cat jumps into oven

[caybee 21]

Our six-month-old kitten has taken to trying to jump into the electric oven and will run to the back of it and hide. She's tried a few times, succeeded a couple, and one of those times, I had just turned on the oven, saw her, and grabbed her out before it heated up. Obviously, this terrifies me, and I worry that she'll jump in when one of us has our back turned and we won't see her. I'm going to buy a toaster oven because that will do for most things we make, and I'm going to attach a chain to the oven door so it will only open about 45 degrees or so, which will be awkward but should allow enough clearance for us to get a casserole dish in there and will be constant reminder. Any other ideas? Thank you!

[john_and_marlene 162]

The cat will stop doing it the first time you bake it.

[HAL 9000 96]

Holy cow! I mean cat!

The next time kitty tries do the Montessori method of teaching it to think about the consequences of its actions...

Or just say NO really firmly until it stops. Or else.

[*JG* 2]

The cat will stop doing it the first time you bake it.

My husband would say the same thing.

[sara535 15]

I use a spray bottle of water on my cats for whatever naughtiness they are up to and it works well. I would open the oven and let her jump in and then spray her wildly. repeat as necessary.

[john_and_marlene 162]

The cat will stop doing it the first time you bake it.

My husband would say the same thing.

He's clearly a right-minded individual.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

One of our cats did that when she was a kitten.

I think you're supposed to traumatise the cat so that it associates unpleasantness with that part of the kitchen and will avoid it. Let it get back there and before you get her out - bang on the side of the oven a few times.

[caybee 21]

I use a spray bottle of water on my cats for whatever naughtiness they are up to and it works well. I would open the oven and let her jump in and then spray her wildly. repeat as necessary.

Worth a try. Thank you! What worries me is that one successful attempt would be all it would take.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

The spray bottle (or one of those air-cans) only really works when you're there. Cats are smart enough to associate an object you're holding with subsequent punishment, so they'll only learn to avoid the behaviour while you're around.

[caybee 21]

One of our cats did that when she was a kitten.

I think you're supposed to traumatise the cat so that it associates unpleasantness with that part of the kitchen and will avoid it. Let it get back there and before you get her out - bang on the side of the oven a few times.

Another good idea -- a loud noise and the spray bottle. That should help. Thank you.

[Krikit 1,166]

Add vegetables, cream, top with cheese, and bake at 350^o.

(TOTALLY kidding)

I'd try the super-soaker and the bang on the oven trick. Though I wouldn't be too thrilled about the fur in any future casseroles.

[HAL 9000 96]

One of our cats did that when she was a kitten.

I think you're supposed to traumatise the cat so that it associates unpleasantness with that part of the kitchen and will avoid it. Let it get back there and before you get her out - bang on the side of the oven a few times.

Another good idea -- a loud noise and the spray bottle. That should help. Thank you.

Conditioning at its best. Beware though... the kitty will grow up to associate similar loud noises with punishment.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Most cats are spooked by loud, unexpected noises anyway. Ours often get disturbed up by the TV sound system and have to abandon the couch for the bedroom.

[Amby 490]

The cat will stop doing it the first time you bake it.

That's what I was thinking

[Emancipation 2]

Add vegetables, cream, top with cheese, and bake at 350^o.

(TOTALLY kidding)

:rofl: That made my week gal!!