Our 4 month old bengals have decided that the kitchen worktops and dining table are where they want to be. We have followed various advice from behaviour books, i.e. using 'sticky paws' on trays (which they just walk around and know when the trays are removed) tin foil (doesn't bother them any more), and more recently lemons (they like!).

We have a multi level cat tree in the kitchen but it is in the corner due to the current lay out and we want to create shelves that go on top of the cupboards, but we haven't go around to that yet.

I have tried to start clicker training but are more interested in chewing the target, so that is currently a no starter!

Please does anyone have any suggestions??

For a very short time I had BB trained to sit on a stool when I was in the kitchen. Needless to say it didn't last long she counter surfs all the time now. The thing is, our kitchen is separated and we have a counter/cabinets that run along the sink and stove and then we have a counter that runs across the other side of the kitchen up against the back wall. The back wall counter had now been reserved for cat use. That is where her food and water is and she sits there to look out of the window. The other side is off limits to her and surprisingly she respects that. She also camps out on top of the refrigerator. I think you will just have to find a common ground with them. They will never stay off of the counters( if you find a way please let us know lol) so I think the goal should be to set up their own space and only allow them in that space and not in your prep area.

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Raiden has full roam of the house and he will jump up on the kitchen counter, especially when I'm preparing his bowl with food. I don't have a problem with it. When we first got him, one of his favorite places to sleep was on his blanket on the dining room table. We only use a portion of it to eat and it provided him the chance to look out the windows. He doesn't use it much anymore. He has several cat trees that he enjoys. Shelves will just add to your cat's enjoyment, too. When it comes to cat a "no" to them means, "Oh, boy, they aren't going to like what I'm about to do. I know I'm not supposed to, but I'm going to do it anyway!"

Thanks guys! Our kitchen units form a U shape with the sink and window being at the bottom of the U. So far they do like to go on the windowsill and play with the blinds, so maybe this can be their place. I wondered if I would confuse them by allowing them to use 1 part of the unit, I suppose anything is worth a try. They do use their cat tree and are currently sleeping in it now;
and hopefully when we get to complete the shelves this will keep us all happy!

I gave up trying to keep my cats off the island counter that has bar stools around it. They jump on the barstools and hop up on the counter. Squirt guns only made them afraid of me and tin foil did nothing, they stepped around it. Yelling barely made them flinch, and if I put them down they jumped right back up. They have never gone up on the counter by the sink so I have one work area safe from their demanding little mouths. My last cat never went on a counter and rarely ever walked through the kitchen. I was spoiled by such an angel.

I gave up on kitchen surfaces years ago > this was Tai Chi this morning (hope the link shows the image)

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New to Bengal with Tai Chi
Burmese cats for 25 years
West Coast USA

I have a dedicated area for them, but id doesn't stop them jumping on all surfaces. They are so willful and as soon as you have picked them up and off the surface they are straight back up again. Lars has taken to crouching low when he see's us then rolling onto his back, as if to say, I know I shouldn't be up here, but aren't I cute!

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The little monsters 3

Diesel is far more persistent about being on the kitchen counters than any of our other cats. The others you can put down twice and they will stay down, but Diesel is right back up there no matter how many times you put him down.

I always have to distract him with toys or food before I wipe down the kitchen and start cooking.

I was trimming chicken on Saturday and Diesel managed to grab a few small pieces for himself. Then Sunday my husband had pulled a beef tenderloin out of the package and left it unattended for a few minutes. Diesel was up on the counter chewing on a corner of it when I walked in.

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Dallas, TX USA
Diesel - snow Bengal born 09/01/2013 adopted Feb 2014
Tuck, Chloe, Buddy, Lewis & Tia - rescue kitties
Clyde, Bleu & Coal - Great Danes

My non-Bengals were easily taought not to jump on the work surfaces and we never had issues with them UNTIL the two monkeys arrived. Now we have given up...

One of our non-Bengals now sleeps on top of the kitchen cupboards in a basket and one of the monkeys sleeps on top of the boiler or the fridge freezer!!!