How to stop a cat going up the chimney?

[tostaky]

We’ve just got a 6 years ild cat two days ago. This morning, i could not find her but my living room floor was full of sooty paws. When i brought some food out, she came down the chimney!!
ive looked at chimney sheep but if i look at my chimney, i can see there is a space on each side where she could be quite comfy, before the actual chimney shaft (whete the chimney sheep or balloon would go).
if you have a cat, how do you manage this? We want to be able to ise our chimney from time to time too so not looking to block it off permanently!
many thanks

Light a fire?

We shoved a load of plastic bags up our chimney to stop our kittens going up it.

More importantly please pay your cat tax and provide a photo!

You can get a thing called a chimney pig or sheep,pop it up there, it's to stop drafts. We had one a big Persian, she got in a small gap behind the fitted kitchen cupboard, under the floor boards when we were having a rewire, frequently found in wardrobes!

Here is Kitty!

Do people just not bother reading the OP at all?

We had this issue previously. A fire guard solved it, although a determined cat might topple it.

Thank you but there is a cavity before where the chimney sheep goes in my chimney. Will the chimney sheep still deters her? On the website they states that after inserting a chimney sheep “The chimney flue no longer looks like a beckoning void to explore, and with the cold draughts blocked off, it’s no longer a tunnel to the great outdoors.”
i am sceptical? The cavities do look quite comfortable!!

I had to tape a board over our fireplace to keep some foster kittens out.

My friend used an old pillow for exactly this problem. She always knew when boy cat was up the chimney because girl cat would sit on the hearth peering up. Other way is to keep a fire guard in front of chimney

And with sooty paws and a sooty rug/floor!!

We have a fire guard but not a very solid one… and she moves it easily i will try a few options! Thanks

I’ve pushed some cardboard up my chimney - I’ve recently moved so was able to use the cardboard from my moving boxes.

It can be removed if you want to light a fire, though will be a faff. Though if you don’t light a fire till the autumn, maybe the cat will lose interest in the chimney by then?

It’s also possible that as the cat settles into its new home it will feel safer and won’t need to find places to investigate or hide in. So just a temporary blocking off of the fireplace is all that’s needed?

Mad idea - is there a smell cats hate? Rats are supposed to hate peppermint essential oil and it’s often suggested to spray that in areas in the garden to deter them. So is there something that could spray into your chmimney that would put the cat off?

Tell her there are still 254 days till Christmas and if she is going to climb up the chimney she'll be on the Naughty List and get No Presents

There must be a way of protecting children from fireplaces that would work for cats ?
When my DC were little we had a guard that screwed into the wall Not attractive but functional

If you block off the chimney except when a fire is lit, Kitty will lose the habit and may not think of doing it again. It can go with being a new cat looking for a safe space. We had a rescue cat once who lived up the chimney for the first week.

Though come to think of it , looking at that Judgey Face and she's only been in residence for 2 days , I don't think I'd try and stop her doing anything .
Horses Head on your Bed ?

I'd never heard of a cat going up a chimney, ours would only lie in front of the fire to bake but we did have a Dobermann who would stick her head up the chimney and bark when she wanted the fire lit, she and the cat would then bake together with the dogs paws on the hearth almost touching the fire, I don't know how she stood the heat.

Yes, I did read the poster, she said she had looked at a chimney sheep, not that she had tried one. The natural wool ones are meant to be able to bend around odd shapes.. the kitty is gorgeous.

The chimney sheep comes in different sizes so there might be one that would work (can't quite picture your setup). We have a guard and a sheep.

I do agree that that is not a cat I'd thwart lightly.

You should also try offer an alternative hidyhole box which is behind a chair in a corner as she is looking for a safe calm spot to sleep

When we first adopted our cat he did this - we couldn’t get him out for ages! We then just taped a large cardboard box over the fireplace. Once he had settled in we removed it.

The cat is anxious and looking for a safe spot to hide. Even if they appear confident and outgoing, they’ll be looking for somewhere safe to sleep.

As a PP mentions, provide alternative hiding spots (cardboard boxes with small entry holes etc) and you might find the problem goes away. If you have small children, the cat also needs access to somewhere the children can’t get at.

It sounds like she has found a hiding place she feels secure while getting used to her new home. Do you have other places she can hide like a cat cave or cardboard box on its side. Put some treats in it then duct tape a sheet of wood or cardboard over the fireplace.

This is what you need OP https://www.gratefireplaceaccessories.co.uk/24-wedge-fire-screen-the-noble-collection-black?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=18739741084&utm_content=&utm_term=&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADx85TP2msh7nCnrwGDdY0Ao0P98V&gclid=Cj0KCQjwh_i_BhCzARIsANimeoGxByefcoPGIDV5oZS164ippIdbfHOHo5wImbTpBybd498XUnq-Oo0aArq6EALw_wcB

I would keep her out of that room for a few weeks - you’re supposed to limit the rooms a new cat is allowed in, they look for hiding places in new homes.
Then get a fire guard that is substantial enough to stop it being able to move it.

Big bin bag, pillow inside the bin bag, shove it up the chimney.

Give Chimney Sheep a call who are very helpful and they may be able to advise or offer a bespoke solution.
Contact Us – Chimney Sheep