My cat learned how to cook on the stove

First let me say that we are all safe.
So I never use my stove. I made the mistake of using it as a regular table and had multiple things on top of the stove. Around 6 am today, I heard a loud noise which is comon between 5 kittens and two 1yrd cats chasing each other. (What did they knock over this time?)
I was happy to keep on sleeping and investigate on my own time.

As I happily kept on dreaming the thought in my head was "why do I smell fire?" Is that a restaurant? I eventually put the pieces together and jumped out of my bed, ran into the kitchen and began using my lungs to try to blow out the carboard that was partially in flames.

I realized I wasn't succeeding and ambers were lifting off and landing everywhere. I noticed someone had put the top burner on high. I turned it off, ran to the hallway where the red extinguisher sat and after what felt like an hour I finally took out all the safeties on the exiting hers and put out the little fire while it was still little.
The smoke detector was going off by this point. I grabbed a shirt and tied it on my face and began opening every windows and taking inventory of my 7 roommates.

As much as I want to cast blame, the only one at fault is myself. I'll have to find a way to keep my roommates from operating the stove in the future, specially when I'm at work between my two jobs.

And yes I did tell them I enjoyed their cooking, but I rather them leave the cooking to me from now on.

So frightening.  Lucky you are all ok!

Why not just unplug the stove if you don't use it?  The whole setup looks like trouble, with the ac unit sitting near it, plugged in so close.

So sorry that happened!!!   And glad you are all okay!

I agree with Laurie; maybe unplug the stove, or at least duct tape over the knobs so that they cannot be turned? 

I'm glad you and the cats are ok I agree with the others - if you don't ever use the stove, then unplug it. Have someone help you if the plug is behind the stove where you an't easily reach it. And even when it is unplugged, don't keep anything that can go up in flames on the stove no matter how tempting it is to use the stove top as a table. It's just common sense fire safety You may want to get a new fire extinguisher. Some can only be used once.

WOW!! That is crazy!!

You can also get "child proof" knob locks.

http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/sa...4-5a98-437b-bad0-70e346b8dc17&kpid=sku6131494

DH and I had them when we ran daycare in our house. Most models have a snap like system, where you push a lever to open it and get access to the stove.

I don't know if I suffer from black humor, but I appreciated the way you narrated the story 

I'm sure it was frightening but you seemed like you had it under control. It was good you second-guessed yourself and got up to see what was going on after all..

I do have a recommendation (for which I'm 99% certain):
I don't think opening windows is exactly what you want to do, when you have a fire in a closed environment. Fire feeds with oxygen. If you open the windows, you let more oxygen into the air, which can make the fire really bigger in seconds (and risk you getting burned, especially on the facial area). What you did with the shirt on your face was good. For future reference, if you had the chance to wet the shirt with some water before putting it on your face, that would be awesome. 

You got a crafty little bunch over there 

My husband never gets why we have to unplug everything.

I looked for a plug but I couldn't find one, so I pulled the burner out for all 4. I had to clean the oven and just decided to not put them back in. Is there any danger this way? even if they turn the nob, without that burner?

Kittens Mom said:

 
My husband never gets why we have to unplug everything.

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Looks like you're better than him when it comes to expecting the unexpected. Better Safer than Sorry!

I'd just take the knobs off and put them back on when I needed to use it. I'm glad everyone is OK. 

gunblade said:

 
I looked for a plug but I couldn't find one, so I pulled the burner out for all 4. I had to clean the oven and just decided to not put them back in. Is there any danger this way? even if they turn the nob, without that burner?

Looks like you're better than him when it comes to expecting the unexpected. Better Safer than Sorry!

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Kitten learned early on to open the trays on every game system and DVD player. Turn lights on and off and that Sitting on the button on the top of an old CRT tv we had when she was a baby could get attention as she wiggled her butt and made the channels change and the volume soar or go mute. WE finally had to tape cardboard over the top. She would sit up there and do a hula with her bottom. Since we only cook for the two of us I use a countertop convention oven most of the time. You brush the buttons and it comes on. Kitten has sat in , on or under everything in my home. And yes I remove the stove knobs and put them on the shelf above when we're on vacation. Cats are the equivalents of toddler who can climb the walls.

Wow!  With all the electrical cords and the blocked vents on the air-conditioner it looks like several more 'accidents' waiting to happen!

I'm glad the cats are all safe... for now! But you seriously need to 'cat-proof' your apartment! 

Stoves are usually lighter than you'd think. If you tug on it, you'll find the cord.

I agree with taking the knobs off. If you do this there's little chance they can turn one on accidentally.

A kitchen fire extinguisher is pretty inexpensive. $10-15. I have one that comes in cans and all I'd have to do is remove the cap and spray.

Very glad it wasn't worse or that your cats weren't injured! You might want to put double sided tape on aluminum foil and put on counters to teach the cats to stay off. The foil is a convenience--the tape can be hard to take off.

You could put the (unplugged) stove in a closet and set up a cat tree in its place, lol!

Glad you are safe... scary story!

PushPurrCatPaws said:

You could put the (unplugged) stove in a closet and set up a cat tree in its place, lol!

Glad you are safe... scary story!

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OR you could remove the elements, unplug it, take a piece of scrap lumber, cut to fit the top of the stove, cover it in a piece of carpeting and attach it to the stovetop. It would make a lovely perch for some kitties to nap on. Why waste all that vertical space?     Removing the door, the racks and the top and bottom elements and then fitting the interior with more carpeting would turn it into a wonderful "cave". My Sophie would adore that! I bet yours would, too! Who needs a stove when you can have a giant kitty perch/cave?   

I'm glad everyone is safe, too!!  

Kat0121 said:

... OR you could remove the elements, unplug it, take a piece of scrap lumber, cut to fit the top of the stove, cover it in a piece of carpeting and attach it to the stovetop. It would make a lovely perch for some kitties to nap on. ...

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eh - not a fan of electric stoves anyway, even the shells of them! Heh, it's better off in storage
Just go straight to a regular cat tree!

I am so glad you are safe!!    It looks like from your photo that the plug is hard to get to.  I can see that the sides of the oven are right up against the wall and counter, so you cannot get your hands around it from the side.  When I have to unplug my oven, I can grab it from the sides and pull it out that way.  

Can you open the oven door and try to slide it out that way?  Is there someone that may give you a hand?

I think removing the knobs or childproofing them is better than removing the burners.  If you remove the burners, the cats can still turn on the stove and have electricity running through it.

I am SO glad you are alright!

...Or you can all live on a giant cat tree and everyone will be happy!! 

 No plugs, no fires, no beds.. You won't have anywhere to sleep so, you'll be able to monitor the kitties from getting into trouble again! 

Just kidding! 

So glad you're all okay.