Bobby Flay & Cats on Kitchen Counters: Is It Safe?

There’s no doubt about it—Bobby Flay loves his feline friends. He’s even developed Made by Nacho—which is touted to be “premium cat food that meets a chef’s standards”—and does a video series called “Ask a Cat Dad” that he’s partnered with Chewy on. 

And if you follow Flay on social media, you know there has been an ongoing debate about how he allows his cats on his kitchen counter while he’s cooking. He recently posted another Reel about this very topic—and his followers have not been shy about expressing their opinions. 

In the Reel, Flay begins with, “This whole thing about cats on the counter? Well, here’s the deal. Cats, they do whatever they wanna do.”

He goes on to explain. “If you have a cat in your house, the cat is basically going to go anywhere you don’t have a door closed.”

Flay then describes his kitchen, which is wide open. “So once in a while, one of my cats, either Canelo or Stella, will jump onto my counter. That’s gonna be the end of it.”

Flay ends the Reel with, “I mean, who cares?” as he grins, shrugs and takes a bite of what looks like guac. “I like cats.”

While Flay doesn’t care, apparently some of his followers do. 

“Sorry Bobby, cats don’t belong on the counter!” says @fern.481.

Another follower, @beth_reinstein_cdp, posts, “Sorry Bobby, cats crap in a box and their paws are covered with urine & feces – even if you can’t see it. They don’t belong anywhere on countertops in a kitchen, esp with food around. Yuk. I’m an animal lover, but c’mon.”

Interestingly, the majority of Flay’s followers seem to back him up. “Every time someone tells me their cat never walks on their kitchen counter, I laugh. Of course they do! Maybe not when you can see them do it, but they are doing it!” says @jamiegram412.

“I agree !!! My kitties go where they want !!! That’s why I also clean the countertops, floors and of course the litter box areas more than regularly!” says @hypervyper2010.

And the positive comments go on and on, not all necessarily in favor of having cats on the counter, but agreeing that they do it whether we want them to or not, and that it’s no big deal. Just clean them—the countertops, that is—before you use them.

Should Cats Be Allowed on the Kitchen Counter?

But is it a big deal? Could you get sick from having your cats on the counter?

“While cats being on your counters can be undeniably adorable, it is important to consider potential health risks and why they are a big deal,” says Keiry Palma, chef-instructor of pastry and baking arts at the Institute of Culinary Education’s New York City campus. “Cats can carry bacteria from their litter box, and other unsanitary places, leading to the contamination of surfaces where food is prepared.” 

But Billie Winter, Ph.D., DVM, a doctor of veterinary medicine and owner of Companion Pet Care in Littleton, New Hampshire, has a different viewpoint. “If your cats are healthy and well-cared for, any risk of an illness being transmitted by what they’re carrying on their feet, or even on their bottoms, is minimal. There’s no difference between that and accepting kisses from your dog.” 

There is even some evidence, according to a 2021 review published in the Journal of Experimental and Basic Medical Sciences, that pets may expose their human family members to different types of bacteria, producing a more lush intestinal microbiome for the family members. Having a healthy microbiome means a stronger immune system and reduced risk of disease. With that said, more research needs to be done regarding pet-to-human probiotics.

Winter goes on to say that if your cat is an indoor cat and doesn’t go outside, there’s a higher chance they’re cleaner than outdoor cats since indoor cats’ diets are well-controlled. “You know exactly what’s going into them and what’s coming out,” says Winter. 

“Having two adorable mini tigers of my own, I know the struggle it is to properly train them to get off your kitchen counter,” says Palma, who suggests that if you tolerate cats on your counter, always remember to sanitize and clean your work surfaces before you begin cooking or baking. “This will reduce or eliminate any bacteria, viruses or debris that may be on your surfaces after your cats pay a visit.”

Winter agrees that counters should be disinfected prior to any food prep (if you’re using a sponge, make sure it’s clean so you don’t add more germs to the mix!). And while she has no concerns about disease transmission from her cats being on the counter, there are other reasons she would prefer the cats stay off them. “I would rather they weren’t up there, because they are pains in the butt about playing with things, carrying things off, and throwing things on the floor for the dog to chew up. I also worry that I may have left something on the counter that might hurt them, like onions or garlic.”

Which brings us to the other side of the safety coin. Sharp knives, open flames, and yes, certain foods, like onions and garlic, can be dangerous or toxic for cats, so it’s important to be cognizant of what is being left out on the counter, even between food prep.

Palma stresses that cats should stay off the counters if you’re working in a professional kitchen or selling goods out of your home kitchen. “[Having them on the counter] can lead to severe health code violations, poses a significant risk to public health, and can lead to food-borne illnesses,” says Palma, who also points out that cat dander and hair could potentially mix into your food, causing allergic reactions for some of your customers. 

The Bottom Line

While we didn’t exactly solve the Flay-feline kerfuffle, there are a few things we can definitely recommend. First, whether you allow your cats up there or not, always disinfect your counters before food prep—because there’s a good chance they’re visiting the counter when you’re not looking. 

If you’re cooking for anyone but your own family and close friends, it’s best that the cats stay off the counter—at least while you’re cooking. And if you have a commercial kitchen or a professional home kitchen and make food to sell, your kitchen should be its own entity where you can shut the door and keep the cats and other pets out—including when you’re not cooking. 

As Flay says, cats do what they want. If you have cats, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go get my cat off the kitchen counter (Cali! Get down and stop licking the Ranch dressing!).