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Original poster

Live on my own - someone has switched oven on - all doors locked

246 replies

Seeingadistance · 16/12/2023 18:27

Ok - I never thought I'd be posting one of these threads, but there you go! I also don't know what I'm posting for, tbh.

I live on my own in a large bungalow. I have two cats.

Was out this morning.

Spent afternoon sitting in bed, where it's warm - watching Youtube videos, writing Christmas cards, procrastinating ...

About 20 minutes ago went through to kitchen to feed cats, and immediately noticed light on in oven. No heat, just the light and fan on. Knob was in 7 o'clock position so very definitely turned deliberately - so seems very unlikely that it was caused by cat jumping around, and even when I had cats who could open doors and turn handles - which these ones don't - I've never had a cat turn the oven on. Cats have either been with me or out all afternoon.

Front and back doors both locked and keys in both locks. Both doors are fairly new - I've lost the spare key for back door but it's in the house somewhere. The spare key for front door is in key safe in garage and the number is known only to my son who's not here, and a trusted friend.

The loft hatch is bolted on this side, but there is another loft hatch in an extension I rarely use, and I've never actually looked into that loft or touched that hatch. However, anyone who was in that part of the house would need to come through a door which is closed and makes a noise when opened and closed, then walk past my bedroom to get to the kitchen.

I'm trying not to be freaked out.

The only other strange thing was maybe a couple of weeks ago, late evening. I was in bed, cats were both sitting on bed, and I heard a noise somewhere in the house. Just one noise - like something fairly light had fallen - so not a loud crash or thump. The cats heard it too - they both lifted their heads and looked towards the bedroom door which was ajar. It was the kind of noise which I would have blamed the cats for making, but they were both with me.

Fuck!

Give me reasonable explanations for how my oven could have turned itself on!

And, no I didn't turn it on myself and forget. I hardly ever used my oven before and pretty much never now as I have an air fryer.

OP posts:
Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 16/12/2023 21:51

Seeingadistance · 16/12/2023 21:45

I think I've solved the mystery!

Reading accounts of other MNer's pets exploits reminded me of something.

I heard the cats fighting this afternoon. The most likely explanation for oven being on is that one cat was up high reaching down and the other on the floor reaching up - and between them they've managed to turn the knob.

As pas have suggested and confirmed - cats working as a pair!

Furry bastards!

Cats definitely do work as a pair. If it’s to get food, cause mischief or just have fun and be curious. You’ve only got to look at Si and Am in Lady and the Tramp for “pair work”! My two I listed here were awesome killing machines in a pair and their brother lived next door too so awesome killing machines in a trio often…

My current cat Tilly adopted me, her sister Lola (since moved) when they were younger had adventures, as I used to see them out and about a lot, but Tilly apparently was more streetwise and took the lead in adventures whereas Lola was always apparently “more feral” but I also saw local kids playing with her like a toy once (she got wise to that!) and I don’t think Tilly would have tolerated that!

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 16/12/2023 21:52

Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 16/12/2023 21:45

Cats are plotting to rule the world, one household at a time….

All mine have tried and succeeded in some ways to rule the world…

dawngreen · 16/12/2023 21:53

I was beginning to think the that Elf on the shelf did it!

Original poster
Seeingadistance · 16/12/2023 21:55

dawngreen · 16/12/2023 21:53

I was beginning to think the that Elf on the shelf did it!

😂

OP posts:
Shannith · 16/12/2023 21:57

@WhateverMate best reply ever. Well not ever, but for some time. Grin

Alphabet1spaghetti2 · 16/12/2023 21:57

@Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain as I have five, I do wonder if they are just using me as the Staffordshire area head quarters.

Benicebenicebenice · 16/12/2023 21:58

DinoDays · 16/12/2023 18:38

Don't be freaked out. If there was an unknown intruder in the house why for the love of the wee man would they just put the oven on??

You've knocked it yourself or the cat has done it.

'Why for the love of the wee man' 🤣🤣🤣

oakleaffy · 16/12/2023 22:08

Seeingadistance · 16/12/2023 19:56

Yep.

I've lived on my own for about 15 years now - I am happy and enjoy living on my own, but there are times, like now, when it can be unnerving.

Show quote history

Me too..I now have a dog again, and she is a comfort at such times...one night I heard a crash from downstairs...she flew downstairs and a fox had got in through an ajar window!
It's very unlikely to be a human fiddling with your oven..But what a mystery!

reallyworriedjobhunter · 16/12/2023 22:12

Glad you are feeling a bit more relaxed. My cat has recently learned to ring the flippin doorbell. He doesn't use his flap any more, just rings the front doorbell. Absolute furry twat.

DyslexicPoster · 16/12/2023 22:15

My daughter was reaching up to my friends cat above her in a tree with treats. My friends cat was reaching down to grab the treat like it had forgot it didn't have a thumb! Weirdest thing I have seen. Cats are weird. I bet her cat could turn a know with its invisible thumb!

Catmummyof2 · 16/12/2023 22:21

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Calliopespa · 16/12/2023 22:27

Look behind you!!!!!!

RadiantRainbow · 16/12/2023 22:29

@Seeingadistance you seemed to have solved your problem, but just in case - I watched with my own eyes my oven turn on while I was in the kitchen of my previous house.
It was like in a proper horror film. The light turned on, the fan turned on and it started heating up. It was a John Lewis own oven, about 5 years old at the time.

I couldn't turn it off! The knobs were still in the off position so who knows what temperature it was planning to heat to 😁
I had to turn it off using the wall switch. However at some point the wall switch was turned back on and a few days later I walked into the kitchen and realised the oven was on and properly hot again, and there were trays and stuff inside it. Sometimes I kept a frying pan with a plastic handle in the oven so I was glad it wasn't inside at the time!
Basically it was a faulty connection, which for five years was perfectly fine and it's a mystery why it went faulty!

Oh, and very soon after I moved into that same house I heard from upstairs the sound of something falling and rolling in the kitchen, and I knew what it was - it was one of those small metal balls used in children's magnetic games, I knew it was sitting on the worktop(for several days in the same spot) when I went upstairs. No one was in the kitchen, no pets. Now I think it might have been a mouse!(though we never had mice there, though eventually did have rats, but that's a story for another day)
At the time I was just a little freaked out.

Calliopespa · 16/12/2023 22:38

Calliopespa · 16/12/2023 22:27

Look behind you!!!!!!

Just teasing OP: it’s definitely your cats! My grandmothers used to turn taps on which is a similar motion.

ChocolateCinderToffee · 16/12/2023 22:39

Definitely cat. It might have put a paw on the knob to give itself purchase to jump down. If you watch a cat jumping from a height they often do this.

k1233 · 16/12/2023 22:56

My guess is a cat has jumped up and a foot has slipped off the edge, catching the knob and pushing it down to the 7 position.

I came home one evening to gas on and knobs pulled off the stove courtesy of my staffy pup. Thank goodness we didn't smoke!

Morewineplease10 · 16/12/2023 23:01

@reallyworriedjobhunter

Love the idea of your mog ringing the doorbell.

AskingQuestionsAllTheTime · 16/12/2023 23:02

I haven't had a gas hob from which gas would come out without the ignition being pressed since my old Cannon 151 in the 1970s. Certainly the one I have now wouldn't pour gas into the air if one of the knobs were turned on; it would just sit there with the knob turned and no gas coming out. Annoyingly, this means you can't use the hob in a power cut even though it is a gas hob, but it is a whole lot safer than they used to be back when we all used town gas.

thegreylady · 16/12/2023 23:05

The other week I brought my shopping in and was putting things away. I live alone ,in a bungalow, with 3 cats. I went to the bathroom and when I went back to the kitchen the hob was switched on and was red hot. I must have knocked it whilst walking past the oven. I could have set something on fire if I hadn’t noticed it in time.

OhIlovetosew · 16/12/2023 23:09

Have you had any little people come to see you recently. I spent six weeks wondering what on earth was this whining noise in my kitchen and found my rotisserie on my old oven was on, I’d caught my friends sons fiddling with the knobs weeks prior but the rotisserie was a push button and I’d not noticed it had been turned on.

Original poster
Seeingadistance · 16/12/2023 23:24

OhIlovetosew · 16/12/2023 23:09

Have you had any little people come to see you recently. I spent six weeks wondering what on earth was this whining noise in my kitchen and found my rotisserie on my old oven was on, I’d caught my friends sons fiddling with the knobs weeks prior but the rotisserie was a push button and I’d not noticed it had been turned on.

I now reckon it was the cats fighting in the kitchen.

But you've reminded me that when my DS was little he used to love fiddling and twirling knobs on cookers etc. I'd forgotten about that phase!

OP posts:
AngryBirdsNoMore · 16/12/2023 23:40

Lifeomars · 16/12/2023 20:38

Have a little think about what you have said here and then try to imagine how this could affect someone who lives on their own and is feeling a bit anxious. I live alone and was a single parent. One night when my child was three someone broke into our home and although many years have passed, it was a terrifying experience. We woke to a cold house, the back door wide open, my bag was stolen with my money in it and the phone wires (yes it was a long time ago) had been cut so I couldn't call for help. I would replay that night over and over again in my head, they had been up the stairs, there were footprints on the carpet. It really isn't a joking matter

Show quote history

The fact the phone wires were cut is so terrifying. I can’t imagine your fear when you woke up especially with a child in the house.

I fear looking out into the dark through big windows anyway. It feels a bit pathetic but I think a fear of home invasion isn’t irrational - and it also hits different for women, especially women at home alone.

Original poster
Seeingadistance · 16/12/2023 23:52

AngryBirdsNoMore · 16/12/2023 23:40

The fact the phone wires were cut is so terrifying. I can’t imagine your fear when you woke up especially with a child in the house.

I fear looking out into the dark through big windows anyway. It feels a bit pathetic but I think a fear of home invasion isn’t irrational - and it also hits different for women, especially women at home alone.

Edited
Show quote history

I had missed that post - what a terrifying experience! Just awful!

I can only assume that those who were making fun of me for being freaked out don't live on their own and have neither imagination nor empathy.

OP posts:
Mouthouch · 16/12/2023 23:53

You knocked it. I once did this. With the gas.

Cue all hell breaking loose in the middle of the night as multiple homes had to be evacuated 🤦‍♀️

Zone2NorthLondon · 17/12/2023 00:09

StmMary · 16/12/2023 18:35

Hi, you could have spirit trying to connect to you.
They do these things..
Number 7 maybe a number they want you to know about.
Movement can be them. It could be your family in spirit trying to connect.
You'll soon know..
I how it's something very special to you. That comes to you later on..

Utter mince. Don’t introduce all that woohoo fings we don’t understand fake spirituality

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