I don't get what is the problem people are trying to solve by not allowing cats on the counter. If you are doing food prep, you need to use the cutting board. If you are doing it on the counter, you need to clean it first, whether you have cats or not.

[–] Lightfire228@pawb.social 23 points 17 hours ago (1 children)

Hot stove tops after cooking
potentially poisonous things like onions
knives
"i need to set this down for a second and i don't want the cats messing with it"
dirty dishes

Not to say i just leave knives or food out, but I want to reduce the chances of them getting into something by making the counters unappealing to them (via the usual tricks of aluminum foil, sticky tape, precariously perched baking trays, or as a last resort, cat zappers (electrified mats))

[–] Warl0k3@lemmy.world 4 points 17 hours ago* (last edited 17 hours ago)

Those motion activated animatronic holiday decorations have worked wonders for me, especially the countertop christmas trees that just look like normal trees until the GIANT CAT-EATING FACE APPEARS FROM WHERE IT WAS HIDING IN THE BUSH AND STARTS SCREAMING FOR THE FLESH OF FLUFFUMS AND GOES AT HER WITH A KNIFE AND OUR HOUSE IS BEING INVADED SOUND THE ALARM FLEE ESCAPE ~~CLAW THE EVERLOVING SHIT OUT OF MOM BY ATTEMPTING TO CLIMB HER IN YOUR HASTE TO GET AWAY~~ THE PROPHECY HAS COME TRUE AND THE END TIMES ARE UPON US also I peed on the counters a little DEMON, DEMON, IT'S A DEMON, EVERYONE INTO THE SECURITY BUNKER WE INSTALLED UNDER THE COUCH, THIS IS NOT A DRILL

[–] Warl0k3@lemmy.world 21 points 17 hours ago* (last edited 17 hours ago)

When I put things on the counter, it's because I want them to stay on the counter. My cats do not seem to understand nor have any interest in respecting this concept.

[–] BlueMagma@sh.itjust.works 9 points 12 hours ago

It's not about cleanliness, it's about preventing them and/or me from getting hurt when I'm handling: knife, boiling water, hot plate... The kitchen counter is for cooking when I'm using it. When I'm not using it the cats can do whatever they want on it, but they usually are not interested If I'm not using it.