Soo then graycie knows not to be on the counter etc. I tell her get off there your not supposed to be on the counter so she goes here onto a book shelf instead which is totally okworks for me
I was just watching a YT vid where a woman was making her cat's dinner while the cat kept jumping up on the stove to get to the counter. I was like "Oh, no! The stove!"
The woman would pick the cat up and put it down but it just jumped up ten seconds later.
If it was me, I would give the cat three strikes then put the food away for five minutes, hopefully to teach it, "If you keep jumping up, you won't get any." Then, you could put a morsel of food on the floor for the cat to nibble on while you get the meal ready. Of course, pets and "Good kitty!" all around.
I like your compromise best!
Give Kitty a place to sit and watch the festivities until it's time to eat.
just takes time is all cats are smart they learn just dont ever think they will not take advantage/ manipulate the human any way they can cause they will.