window sill with that. Turn it into a loop so it stick to their feet where they typically get up. Don't know if it will work once they realize its gone....but it may work at least for while your cooking Thanksgiving dinner. :)

I have stupidly allowed my cats free reign. I regret it now. (Especially now that there are four of the little buggers!) I love them, but I don't like their fur all over my food areas. I think you can teach them, but it takes a long time! I would just do a giant freak out every time I see them- you know, the kind of thing that makes them hit the ceiling. Jumping, yelling, waving arms. After a while (a long while), they may decide it's not a very fun place. Good luck!

I have heard of putting some contact paper on the counter top with the sticky side up will make them stop. They don't like the stickyness of it.

If they're willing to risk the spray of water, maybe there's something up there that they are really interested in. Is there anything on the counter that gets their attention? Food, plants, flowers, toys (or anything that LOOKS like a toy to them)? If that may be a possibility - clean off the counters completely. Take everything off them, put it all away someplace. If there is anything the cats are allowed to have on the counters, put it down someplace where they are allowed to go get it. Once the counters are cleared off, clean them down with spray cleaner and paper towels (to remove/cover up any lingering smells). Then, pick up your cats near the counter so they can see on top of it, and see nothing is there. If you moved something of theirs off the counter, show the cats where it is now located. Hopefully, once they lose interest in what's on the counter, they will stop going up there. If they're just going up there to hang out, then I say continue with the water spray. Reversed sticky tape works well (they hate the feeling on their paws) and even they even hate aluminum foil taped down on the counter. Also - they may be going up there simply because they like high places to hang out... so consider giving them a cat tower to play on (if they don't already have one). Try reading here for more ideas: http://dede.essortment.com/howdoikeepc_rlxj.htm http://cats.about.com/cs/behavioralissues/a/counter_surfing.htm http://www.fanciers.com/cat-faqs/behavior.shtml http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/pets/msg090914566521.html?10

i had cats most of my life and i found out one thing it you put pepper down they will stay away ... cats hate pepper mor ethan water by far so if you try pepper i think you will be pleased with the result

My cats have never jumped on the counters or tables! Never had that problem, dont' know why. But to stop a cat behavior like that is very difficult to teach- best to put a barrier, or something they will not like when they get up there (like safe sticky paper).

Try all of the suggestions til one works, you can't let them win!

Smack them right above the tail and yell no in a very firm voice. Worked for mine. You can't just do something they don't like. You have to "scare" it into them or they will repeat the behavior. Don't let them fool you into thinking they don't understand that they are not supposed to be up there. They know they're not, but if the consequences aren't greater than the action then they will keep on doing it.

There's a device called the "Tattle Tale Alarm" that you can put on your counter. It makes a high-pitched noise when pets go near it.

The contact paper, double-sided tape suggestions are great. There is a product called Sticky Paws sold at Petco and Petsmart just for this. They are non-toxic tape strips that are just sticky enough to deter the cat and not so sticky as to ruin your counters. They can also be placed on furniture if the cat has taken to scratching. http://www.stickypaws.com/

instead of spraying them put some pepper on the counter and when the cats jump up they will not like it and jump back down all 8 of my cats do it

Have you tried the spray called Bitter apple? spray you counters with it. They don't like the smell and and aluminum foil and two sided tape. Also coin in a cats will really upset them. If you catch them on the counter shake the csn. They will hate the noise and maybe associate the noise with the counter and stop jumping on it! Good luck!

I solved my "cat on the table/counters problem" through the simple process of... Throwing their nasty hair dropping, cat pee stinkin' up the house bodies outside. I call this training program, the Open door, gently toss, slam door technique... It's done wonders for the hair on the furniture, and litter box odors, as well. They are much happier, too, because they are now living in the barn... They have food, litter box, mice to chase, and they can get on anything they want without me bursting a blood vessel in my head.

They hate the smell of vinegar. maybe you could spray your counters with it. they definately don't like foil. that is another suggestion you might try.

Keep lots of spray bottles with disinfectant around and many rolls of paper towels. Before you use the counter just wipe it down. You can't teach an old cat new tricks.