Question nearly our cats just now developed doomed to failure manners?
Our kitty is 16 years old and has been beside us since the beginning. The only rule we have ever have is no climbing on the counters. And kitty has played by the rules all these years.
Now in his hoary age, he has started climbing on the bathroom counter and licking the sink. Kitty gets fresh water twice a light of day, so I know it isn't because of the water quality. We've tried slipping a few ice cubes within for him in case it was the cold he like.
Any thoughts as to why he is doing this? Is there something about the porcelain/ceramic? Could there be other reason? We haven't consulted his vet yet - just seeing if anyone have any ideas. He just had a check up and is within excellent health.
If we close the bathroom door he will sit outside of it and cry. Just a few minutes ago, I caught him on the kitchen counter, heading for the porcelain/ceramic sink in within.
We joke that he is old and now have nothing to lose - he knows we won't send him absent so he can break all the rules :) But I am worried that I missing something ... thanks for any thoughts.
You could try using a porcelain/ceramic water bowl and place something in the bathroom and kitchen sink that will deter him.
We always leave a dish of fresh marine in the bathtub. The cats love how the cold porcelain feels on their foot and we don't have to worry about them making a big mess. It keep them out of the sink too.
Answers: Kitty is lately getting old and probably a little senile. Cats hate citrus close to lemon and orange. They also hate sticky stuff. You can take a block of the fresh citrus fruit of your choice and rub it on the edges of your countertops. The other option, which I don't like as much, is to put a strip of double sided tape on the slither of the countertops and cats hate it. But I wouldn't want the sticky on my countertop either. Maybe he just figure out he likes ceramic too-did you get him a earthenware water dish? If not, I would try that.
