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Original poster

Blocking a chimney / fireplace

17 replies

CatInChimney · 28/02/2025 11:10

Name changed as this is outing to anyone that knows me IRL. Whilst I don’t care about this post I do about others
In the last year I took on 5 special needs cats via my work that otherwise wouldn’t be able to be rehomed. They get on swimmingly, everything is great.
However, we recently moved house and one of the cats has discovered the fireplace/chimney and I’m terrified of them climbing in and getting stuck. The old owners put an electric fire in the fireplace but left the original behind. The surveyor wasn’t concerned and said it was safe but now I have the issue of the cats.

Can I just block it with a piece of board or a grate? It’s hard to get access as obviously the electric fire is in front of it. But there’s a big enough gap for the cat.

OP posts:
rubberduck68 · 28/02/2025 11:12

CatInChimney · 28/02/2025 11:10

Name changed as this is outing to anyone that knows me IRL. Whilst I don’t care about this post I do about others
In the last year I took on 5 special needs cats via my work that otherwise wouldn’t be able to be rehomed. They get on swimmingly, everything is great.
However, we recently moved house and one of the cats has discovered the fireplace/chimney and I’m terrified of them climbing in and getting stuck. The old owners put an electric fire in the fireplace but left the original behind. The surveyor wasn’t concerned and said it was safe but now I have the issue of the cats.

Can I just block it with a piece of board or a grate? It’s hard to get access as obviously the electric fire is in front of it. But there’s a big enough gap for the cat.

My friend has two cats who are indoor cats and she has blocked hers off because one of them went up there and it took a while to coax it back out! She went to a B&Q (phone around not all of them do this) and had them cut a piece of board that covered the space, then painted it to match her fireplace surround and stood a big plant in front of it!! Also, not sure if you are renting or have bought but you can get the electric fire taken away, and buy an electric radiator and put it against a wall, you can get some really nice looking ones now on timers, incase you want to make a nicer feature of the fireplace with a plant or whatever...

RachelLikesTea · 28/02/2025 11:15

I have an open fire and none of my cats have never tried to enter the chimney. But, yes, you can block it with a piece of board, this is what the previous owners in our house had done. We wanted to use the fireplace so we just pulled out the board and had the chimney swept. It was just a plain piece of wood we pulled out.

Original poster
CatInChimney · 28/02/2025 11:17

Thanks @rubberduck68
We have bought the house, it’s an original Victorian fireplace so not sure of the plan with it. Only the fireplaces in the living and dining room remain. The dining room fireplace has a grate though. The previous owners took the fireplaces out of 4 of the 5 bedrooms and covered them up. I don’t believe the 5th had one. This one is beautiful though so will likely keep it in some fashion but can’t lose our lovely girl up there.

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Original poster
CatInChimney · 28/02/2025 11:20

RachelLikesTea · 28/02/2025 11:15

I have an open fire and none of my cats have never tried to enter the chimney. But, yes, you can block it with a piece of board, this is what the previous owners in our house had done. We wanted to use the fireplace so we just pulled out the board and had the chimney swept. It was just a plain piece of wood we pulled out.

Probably a stupid question but does the board just go flat across the front of the fireplace or low down in the chimney? Our girl that’s interested was an outdoor cat when she came in at approximately 7 months old. But I had to operate on her and it’s not safe for her to be an outdoor cat now. She never tries when the doors are open though so think it’s a small space thing rather than her trying to escape.

OP posts:
Original poster
CatInChimney · 28/02/2025 11:21

She still thinks she’s invincible though at 18 months and loves to get into small spaces and climb everything.

OP posts:
Original poster
CatInChimney · 28/02/2025 11:23

If I rip the electric one out I’m not sure how damaged the marble will be underneath. I’m thinking it might look really naff if it’s all damaged

OP posts:
Original poster
CatInChimney · 28/02/2025 11:23

Obviously the cats are the priority though

OP posts:
RachelLikesTea · 28/02/2025 11:26

The board was positioned at the bottom of the chimney, so just above where my grate now is. I’m not sure how they had attached it, though.

Pootles34 · 28/02/2025 11:27

No idea about the fire, but you sound lovely rescuing those cats! Can we have a cat photo please?

caramac04 · 28/02/2025 11:29

You can buy a chimney balloon to block draughts and I’m sure that would deter cats too. You can’t see it unless you bend down and peer up.

GuestSpeakers · 28/02/2025 18:08

We put our cats in one bedroom the day we moved in. Almost immediately one made a beeline for the chimney and I had to grab her to stop her going the whole way up. I took my hoodie off and stuffed it in there. You've just reminded me it's still there. Sorry, I don't have an answer to your question but just wanted to say thank you for the reminder that I should sort it out 😅

Theoldwrinkley · 28/02/2025 18:18

You could get a big balloon and shove it up chimney to block it? Or you can get something (I think called a 'chimney sheep') that you stuff up chimney. I would say don't do anything that is not easily reversible, but a board (propped with plant pot maybe) in front of chimney or similar. We have 3 cats and have never had any investigate the hearth.

RedFatball · 28/02/2025 18:31

We have bees in one of our chimneys, I got a big piece of chicken wire and balled it up and shoved it up there. Air can still ventilate it, but the bees can't get down into the room. Would also work to stop the cat getting up I would think.

NameChanges123 · 28/02/2025 18:45

Yeah, I boarded mine up (but it's such an ugly fireplace I built shelves over/around it to hide it).

ShodAndShadySenators · 28/02/2025 19:36

If you've got plans for the fireplace in due course, I'd just use some temporary measure like balled up newspaper or chicken wire as PP's suggestion, just to make sure there isn't an enticing gap that cats may be tempted to explore

TheGirlOnTheLanding · 28/02/2025 23:40

Would one of these not deter them? https://chimneysheep.co.uk/?srsltid=AfmBOoqpNLwUq6LwgtN9KkXYy56ps-gg6LH1E9sIATk8xcGz3lGWdaqH

Dunkou · 01/03/2025 07:22

My cat has gone in the chimney a couple of times. I've now got one blocked off with a fire guard, and the other one I stuffed a cushion in the gap.

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