Fire Safety Advice

[DidSomebodySaySiamese]

It’s getting a bit nippy in the evenings here so the fire has been lit. It is ok to leave the kitten alone in the room with the open fire? Will he instinctively not touch it?

Having a look

Put a fire guard in front of it to avoid sparks. Singed cat fur smells terrible

To guard or not to guard I guess that is my question. Kitten is a climber and climbs the tv to look behind it. I am worried he will climb the fire guard and drop down the other side into the fire.

Fire guard hooked on to hooks surrounding the fire place. One of those huge child safety ones that have sides as well as a top.

Oh yes I remember those! My Nan had one in the 1970ties. They are so ugly but I think that’s the solution.

Do you think the big ugly is a temporary thing whilst still a kitten? Can I get rid of it after this winter?

Nan had open bar fire the type toddlers could walk up to and grab. Seems unbelievable now that fires were like that.

To confirm - I also meant the type of fireguard described by Bargebill19.

Thanks @Grumpyoldpersonwithcats. I’ve got a standard one that we don’t use as hearth is deep and fire is set back then we close the fire doors when we go to bed. How long will I need the guard for do you think?

@DidSomebodySaySiamese

I think that after a year or two you could have one of those smaller, curved free standing type guards. If for no other reason than to stop sparks and to protect the fire place in the summer from sooty cats up the chimney. But every cat is different ! At least you can sell on the fire guard if you find you don’t need it.

I have a multi fuel stove. Mine have learnt that it’s ok in the summer to play beside it and even jump on it. But in the winter it is only ok to sleep beside it. It’s lit 24/7 October to March. They always seem to check it out carefully before deciding on their actions.

My parents' cat would take every possible opportunity to go up the chimney (when there wasn't a fire burning). So you may need a fireguard of doom for ever... .

Anyone else’s cat love playing in the coal bucket?

@Bargebill19 good to know Kittens will learn and mine loves the coal bucket. Sooty paw marks rather than poo paws changes it up

@Grumpyoldpersonwithcats I’ve got glass fire doors that close over the fire place in the Summer to stop draughts and soot and to close when we go to bed in case of embers. I watched the film Manchester by the Sea and went all helicopter over it.

Looks like the fireguard of doom is the sensible option.

Thanks for chatting it through with me.

Did somebody say coal bucket?

Is that a door on it ? Can it be closed while the fire is on ? If you don't put a guard I would at least close the doors

Yes it’s glass fire doors but you can’t close them when fire is at full throttle. I got them made from a specialist family business apparently they are more common in the US. I will go with the fireguard of doom then I can relax. If and when kitten slows down I will rethink it.

At least I can close the doors and remove the guard from March to September.

I’ve seen my cat walk over a lit gas cooker burner and try to sniff a fire so I wouldn’t risk it.

@Fluffycloudland77 was that your Bengal? Such a fearless breed - the neighbour’s Bengal had its head in my bedroom window again. Luckily I keep windows open just a crack at nighttime otherwise I think she would have been on my bed. Very friendly purring girl Bengal.

One of my cats singed her whiskers from sniffing a candle. Don't make my mistake of thinking cats won't go near a naked flame - they will!

I hadn’t even considered candles. I have lots of them. Maybe big ugly guard will cover the whole hearth and I can put my floor candles inside it.

Yes it was Asbo, his breeder had a coal fire and no guard. He was pretty gung-ho.

They are a very confident cats.

This is why I had the builders replace the gas hob here with an induction hob.

A fire guard is better.

My old cat used to lie in front of the space heater and singe his fur. We had to get rid of it. The heater that is. The cat died of natural causes.

I don't think cats have an inbuilt instinct to avoid flames or fire so be careful. I had a cat who burnt her eyebrow whiskers with a lit candle, then turned around and put her tail over the candle and set fire to her fluff. It was scary and smelt awful, no harm done to the cat. Luckily I was there to put it out straight away.

@Nikori phew! I wondered where that was going...

I’m now eyeing my gas hob.

I am creating the walk of death on one shelf. It’s the only one kitten can’t access and now has candles and bonsi tree on it.

Old boy used to love sprawling in front of our open fire, purring. He used to come downstairs especially when he heard it being lit. Never any trouble. New cat is thick as two short planks and repeatedly tried to jump up into the chimney when the fire was lit. Idiot. Our guard is now on all the time when idiot cat is awake and fire is lit. You just can't tell if you've got a duff one until it is too late.

I think their natural curiosity just takes over sometimes.