How can I keep cat off counters / plants?
Hello all! I am new to having a cat (I adopted my beautiful, stubborn Aria in November of 2024). The vet put her at about 1 year when I adopted her. She is a sweetheart (the picture shows an average night with her snuggled with me while I crochet). However, she recently has taken to doing stuff she knows she isn't supposed to do (tonight she jumped onto my kitchen counters for the first time). I know she knows not to do the things because she gets off and runs if she even hears me get up, she bolts (not 100% sure why, I don't hit her, and she does this before I've redirected her at all). I've tried tinfoil, positive reinforcement (I do work, so it's not like I can sit and wait for her to decide not to jump and reinforce that 100% of the time, but I try to be consistent), redirection, deterent spray (one that is citrus-smelling). I mostly worry because she has knocked down plants before and I'd rather them not all die (the one she knocked down got pretty destroyed), my stove takes a while to cool down, and I don't always remember to get food cleaned off of my counter (and not 100% of it is safe, I cook with lot of onion, especially). I play with her a ton, rotate toys, she has auto toys, a 6 foot cat tree, I feed her on a regular schedule, she has a large fountain water dish, a cat tunnel, and I try to spend lots of time with her when I am home (many people say she is pretty spoiled and I lovingly agree). I am out of ideas on what else to do (I did put out sticky tape today) but want some help to keep my new fur-baby safe! Thank you all in advance!