Cats on kitchen worktops

perri winkles

Just wondering really..

Was house sitting 4 cats last week. Don't have much experience with them myself, have only had one and it was years ago. Anyways it was fine, but something that really bothered me was that the cats kept jumping up onto the kitchen counters while we were cooking.

Im definitely not a clean freak when it comes to animals, my dogs are allowed where ever they want in the house and on the furniture, but on the counters? It really grossed me out, it seems so unhygenic and their hair was everywhere.

Is this the done thing with cats? Do all cat owners let their cats on the kitchen work tops? Its just the work tops that grosses me out, don't mind the couches or anything. Just curious!

Lillylilly

I don't like my cats on the kitchen counters but it's near impossible to train them not to do it. We've tried putting them down immediately when they jump up, but they just do it when you're not around. We've used sprays, shouted "no", put them outta the room when cooking etc. Cats kinda do what they want.

Zapperzy

I wouldn't call it 'the done thing' as such, it's just impossible to keep them off the counters. You may finally teach them that going up on the counters is not acceptable but as soon as you walk out of the room they will jump up if they feel like it. For example in my house my cat won't jump up in front of some people but when Im there she will jump up without a second thought or when noone's there you will still find telltale pawprints.

blondie7

mine are the same they go wherever they want there is no stopping them, i always just make sure to clean down the worktops and the kitchen table before i prepare food. I have on little fecker who sits on the windowsill observing what i do while i cook

Graces7

We don't allow the cats in the kitchen - period.

MaryK666

I think that all cat owners know that, no matter how much we love them and how hard we try to stop them, our cats will do more-or-less whatever they want :rolleyes:
If youre thinking of getting a pet and are worried about it being near your work surfaces/kitchen table/cooking facilities or anywhere else, then don't get a cat!
We have three cats and two kittens at the moment. The kittens get into everything and we have to be extraordinarily careful with the boiling of any water and all cooking so that they don't get burned/scalded.
Our older neutered male cat is the real boss of the house and sits on the draining board to 'supervise' all cooking and washing up. He also likes to 'taste' all food prepared to make sure it's nice enough for us to eat. Sometimes, when dinner is over, he'll get up on the table to check that we've been good and cleared our plates.
My older girls, on the other hand, have realised that the human servants must do ALL work in the house and just spend their time relaxing like ladies of leisure.

I keep my kitchen very clean but I'm not anally retentive about it. The cats walk on stuff, we clean it and then we prepare food on it. We're not likely, at this stage, to catch anything that's likely to kill us.
I'm not advocating living in filth or dirt but I'm firmly convinced that the over-sterilisation of our homes in this day and age is a huge contributing factor to the lack of strong immune systems in more recent generations and the inability to fight off simple infections.

perri winkles

Yeah I guess I was just wondering if you can train them not to do it, Ihad a feeling the answer would be no!

Tbh the time I spent with them really put me off having a cat of my own. I think it was just because there were 4 of them, we were surrounded! I'd say one would be managable enough

Amberjack

It's near impossible to stop them jumping up. In the past I have used a small water pistol to squirt them and that did work for a while, but they became used to it and the novelty wore off. They still sneak up on the counter from time to time, I just make sure it's well cleaned afterwards.

Shenshen

perri winkles wrote: »

Just wondering really..

Was house sitting 4 cats last week. Don't have much experience with them myself, have only had one and it was years ago. Anyways it was fine, but something that really bothered me was that the cats kept jumping up onto the kitchen counters while we were cooking.

Im definitely not a clean freak when it comes to animals, my dogs are allowed where ever they want in the house and on the furniture, but on the counters? It really grossed me out, it seems so unhygenic and their hair was everywhere.

Is this the done thing with cats? Do all cat owners let their cats on the kitchen work tops? Its just the work tops that grosses me out, don't mind the couches or anything. Just curious!

I can't answer for everyone else, but mine are certainly not allowed on kitchen tops.
There are only two areas in the house that are off-limits to them, kitchen tops and table tops.

They're free to go everywhere else, but not near where we prepare and eat our food.

Graces7

MaryK666 wrote: »

I think that all cat owners know that, no matter how much we love them and how hard we try to stop them, our cats will do more-or-less whatever they want :rolleyes:
If youre thinking of getting a pet and are worried about it being near your work surfaces/kitchen table/cooking facilities or anywhere else, then don't get a cat!
We have three cats and two kittens at the moment. The kittens get into everything and we have to be extraordinarily careful with the boiling of any water and all cooking so that they don't get burned/scalded.
Our older neutered male cat is the real boss of the house and sits on the draining board to 'supervise' all cooking and washing up. He also likes to 'taste' all food prepared to make sure it's nice enough for us to eat. Sometimes, when dinner is over, he'll get up on the table to check that we've been good and cleared our plates.
My older girls, on the other hand, have realised that the human servants must do ALL work in the house and just spend their time relaxing like ladies of leisure.

I keep my kitchen very clean but I'm not anally retentive about it. The cats walk on stuff, we clean it and then we prepare food on it. We're not likely, at this stage, to catch anything that's likely to kill us.
I'm not advocating living in filth or dirt but I'm firmly convinced that the over-sterilisation of our homes in this day and age is a huge contributing factor to the lack of strong immune systems in more recent generations and the inability to fight off simple infections.

To some extent yes. But I could not live as you do either. And we do not over sterilise. Simply the cats are not allowed near food or preparation of food. Basic hygiene.

Nor are the dogs.

sophie1234

I think that all cat owners know that, no matter how much we love them and how hard we try to stop them, our cats will do more-or-less whatever they want
If youre thinking of getting a pet and are worried about it being near your work surfaces/kitchen table/cooking facilities or anywhere else, then don't get a cat!
We have three cats and two kittens at the moment. The kittens get into everything and we have to be extraordinarily careful with the boiling of any water and all cooking so that they don't get burned/scalded.
Our older neutered male cat is the real boss of the house and sits on the draining board to 'supervise' all cooking and washing up. He also likes to 'taste' all food prepared to make sure it's nice enough for us to eat. Sometimes, when dinner is over, he'll get up on the table to check that we've been good and cleared our plates.
My older girls, on the other hand, have realised that the human servants must do ALL work in the house and just spend their time relaxing like ladies of leisure.

I keep my kitchen very clean but I'm not anally retentive about it. The cats walk on stuff, we clean it and then we prepare food on it. We're not likely, at this stage, to catch anything that's likely to kill us.
I'm not advocating living in filth or dirt but I'm firmly convinced that the over-sterilisation of our homes in this day and age is a huge contributing factor to the lack of strong immune systems in more recent generations and the inability to fight off simple infections.

were the same pretty much are cat doesnt take no to well and she hates the floor because of the dogs she has an area in the kitchen on a counter knowone uses where she eats drinks thats on a sheet aswell just incasde we decieded to use it but she doesnt tend to walk whereever she wants on the counters/table! we clean them before we prepare are food ect but were not overly fussy weve done it the same way as long as ive remebered and it really doesnt effect us!

and to point out where she eats her food is well away from where we prepare or eat but she wont eat it done on the floor cause of dogs!

Zapperzy

MaryK666 wrote: »

I think that all cat owners know that, no matter how much we love them and how hard we try to stop them, our cats will do more-or-less whatever they want :rolleyes:
If youre thinking of getting a pet and are worried about it being near your work surfaces/kitchen table/cooking facilities or anywhere else, then don't get a cat!
We have three cats and two kittens at the moment. The kittens get into everything and we have to be extraordinarily careful with the boiling of any water and all cooking so that they don't get burned/scalded.
Our older neutered male cat is the real boss of the house and sits on the draining board to 'supervise' all cooking and washing up. He also likes to 'taste' all food prepared to make sure it's nice enough for us to eat. Sometimes, when dinner is over, he'll get up on the table to check that we've been good and cleared our plates.
My older girls, on the other hand, have realised that the human servants must do ALL work in the house and just spend their time relaxing like ladies of leisure.

I keep my kitchen very clean but I'm not anally retentive about it. The cats walk on stuff, we clean it and then we prepare food on it. We're not likely, at this stage, to catch anything that's likely to kill us.
I'm not advocating living in filth or dirt but I'm firmly convinced that the over-sterilisation of our homes in this day and age is a huge contributing factor to the lack of strong immune systems in more recent generations and the inability to fight off simple infections.

It would be interesting to know if there has ever been a study done to see if pet owning homes were less/more likely to get sick from simple infections, especially homes where pets are allowed into areas where food is prepared and eaten.

Both cat and dog are allowed in the kitchen, dog spends most of his time in the kitchen and the cat does jump up on work surfaces. I rarely ever get sick, only the odd cold maybe once a year even when Im around other sick people I rarely ever pick up anything from them. It would be interesting to know if my lack of illness has anything to do with close contact with pets.

Graces7

Zapperzy wrote: »

It would be interesting to know if there has ever been a study done to see if pet owning homes were less/more likely to get sick from simple infections, especially homes where pets are allowed into areas where food is prepared and eaten.

Both cat and dog are allowed in the kitchen, dog spends most of his time in the kitchen and the cat does jump up on work surfaces. I rarely ever get sick, only the odd cold maybe once a year even when Im around other sick people I rarely ever pick up anything from them. It would be interesting to know if my lack of illness has anything to do with close contact with pets.

So you think that maybe we should allow cats and dogs to share our dishes and sit on our food to stay healthy? YUKK!

sophie1234

Graces7 wrote: »

So you think that maybe we should allow cats and dogs to share our dishes and sit on our food to stay healthy? YUKK!

i dont think there saying share plates but have a bit of leeway and not be cleaning every area your animal has touched!

Both cat and dog are allowed in the kitchen, dog spends most of his time in the kitchen and the cat does jump up on work surfaces. I rarely ever get sick, only the odd cold maybe once a year even when Im around other sick people I rarely ever pick up anything from them. It would be interesting to know if my lack of illness has anything to do with close contact with pets.

i have to agree my cat and dogs are allowed any where and we are very rarely sick wouldnt pick up illness from friends when there sick ect!

Lollymcd

I can't keep my cats off my counters, even if I tried to train them I am at work for eight hours a day so they would inevitably just sit there when I was out anyway!

I clean my counter tops about six times a day, before and after preparing food and at other times after I have seen them up there.

I imagine my counter tops are actually cleaner than most people's!

anniehoo

The few times my cats jumped up on the counter tops he's gotten a firm "NO and Down" from me. Its a food prep area and as much as its hard to control bacteria they carry around, the kitchen counter top is a bit too close for comfort for me. Not bothered about anywhere else though and sure god knows what he gets up to when im not there.

perri winkles

anniehoo wrote: »

The few times my cats jumped up on the counter tops he's gotten a firm "NO and Down" from me. Its a food prep area and as much as its hard to control bacteria they carry around, the kitchen counter top is a bit too close for comfort for me. Not bothered about anywhere else though and sure god knows what he gets up to when im not there.

This is what I feel about it. A bit too close for comfort is spot on. I am definitely NOT anal about cleaning at all, like I said my dogs are allowed everywhere, in the kitchen etc and on the couches and beds. But near food is just really gross.

If my dogs had the ability to jump on counter tops I still wouldn't allow it.

Plek Trum

Anyone who has kittens / cats and thinks their pets don't go up on the counters when they are not around really are fooling themselves!

We have two kitties, 8 and 9 months old. Wont go near the kitchen tops when we are around but they certainly have a disco when we are out.. paw prints are a give away and for some reason they have a fascination with the sink. Bumper pack of Dettol wipes always on hand, counters sprayed and wiped down before we prepare any food and again after.

Seems to work fine, no-one ill yet. We are hoping that they may loose interest as they get older... :rolleyes:

dan_d

Right there with Plek trum! Ours stay downstairs - or at least they do when we're at home, most of the time. Doors are always closed upstairs....I don't want everything covered in cat hair.

They're good about not being on the counter while we're in the room, but I've no doubt they hop up when we're not. I know one in particular likes perching on the window above the sink to watch the garden.....but kitchen and table tops are out of bounds while we're at home. And I should take out shares in Dettol at this stage....

dvet

Zapperzy wrote: »

It would be interesting to know if there has ever been a study done to see if pet owning homes were less/more likely to get sick from simple infections, especially homes where pets are allowed into areas where food is prepared and eaten.

+1... it would be fairly interesting to see a comparison! Haven't heard anything about pet owners health vs non pet owners, but i know that studies have shown that people who have had worms as children are way less likely to become asthmatic. Kind of interesting!

I do hate how ad exec's these days seem to be trying to panic mothers into using their products by showing fake 'closeups' of countertops teeming with bacteria... guess what people - everything is teeming with bacteria!! That's, literally, life. And all the panicky cleaning probably is making people's immune systems crappier.

But as a lot of people here have said... I still wouldn't be mad about the idea of any animals climbing on my kitchen countertops

Ever2010

Ours only ever jump on the little bit by the sink where they can see through the back door. But they do sit on the kitchen table from time to time - generally right after I've washed it! They get told 'no' and taken down from it.

I wouldn't have them sitting on the counter while I'm preparing food though - they sit on the floor and miaow til they've at least gotten a sniff of everything!

perri winkles

Its not the fear of picking up germs or diseases, if I was afraid of that then I wouldnt be kissing and cuddling my doggies as much as I do

I just find it a bit gross, hair everywhere and thecounter tops were filthy. Could be down to the owners though more then the cats!

cynder

Any cats (6) we have had over the years were never allowed on work surfaces in the kitchen and none ever jumped up except the cat we have now she has done it 3 times in 6 months she knows she is not allowed up there and only did it when we tried to take her off wet food and put her on dry food, now that we have put her back on wet food she doesn't jump up on to the kitchen work surfaces/table.

iseethelight

I found my cat on the fridge once, she must of jumped up from the kitchen counter. I woke her up and told her NO, theres no evidence she's beent there again (hair etc).
She hardly goes near the kitchen now in fact one day I was running late and fed her but left her food in her bowl on the counter beside the fridge and it was there untouched when I got home.
I got her from the DSPCA and I think whoever had her before me must of been able to train her in the basic no instruction because she really knows what it means.

lrushe

Absolutely you can teach a cat not to climb on kitchen surfaces, my 9 year old cat is trained where she can and cannot go in the house the same as the dogs. I recently got a new couch in the kitchen and she has since been taught not to get on it also (she has her own bed in the kitchen). I would be horrified if I found her on a kitchen surface!

Meeoow

pity they wouldn't peel the spuds when they are up on the bench

planetX

I don't find it a problem. My cats know very well they shouldn't be up there, you can tell by the guilty face if one is caught:) But they hardly ever try cos I'm really careful not to leave any food out, so there's nothing of interest for them. It doesn't worry me though, I'd always clean the counter before preparing food anyway. If it did bother me I'd leave the kitchen door shut....simple.

looksee

Previously when we had just one cat at a time it was possible to train them not to go on counters, but they were a few years old before they were in any way reliable, and I wouldn't trust them if there were 'interesting' food out. Now we have two young cats they are much less biddable, but they do know they are not allowed on counters and tables, as you can tell by the speed they get down if they are caught.

I have a fairly laid back approach to housework, though I do keep the kitchen clean (if not tidy;)) and am very fussy about hand washing, and I do not recall any case when the whole family got a 'tummy bug' and only very rarely when an individual got one.

Zapperzy

Graces7 wrote: »

So you think that maybe we should allow cats and dogs to share our dishes and sit on our food to stay healthy? YUKK!

Eh not at all what I was saying, I was just wondering was there any link between strong immune systems and pets in areas where food is prepared. I never mentioned sharing plates or sitting on food. I don't exactly let my cat or dog eat from the same plate as me. :eek:

gossipgal08

Have a cat 9 years and can count on one hand the number of times she was on the counters. She knows well she is not allowed. Saying that she is not left in the kitchen on her own.

Shanao

I've got a year and a half old, a year old and a twelve week old and I'd say, yes you can teach them not to do things. My guys will jump as high as the kitchen chairs and no higher, they know they're not allowed on the table or the countertops. They're not allowed in the kitchen when we're not around though, although that's more to do with the fact that we have ferrets in the kitchen and dont want the cats taunting them while we're out.

angelfire9

We have an island in our kitchen and bar stools either side of it that the cat sits on to supervise me when I am in the kitchen

There was an occassion where the stool was left near the fridge and the cat thought it might be a good idea to jump from stool into fridge to investigate the nice smells he could obviously get from inside

But having discovered that little habit the stools are now at the edge of the kitchen when not in use and cat is perfectly happy sitting on them as he can see everything that is going on and of course miaow pityfully if he smells something nice & wants a taste :rolleyes:

Malari

We have a new cat and are trying hard to do the "NO" and "DOWN" thing, which worked with all our other cats we had as pets when I was growing up. I think the best you can do with most cats is to make them understand "I don't want to SEE you on the kitchen bench" then keep them out of the kitchen unless you are there.

I have a 3 times and you're out system when I'm cooking, then he's out into the hall. He's tenacious though, and does not seem to be giving up his desire to be on the kitchen table. I'm sure he thinks I'm very stupid that I can't understand that he wants me to give him that chicken breast I'm cutting up.

Deeanimallover

Plek Trum wrote: »

Anyone who has kittens / cats and thinks their pets don't go up on the counters when they are not around really are fooling themselves!

We have two kitties, 8 and 9 months old. Wont go near the kitchen tops when we are around but they certainly have a disco when we are out.. paw prints are a give away and for some reason they have a fascination with the sink. Bumper pack of Dettol wipes always on hand, counters sprayed and wiped down before we prepare any food and again after.

Seems to work fine, no-one ill yet. We are hoping that they may loose interest as they get older... :rolleyes:

Yeah our 3 are the same never get up when we are there but sometimes we will catch one of them lying flat out across the table in the sun! He gets down straight away though as he knows he shouldnt be up there! They dont take any interest in us preparing food though nor do they jump up when im getting their food ready in the utility - they sit on the floor and wait. Our youngest cat when we got him as a kitten - when he was big enough to jump up on the counter tops he was always up on them having a nose but he did get out of that habit eventually.

Shenshen

Plek Trum wrote: »

Anyone who has kittens / cats and thinks their pets don't go up on the counters when they are not around really are fooling themselves!

We have two kitties, 8 and 9 months old. Wont go near the kitchen tops when we are around but they certainly have a disco when we are out.. paw prints are a give away and for some reason they have a fascination with the sink. Bumper pack of Dettol wipes always on hand, counters sprayed and wiped down before we prepare any food and again after.

Seems to work fine, no-one ill yet. We are hoping that they may loose interest as they get older... :rolleyes:

To be perfectly honest, ours have never ever shown the slightest interest in jumping on the work tops to begin with, and the table is only interesting while we're actually eating.

It might well be to do with the fact that we're both vegetarians, so no meat or meat products are ever handled on the worktops, and there wouldn't be a smell of meat on them.

Mink

I clean the counters down before any food prep & have to keep the cats out of the kitchen while cooking. One of them goes absolutely ape s£!t if there is even the possibility of raw chicken being around so have to keep her in another room altogether as she tries to get into the kitchen.

Then they walk on the counters as they please the rest of the time, nothing I can do about it, I've given up.

Graces7

Zapperzy wrote: »

Eh not at all what I was saying, I was just wondering was there any link between strong immune systems and pets in areas where food is prepared. I never mentioned sharing plates or sitting on food. I don't exactly let my cat or dog eat from the same plate as me. :eek:

For that, thank you.. although to each his own of course

Cat germs are different to human germs .

I once had a Siamese who could open the fridge door. That flat was open plan so hard to stop that.

I have read theories re immune system etc. But over protecting is not the same as basic hygiene.

Demonique

Lillylilly wrote: »

I don't like my cats on the kitchen counters but it's near impossible to train them not to do it. We've tried putting them down immediately when they jump up, but they just do it when you're not around. We've used sprays, shouted "no", put them outta the room when cooking etc. Cats kinda do what they want.

Put double-sided sticky tape on the counters, cats soon learn not to jump up there as they hate the stickyness on their pads

FoxyVixen

ugh my little fecker was class. He knew he wasn't allowed on the table or counters, but if there was no-one in the kitchen he'd sneak up. Then as soon as he seen ya come through the door, he stay COMPLETELY still waiting to see if ya noticed. The minute I'd shout "GET DOWN" he was out the door in flash and ya wouldn't se him for an hour.And then he'd be peeking his head around the living room door to see if I was still annoyed with him. Clever little fecker:D

forestfruits

Every time my now 5 year old tom cat jumped up on the counter when we first got him he was shouted at and put out!

Hasnt jumped up on the counter since about 2 months after he moved in!!

Cats are clever and dont like cold!

Shenshen

forestfruits wrote: »

Every time my now 5 year old tom cat jumped up on the counter when we first got him he was shouted at and put out!

Hasnt jumped up on the counter since about 2 months after he moved in!!

Cats are clever and dont like cold!

Could backfire, though....

My mom used to throw our cat out every time he scratched a wicker chair she had in the hall.
Didn't take the cat long to start scratching that chair every time he wanted to go outside.

ABajaninCork

My cats knew better than to jump on the worktops!!

Got them out of the habit PDQ with the help of a water gun. After a couple of days, all I had to do was show the gun to them, and they'd skedaddle!

theghost

MaryK666 wrote: »

Sometimes, when dinner is over, he'll get up on the table to check that we've been good and cleared our plates.

And I bet he's not pleased when he finds you've been good

IsItJustMeOr...

As a cat owner, kitty's on work surfaces are a big no no to me! They are in litter trays, out hunting, washing their bits...etc etc.
Do I want them anywhere near my food...NO!
Basic hygiene as pointed out before.

They know they aren't allowed but one still has the stealthy ninja 2 sec move that catches you off guard...then I'm out with the Dettol spray!
Only a cat can land and balance on the smallest surface area I've ever seen! :-)

Cat's sprint, climb and love elevation...You can't stop a natural instict...all you can do is supervise and keep them out of areas you don't want them in...

shinikins

My sister's cat has been trained not to jump on the counter's or tables, but she is allowed up on the windowsills. She is allowed to sleep on the end of the bed, and will soemtimes sit on the back of the couch, but i have never seen her jump on a table even if there is food on it.

On the hygiene/germ issue, any animal will bring germs in form the outside on their feet, but if you clean your house that shouldn't be an issue!!:D The same sister is ill ATM and has zero immune system, and the cat has yet to cause any problems in that regards!! When it comes to germs and bacteria spreading its other humans she worries about!!

poconnor16

Its impossible to keep cats from doing that...in fact from going anywhere they want really. These are things that need to be considered before getting a furry friend for sure.
My own assumes the position of royalty up there while I am doing anything; I guess she enjoys the view. So rather than scold her, I just make sure it is wiped down with antibac stuff a lot and especially before and after food prep.
If this still leaves you feeling uneasy either 1. keep them from accessing the kitchen or 2. think about a different pet.

I think my cat doesn't speak English, and thats why she doesn't understand the word NO! Well thats the excuse I make for her anyway.

Feargal as Luimneach

My cat loves to watch people cook and he's always on the table. There's no point putting him down or giving out. He'll just do whatever he wants. He's quite naughty and will try and eat off the dinner plate when your eating. He's quite civilised and will only drink out of a cup (never out of a bowl), so if one is drinking milk out of a cup that's fair game to him also.:)

poconnor16

Feargal as Luimneach wrote: »

My cat loves to watch people cook and he's always on the table. There's no point putting him down or giving out. He'll just do whatever he wants. He's quite naughty and will try and eat off the dinner plate when your eating. He's quite civilised and will only drink out of a cup (never out of a bowl), so if one is drinking milk out of a cup that's fair game to him also.:)

OMG same with my kitten!! She will not drink water out of a feeding bowl (she drinks cat milk no problem) but only out of a glass??! I always leave a glass of water on my bed side table now and also one on the kitchen table and they are both half empty when I get home. She'll be on a wine tasting course next..

i-digress

On the whole germs issue, this is kind of interesting:

http://www.anthrozoology.org/pet_ownership_and_childrens_immune_function

Mountainsandh

poconnor16 wrote: »

OMG same with my kitten!! She will not drink water out of a feeding bowl (she drinks cat milk no problem) but only out of a glass??! I always leave a glass of water on my bed side table now and also one on the kitchen table and they are both half empty when I get home. She'll be on a wine tasting course next..

Same here, my cat is 7 years old and simply will not drink out of a dedicated bowl. He was always drinking out of our glasses, so now he has his own glass by his food, but he doesn't like that too much either, so he drinks mostly rainwater outside. What he really wants is his glass on the coffee table or on a windowsill somewhere in the house, I used to have it this way before the kids came along :rolleyes:
People used to freak out and say : "your cat's drinking in your glass !", I had to explain time and again that it was his glass .

On the subject of countertops and tables, mine is not hugely keen on them anyway, he gets shooed off once in a while when he chances it, so he just sits on a chair with his chin resting on the table whenever I'm preparing food, and has to smell everything before I chop it.

It's not a big issue if he does jump on the sink, we simply wipe it after, and I agree with the posters who say that people have gone overboard with the "kill-the-germaphobia". Even as babies kids were never sicker than other kids or anything, neither are we (parents).

Heroditas

We always tried to keep the horrors off the kitchen worktops but never bothered about getting them off the dining room table. There was absolutely no point - they sit there demanding attention!
They also sit on the table when we have dinner and watch us from a (very short) distance. One of them will occasionally attempt a hit-and-run raid but we're usually wise enough to intercept them. It's when they attempt the attack from two fronts that we have difficulty fending them off. Now I know how prey feel when they're being hunted in the wild by lions!
We got the kitchen done up recently and made a concerted effort to keep them off the counters but they seem even more determined than ever to jump up on them. :rolleyes:

The in-laws are horrified by this but I just reply with "well they never do this when you're not around" .... naturally enough, they don't believe a word of it.

The way I look at it .... I grew up and we had a cat and I was never sick.
We have two cats now and I have yet to get sick because of their "germs" that people claim they carry.
We wipe down the surfaces before we prepare food anyway and I'd swear those two cats are cleaner than me ..... they seem to spend the whole day grooming themselves!