Why Humans are Obsessed with Cats

[lark]

15. Nope, mine do not go on the counter.

I leave my butter out and I could tell if they touch it, they don't. I used to leave it near the edge of the counter, but our tallest dog could reach it with his tongues, so I moved it way back.

My children encouraged the cats in acting out when they were kittens, so they do scratch furniture and I can't get them to stop that.
But the kids didn't want the cats where their food was prepared, so helped me enforce that and the cats don't get on the counters. My previous cat (already an adult when the children were born) had no one to break my training and she didn't get on the counters or table, or scratch the furniture. She was also the smartest cat I've ever seen and did tricks on command, so that might be part of why she excelled so in learning. She knew the water bottle was her enemy, so I had to hide it. Soon as she found it (again) she'd jump up and knock it down - had to switch to plastic after she destroyed several glass versions. Even then, she'd knock it over if she could, then walk around the house swaggering that she had beaten her enemy. She was a hoot and I still miss her.