Hi, I’m Dr. Karyn! Read my introduction to learn more about me and meet my five funny cats: Clutch, Cyril, Alex, Zelda, and Zazzles.
Sharing your home with cats means that sometimes you have to adjust your expectations when it comes to your clothes, house, and furniture. I always say that you can have a really clean house, or you can have pets; it is quite difficult to have both. And while I don’t speak from personal experience, I think the same is true of having children!
Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that having pets means your house will become some kind of cesspit, but there is a level of clutter and mess that always comes with having pets indoors.
In my home, with my five cats and five dogs, cleaning is almost a full-time job, which, on top of our actual full-time jobs, can be overwhelming, but we manage to stay on top this. of time. Vacuum cleaning occurs at least once a day, and regular brushing is necessary. For me, keeping the house clean is something I try to stay on top of, but it does clean is my top priority.
Cats and dogs
If I were to ink the grain of all my cats, I’m sure the surface covered in ink would be larger than not, and I admit our kitchen countertops would be covered quite a bit too. kitty footprints.
Many people maintain a strict ‘no cats on countertops’ rule, and of course, I think it’s a good policy to have. After all, when a cat digs in their litter box, they’re not exactly cleaning their paws with antibacterial soap – not that I’m suggesting we start doing that! However, I don’t just tolerate our cats being on our countertops, but I actually make provisions for it, and the reason for this is these people: the dogs.
We are very fortunate that our cats and dogs get along well, usually happily snuggled up next to each other and even have a little playtime together. However, if things get rough and messy, it’s more important to me that my cats are free to get away quickly, and that usually means jumping on a surface like the kitchen counter. For us, it comes down to what we can and cannot control, and how to make sure all our pets are comfortable in their home.
My husband and I have brought these wonderful animals into our homes, and it is important to us that they all feel safe, secure, and comfortable in their environment. If we cut off their escape route when they are overwhelmed by dogs, I believe it will create a stressful environment, and cause our cats to retreat to their retreat upstairs and never come out, and that is not what we want. This is their home, and they should feel confident exploring it all.
So this is what I mean when I talk about what I can and cannot control:
- I can’t control how my cats and dogs interact all the time, and I can’t, in all good conscience, stop my cats from jumping on our counters.
- I can control how clean those counters are, and keep the kitchen door closed when preparing food.
Keep it Clean
Just as we are quick to vacuum our floors, we are also committed to regularly disinfecting our kitchen. As our Dr Lauren points out, cat paws and cat butts on the surfaces we prepare our food on are not ideal, and can open a literal can of worms, and it can also potentially cause danger to cats. Sharp knives, hot stoves, and inappropriate foods are all dangers that cats can come into contact with in the kitchen, and these dangers are another factor that we need to consider in our home.
The fortunate consequence of adapting our habits to accommodate cats’ counter surfing is that we’ve improved our hygiene and kitchen hygiene to a level that would probably get us a 10/10 from any authority on food safety! Dirty plates are always quickly washed and put in the dishwasher, leftovers are sealed and secured, and utensils and cookware are put away as soon as we finish them. If only I felt motivated when it came to cleaning the bathroom!
Should They Be Allowed on Countertops?
Did I say that you must allow your cats to roam around your kitchen unchecked? Definitely not. Their safety and your safety must be the top priority. But what we also need to consider is that when we bring cats into our home, they need to be comfortable. Depending on your household, that might mean being strict and consistent about keeping them off the countertops from day one, so there’s no confusion, or restricting their access to the kitchen entirely.
In our house, the most practical and workable solution is for the US to adapt to THEM.
If you’re a germaphobe or a little (or a lot) OCD about cleanliness, you may need to think about whether furry housemates are right for you, although, as you can see, keeping multiple pets really does keep us more motivated to be strict with cleaning than if we had less or nothing (not that I see that happening!).
The main thing to take away is that every household is different, and it’s important to establish boundaries and rules that work best for you, and allow your cats to feel safe and secure. If those rules cause more stress, or just don’t work for you, decide what your priorities are and create a plan that meets everyone’s needs.
Providing your cats with towers, shelves, and platforms is important to allow them to explore their world vertically, as well as horizontally, and to give them places to escape to when they need it. If that vertical world includes your kitchen, be sure to take your health and their safety seriously.
