I have 4 cats, all of whom like to lay on top of high surfaces, like tables and ironing boards. I make them shoo off of these surfaces several times daily. My sewing room is my dining room, and I have my mini ironing board and my cutting mat and my box of current fabrics on my table and my sewing machine on a smaller desk. I'm forced to wipe down my surfaces and lint roll my ironing boards and I'm simply too lazy to put things away. How do you keep your kitties off work surfaces and ironing boards and where ever else they may lay?

When you figure it out, you should package the idea. I have a naughty girl that LOVES to lay on everything she can get/jump on. Big Boy, well....if it's on the floor, he figures it's his.

When I had cats they were trained not to get on counters, tables and dressers. They knew they could lazy around on the beds and couches. It is just a matter of training them not too.

No pets here !!! I have my in-laws (85 & 89). They are enough !!!!!!! I haven't had a pet in years because of the hair.

If you don't want to put things away (like me), keep a sheet or old quilt or blanket handy to cover everything. That should help keep the hair off. Make sure to always put the same side on top, so you don't lay the hairy side against your fabrics.

They are not allowed on these surfaces, but they are extremely stubborn and because there are 4 of them, they team up to rule the roost... :D

I close the door. ;) he he (My sewing room is our tiny 3rd bedroom, so it has a door on it.)

However, my kitchen, dining area, and living room are all "open", and are separated by only a half-wall, so it's impossible to keep the kitties out (we have 4). They know to stay off the counters and the stove (for the most part), but they won't stay off the kitchen table. I have to wipe it off constantly. :roll:

You might try laying an old sheet over everything when you're not sewing. My cat only wants to be up there when I'm sewing so I call him my quality control officer when he's not sleeping ;-)
Good luck.

The counter and stove they know is a no no, but once in a while, if there is something they want up there, they will go get it, lol...what do you use to wipe with? I usually do an old rag with some disinfecting spray on it or handi wipes...

Good luck!! I have the same problems...I swat them and talk ugly to them....it doesn't work. They insist on inspecting all these places just to make sure they are safe for me...:roll: I wipe the hard surfaces with a clorox wipe...I usually drape a sheet over stuff that I don't want them on...and I do fold up and put away other people's quilts that come through here.

Usually a couple of paper towels and Lysol kitchen cleaner (a spray). :)

I taught them to stay off the counters by putting strips of clear contact paper on the edges of the countertops ... upside down. The cats couldn't see it, and when they'd jump up on the counter, they'd land on the sticky plastic. It was sticky enough that they hated to touch it, but not so sticky that it would get hung up in their fur. After a couple of weeks, they stopped getting on the counters! :lol: I need to do it again, though. It's been awhile, and occasionally they "forget". ;)

Suggestion only. LOL

I used that sticky stuff to try to train mine not to claw the sofa...didn't work. I used aluminum foil to try to train them not to go certain places...I found them curled up sleeping on it...:roll:

Mine just look at me and laugh when I try stuff like that.

Mine don't get on the counters or tables. It's just my sewing stuff. Other peoples things get put away and if they do decide to get on them, I'll hang whatever it is outside to get whatever dander may have dropped off on it.

Meticulous with putting projects into storage containers when not working on them. Because "Little Lady" thinks all new fabric is her new bed...

You could get a squirt gun and spray them when they are on top of things that you don't want them on.

I have a sewing room that my hubby put a screen door on so that I wouldn't have to have it shut w/o air moving. That's been a great cat chaser outer. Only problem is I love having them nearby!! :D

Mine are trained to do the same. It doesn't take but a couple times and then they learn, they aren't not dumb.

It's amazing how quickly they can learn.

Just get a little water spray bottle. When the kitties jump up where you don't want them - a little spray and a stern "Off" from you should keep them off the surfaces you don't want them on. After a few times of a little wet face and all you'll have to do is sternly say "Off" or just a quick spritz and they'll be off to another place. :thumbup:

My 5 cats love to help with anything I am doing! They are all well trained to stay off counters and tables but I made a mistake a long time ago and fed them on the huge table I sew on. Now I keep a couple practice quilts over the ironing board and table when I am not using them just in case it tempts them. Also qulited a nice little cover for all the machines I use to keep them from messing them up or the hair from getting where it shouldn't be. I still have issues with the help I get when laying all the material out to see how it looks. They love to superman dive under it. I usually wait until nap time to try those things. I love my cats!

My sister has cats and the spray bottle works great for her...she has a few of them around and when any of the cats go where they aren't supposed to she squirts them and says NO...they learn quickly and jump off now as soon as they see her pick up the bottle hahaha

I also have four cats 2 that do the same thing all the time!!! I also would like to know the answer or advice if anyone has any!! Thank you, Shawn :thumbup: :XD: :lol:

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :thumbup:

lay bubble wrap over the ironing board?

I love that Debbie.

Some kitties (see BAD girl in avatar pic!) won't be trained to do/not do by any means!!!!!

Teddi likes water, doesn't really like spray bottle much though. It will make her cease and desist for a millesecond only. Tinfoil - HA! Bubblewrap - she'll try to eat it.

Been trying to train her by every method known for over 2 years now but she does as she pleases for the most part.

Right now she is sleeping on top of the kitchen cabinets. Not on the part she can access directly from the fridge but the part across the room that she jumps to from the fridge top with head held low to not hit it on the ceiling. She is a total PITA!!!

I have 3 cats but none of them seem interested in my quilting stuff. I guess I should be grateful.

I had that problem for a while and then I started using my spray bottle with water in it. They don't like to get sprayed and it's just water so I know I'm not hurting them, just letting them know that I am still the boss.

Good thing I was stricter with my boys. These cats of mine are spoiled rotten. Reading your posts makes me realize it lol

Try a spray bottle of water,spray them everytime they are on a surface you do not want them on, eventually they will get the picture.

Hi, When my one cat set on top of my machine and took my thread on my machine in her mouth and just took off running I was time for my own sewing room I have 14 cats only two old ones are allow in my room they have thier own spot but the other ones sometime stand at the door a MEOW! Plus everything everbody says does work!

I am thinking about Cat Handcuffs......... :roll:

I have two cats. One jumps on nothing except the bed however the other one jumps on whatever he wants to jump on. Tried the spray bottle and it actually worked until he figured out that it really wouldn't hurt him just annoyed him and he will try and bat it out of your hand when you use it. Just walks right up to it and gives it and your hand a good swat!! Gotta love cats.....

I love sharing my quiting area with my Schmoo. She will park herself on the table top ironing board that I don't really use on the back of my sewing credenza and give herself a bath. If I need to pet her, she's right there. It's very relaxing to have your babies with you and I don't give quilts to people who don't like cats, and as with my cross stitch, everything is made with a little bit of fur in it. It's just the way it is.

too cute

I heard spraying them with a water bottle when you don't want them on top of things. I have a baby kitty and whatever rooms I don't want her in I close the doors. But as much as her and the dogs chase each other I'm afraid that she will be jumping higher soon. She runs fast - jumps on the sofa and then on to the rocking chair and then over to another chair and turns and looks at the dogs as - come and get me if you can. So I will have to be ready for her. I don't think she understands "No" like the dogs do. LOL

Try a squirt gun, there is nothing a cat likes worse than being squirted with water. Mine won't go near spots where that has happened!

I have one cat now. Had two outside, but moved and gave them to a friend. Indoor kitty is a bad kitty. He is everywhere; including my stove! I've even found him INSIDE my kitchen cabinets and he almost got stuck inside the fridge. My granddaughters opened it and he jumped in. He likes the cold and he loves the water. Even found him in the tub when I was giving my babies a quick shower. OK, that is funny, but sometimes annoying because when he gets on the counters, food is history. Can't leave anything small laying around because he thinks it's a toy. I even found him sitting on top of my NEW Janome machine. I draw the line there. No one touches my machine! I will fight them. To think that he's about 11 pounds and he rules. Will getting him neutered help? I think it's time.

At first I used the pennies in a can threat, but it got old. He didn't flinch after a while. Squirt gun will only entice him to play. Sticky tape....well my grandkids will probably pull that off....

What's left? Any suggestions? No, I will not get a second cat to keep him busy....two wrongs don't make a right! LOL
He plays with the Lhasa puppy (my avatar).