That little stinker! 😆

I do agree that heavy pottery would look great up there, like a big one at the curve. You could maybe use some of that earthquake putty stuff for added reinforcement?

Love your sign. :)

Have you tried putting Sticky Paws tape on the top of the cabinet to prevent kitty from walking across the tops to get to the baskets?

I change my answer to heavy pottery, too. But something that wouldn't be tipped over... perhaps fill it with sand.

mdln 😂

They have tons of decorative cat basket beds why fight it when you can turn it into a catnap spot.

I’m stuck inside, on the hunt.

If you for sure want something hung up, what about vintage metal decorative plates? Not necessarily these, they were the first I saw:

Etsy Tin Plates

They‘d be pretty, light, unbreakable (I think).

ETA: Had to share this, love it, and thought of you two:

Big Bend Sign

Oh forgot to say I love your kitchen! It is so refreshing to see countertops with kitchen items on them! So cozy and real yet still gorgeous!

I really like the baskets you have there. Is there some way you could secure the baskets in place? Or maybe weight them down? Is there some scent or something cats don't like?

LOL, mdln! So true, so true! I swear, I had conveniently forgotten how absolutely everything in a kitten's world is a toy, put there solely for their playtime pleasure.

Something I neglected to mention as far as sitting things on top of the cabinets is that the area is actually recessed, so in order to be properly viewed from below, objects must be set on top of a stack of something -- old books, magazines; heck, I've even used upside down Tupperware containers in a pinch. That makes things a bit precarious and easily moved about by cat paws, so anything heavy or breakable is pretty much a no-no for up there. That said, I might just put the big bolga basket back in the corner, snuggled into the space and not on top of a 'stack' of anything, and just let the kitten nap in it, which is along the lines of roarah's suggestion.

I do like the thought of something on the wall, though, and y'all have given me great food for thought. Thank you! I'm going to keep thinking and looking and scheming. Heck, I might even TRY living with that side completely blank for awhile, but you know me ... that probably won't last.

I guess before bars I'd try putting a wall of empty beer cans along the top of the fridge.

Oh, and I have not tried putting Sticky Paws up there. Does that stuff really work?

Sticky Paws might repel the cat, but it will attract dust up there! (and it certainly does not deter our cats from destroying the spare sitting room sofa.)

I have a beautiful photo enlarged and framed that my brother took on a hike in Big Bend. Maybe some cat grass up there? It would look like tall grass (well, until Butters mows it down).

I can show this slightly different angle, where you can see part of the Navajo baskets that are hung above the window in the dining space. These were all originally above the kitchen cabinets, and Tonto would not leave them alone. Honestly. Cats.

But I guess that's why it feels to me like something is needed in the now-bare space to sort of balance it out.

Anyway, love the suggestions. I might consider something like a wall compass, although it'd have to be sized right to be visible. Love the Big Bend print, Jinx! I found this on Etsy and thought it was cute, and it would work size-wise ... just not sure I want another sign up there. I do have a great fondness for Smokey Bear, though. We've visited his burial spot, and I stood there gazing down on his final resting place and actually shed a few tears!

Oh, I forgot about those beautiful baskets! Ok, disregard my tin plates idea, too similar.

That sign is so cute! I would‘ve shed tears, too. ❤️

IMO rugs in kitchens are tripping hazards I don’t like them and I don’t even know how you can see in there anyway with those bulbs IMO

(I should probably put that my last line is a parody. Someone will think I’m serious.) 😄

Put something on the top of the fridge to keep the cats from reaching the cabinets.

LOL, Jinx!

Can't put anything on top of the fridge without interfering with the function of the doors. Anyway, they'd just jump over or around it and keep on going. This kitten, especially, is an absolute tightrope walker!

I'm thinking maybe hanging something on the shorter wall where the cabinets come to an "L" might be better than on the longer bit of wall. I'll play around with measurements and continue to ponder ideas. I fully recognize I'm doing that thing I have so often railed against: What 'wall art' should I hang on my wall? -- But this is sort of a weird case, and I greatly appreciate the feedback.

Do you have any left over patio bricks? Put one in each of your larger baskets to weigh them down so the cats can’t move and jostle them around.

Ida, what about two same size prints in that corner? For example, the one I got for my guest room is 11x11 (before frame). If you did a black frame like mine, they’d really show up nicely up there.

The artist has beautiful works:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/DANGERDUST?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=745778609

I think some of these would nicely fit in with your love of Southwestern art, mountains/hiking, and peaceful nature scenes. I’m very pleased with mine, the quality and customer service are top-notch.

I love Take a Hike:

ETA! You could probably get one of these cheap now. Just do it. Join them, Ida.

Jinx, you crack me up. Bless you for having a sense of humor.

You forgot to suggest a Rude Clock!! 😁

Ida, I could see some sort of metal art or sign affixed to the wall, somewhat cat proof.

Rude clock 😂

I'd like to see one large basket that has a lid and you can fill it with rocks

I do like the baskets a lot. And yep, filling them with rocks might just do it. :)

However, I do not trust felines to comes across a well anchored basket and not test it as a scratching target. Defend the baskets!

How about a plexiglass wall between the range hood and the sign?

Ida, if you are looking for something lightweight to fill the recess,Foam Board Insulation works great to raise up decorative items. It comes in various sizes and is easily cut to fit.

If you really don't want them up there, I might get a scat mat and put it on their spot on the counter next to the refer. One time with getting a little buzz on their toes, they are not likely to try it again. One of my friends put it under a piece of aluminum foil and once the cats figured out that wasn't anything they wanted to step on, the behavior changed, she moved the scat mat away and left the foil for a while. They lost interest completely and she could then remove the foil.

No wonder he's settled in so well. You've given him so much to do, so much activity, so much exploring, so much curiosity to be satisfied.

We got scat mats for around our bird feeders, they work great. Our neighbors collect cats, and they all somehow migrate to our yard (two we‘ve fallen for, the others ...no).

Many kitties have walked up to it, studied it, touched it with a paw, then noped on out of there. I shake my fists at them, “And tell your friends!”

Today he's learned how to jump at the plantation shutters and open the slats. Help meeeeeeee ....

Back to the quest, I quite like this horse. It's 12" tall and 28" wide, available in a couple of different copper finishes that are pretty. Would go well with the horse artwork in our adjacent living area.

I also like the bright colors!

Ooo, love the horse!

Maybe I need this to hang up high where the wild things go. 😸

I think what Jinx is using might be different than what I mentioned for a scat mat. This is the one my friend got:

https://www.chewy.com/petsafe-scatmat-electronic-dog-cat/dp/48622

Metal cat? Etsy has lots of them. Or the horse. I think one sign is enough.

I think I've about decided to go with the horse. Just have to decide which color. I'm leaning towards one of the copper tones, but keep going back to the bright colors, especially the red wagon and raspberry.

Good choice Ida. Plus you can nail it to the wall, so it should be cat proof. :)

Not traditional but how about a few framed pictures of your hiking adventure?

Off topic. Your kitchen is lovely!

And now I'm growing fond of the Navajo bear. (How many horses does a person really need in one space?) Decisions, decisions.

love the bear. also love this sun its turquoise!

Not the bear. I don't like how the arrow shows his digestive tract.

Ha, Fori! But that makes it even more appropriate for the kitchen, doesn't it? 😁 Actually, that is the traditional bear fetish design, and the arrow is called the spirit line.

I just ordered the bear in its largest size, in the copper vein finish. DH wanted input and he preferred the copper over the brighter colors, so that settled that. Anyway, I'm eager to receive the finished product and think it'll work well in the strange bit of over-cabinet wall space.

Actually just changed the finish to translucent copper. So it'll be the bear in this finish:

I love copper, it’s going to look great! You have such awesome ideas.

But I must reply to one of your above posts:

We will not be saying that again, young lady.

😁

LOL, Jinx! Well, one would think... but we have this little dude hanging within view of where the metal horse would've gone, so it really did seem like jumping pony overkill.

Gah, why isn't the picture posting?!

You better lock down tight tonight because I’m coming to steal that cutie.

Unless it gets too icy. 😬

Jinx, isn't he great! He was made by a Pawnee artist named Austin Realrider, which is pretty much the best name ever.

It is!

Are y’all getting ice yet? It’s starting to coat things here and accumulate ... but I think we’re usually a bit colder than you. Stock Show weather! Even though it got canceled, the traditional weather pattern decided to go on as usual. :D

I think it may be drizzling here, but didn't see any accumulation of anything the last time I looked. Still, tomorrow could be slow going or maybe even no going if the roads do ice over as predicted. You are so right about this being Stock Show weather! Always... without fail! And just think, in a mere four months or so, it'll be unspeakably hot as blazes again. Ahhhhhh. Texas.

By the time I finish WFH, I'm always too late for the party. I was trying to root for Butter's sleeping basket.