Candles - do cats "know" fire is dangerous?
Date: Sat, 26 Dec 1998 10:55:05 -0500 Subject: FEL-L: Candles and house cats
Do felines a natural instinct to know that fire is dangerous?
I have a bob, and I love to burn candles (helps cover the odor from the big pee-pee couch, and even the odors that come from his litter boxes), but I am soooo paranoid that he will sniff it with his inquisitive nature, and catch on fire. This isn't funny but a I just had a mental image of him running around the house, flames following. He is a playful little beast in the first place. He runs so fast, the fire would probably burn out anyway, couldn't keep up with him. It amazes me how agile he is and we know their leaping capabilities. Often he will put on a gymnastics show when stalking his Pooh Bears, Frogies, Curious George or Miss Pinky, to name a few (stuffed animals). Lots of flips and somersaults (some unintentional) and he knows he is just so cool! Sorry, getting off on a tangent here, guess it's pretty obvious I adore him. He is one of the few things in life that truly bring me happiness.
Back to the topic of this posting: I burn small candles now in the bathrooms with the doors closed, but was wondering if I don't have to be as cautious, if indeed cats know fire is bad and wouldn't mess with it. Thanks for any replies.
Date: Sat, 26 Dec 1998 11:47:54 EST Subject: Re: FEL-L: Candles and house cats
I think candles and cats are just a bad combination!! The cat would probably only burn himself once BUT.... I would worry far more about the cat swacking the candle and knocking it over onto something flamable and poof, big fire!!!
Date: Sun, 27 Dec 1998 07:39:44 +1100 Subject: Re: FEL-L: Candles and house cats
I have domestic cats and love to burn candles also. Have you tried floating candles. The water will probably put the candles out if the container is knocked over. My problem is that my domestic cats drink the water from the floating candle container instead of their water bowl. I have also seen someone get a heavy outdoor bird bath and cover it in ceramics. This was then used for floating flowers and candles and it looked very nice.
However even if you try floating candles never leave cats alone with candles. It's just too dangerous for both the animal and your house.
Date: Sat, 26 Dec 98 17:08:39 -0000 Subject: FEL-L: Re: Cats and candles
I sometimes burn candles. I had one on the floor, trying to light a recalcitrant heater. Stinky, a domestic who is a few bricks shy of a load, came over and rubbed her side against it. She is part Maine Coon, so she has this long coat, with a thick undercoat. I started beating it out, while running down the hall to the bathroom, turned on the tub, and stuck her under it. I came out looking like I'd been taming lions at a wet t-shirt contest, but her fur was long enough so it hadn't reached her skin. The apartment smelled of burned fur.
Now I've moved, got a new heater, and the candles stay on the table, where I can see them. We got a gas burning heater that looks like a wood burner, and you can see the fire. This has helped a lot keeping Stinky and my other fire lovers away from the flame.
Yield House and Toscano, I think, have sconces, so you can mount them on the wall, away from everything, and burn the candles there. So far, none of my cats have climbed the walls.
Date: Sat, 26 Dec 1998 22:59:30 -0800 Subject: FEL-L: Cats and Candles
Years ago, I had a domestic kitten who ONE TIME ran up to investigate a candle... he singed his baby whiskers, and never went near another candle... but with an active exotic I'd be more worried about a fire starting from a knocked over candle