cat turning on stove burner?

mustard · #1 11/28/06, 08:41 PM

I think one of my family is suffering from some kind of mental problem. There's other things going on, but one that is really bothering me is:

This person is claiming that one of the two house cats is turning on the stove. I don't believe them but I want to give them the benefit of the doubt...They had started out claiming that a family member that they don't like had done it, but when they found out this person hadn't been in the house they changed their story. This person had other emotional issues going on.

Of course, I'm worried about the possibility they (or the cats?) will cause a fire...

They have recently replaced their stove, but these stories began with the "old" stove. Both the old and the new stove have the burners you have to push in and then turn before it will light. (Both stoves are propane.)

Has anyone heard of something like this; that a cat or cats could turn on a stove? Do you know anywhere I can research this? Maybe some site that has records of how fires have started?

Thank you for any help you can give.

arabian knight · #2 11/28/06, 08:47 PM

IF the knobs are on the front of the stove, Yes I sure think it is possible. I have personally seen a cat Open a Closed dresser Drawer and Then climb on in~!! This was the bottom one and the cat would go underneath and work its paws on the underside of the drawer till it opened enough and then could climb in. And I did not believe my friends either till I actually witnessed it myself. So ya Heck Cats Can even Flush Toilets by themselves that has been on shown many times and even one does flush the stool Over And Over and Over again on You Tube~! So if the control knobs are set on the front side I can see a cat playing with them yes.....

knight88 · #3 11/28/06, 08:58 PM

Mustard, I am afraid you have a serious problem. I am a firefighter and have two 9 year old boys, a very similar thing happened in my house. After a thorough "interrogation" the younger boy confessed he had done it he also had discharged a fire extiguisher on the stove. More questions followed and then found that he played with matches in his room. The stove fire was to cover the fire smell. Lots of counseling followed. Most fire departments have this program available and its not restricted to children. Feel free to contact me for further info, hope it helps.. Andy

Maura · #4 11/28/06, 09:23 PM

Yes, cats can turn knobs. Claws are very useful in this regard. No, they cannot push in the knob and turn it.

wyld thang · #5 11/28/06, 09:45 PM

Tell them to take off the knobs and only put them on when they use the stove---the problem "should" go away.

suzyhomemaker09 · #6 11/28/06, 09:46 PM

There is the possibility that if a cat is jumping up on the stove that the impact of their landing is turning the stove on...takes only a moment to remove the knobs if that is the case...one would have to slip it back in place to turn teh stove on but it could save a fire from happening.

mustard · #7 11/29/06, 06:43 AM

Good points, but I forgot to mention - I've owned cats for decades, and it really appears impossible for the cats to turn on the burners without actually standing over the burner that would be turned on - and getting burned, or at least scorched...not to mention that the cats avoid the stove when the burners are on. There is no way I can picture the cats reaching the knobs otherwise...

Mustard

jen74145 · #8 11/29/06, 07:12 AM

I have a riange where the knobs are on top, and must be pushed in and turned to turn them on. I also have eight bengal cats, and let me say, YES they can turn them on. I've seen my big guy do it, he was hopping down from the counter (not supposed to be up there!) and his back foot caught it just right.
So yes, kitty can be responsible. I know when we had the kind of range with knobs on the front, we had to slap some duct tape across them to prevent a curious kitty from swatting them on.

almostthere · #9 11/29/06, 07:15 AM

So there isnt a counter or table next to the stove for the cat to sit on while playing with the knobs?

Sounds like you might have a firebug. Set up a camera. If it really is the cat, get a good tape of it, then remove the knobs. Then go to that Funniest Pet video shows and enter to win.

TexasArtist · #10 11/29/06, 07:26 AM

I had a freind whos cat turned on the burner. I was staying with her and woke very early in the morning to use the bathroom. I had to pass by the kitchen and I smelled a very odd smell. Couldn't figure out what it was and thouhgt she must be cooking something. Well I went in and asked her and she said no. We went to investigate and found that the burner was turned on and she had a vinegar and oil set setting on the burner that was on. Needless to say the glass container had burned stuff inside them. We shut if off and got the glass off the stove. Her cats had a habit of jumping on the counters and such at night. One of then jumped up from the stove direction and hit the knob with the foot turning it on.
If the knobs are sidways(horizantal) and the cats foot is hitting it then it could possible be that the cats are turning on the stove. Take the knobs off.

Jillis · #11 11/29/06, 07:30 AM

I concur---hide a video camera and tape the stove. This sounds dangerous.

I saw a vid on America's Funniest. The mom of the family was sure her teens were taking all the cookies from the cookie jar at night. She put a camera on the cookie jar. At night, a mouse would come out and UNSCREW this big round lid on the cookie jar and eat the cookies!

Her kitchen was immaculate. She must have freaked to find out her family was eating cookies from a cookie jar frequented by a mouse. I wonder why it didn't leave any telltale droppings?

pookshollow · #12 11/29/06, 08:08 AM

Cats can definitely turn on a stove. Once, when I lived in an apartment, I was cooking up some turkey soup. I walked into the kitchen, wondering why my kettle was boiling when it wasn't plugged in - then realized the burner was on. I figure that Spenser, my shape-changing alien cat, probably grabbed the knob in his teeth, in frustration at not being able to get at the turkey soup.

Of course, if the soup had not been on a hot burner, he would have pushed off the lid and/or pushed the pot on the floor. This is a cat who opens cupboard doors, biscuit tins, plastic containers . . .

Janis Sauncy · #13 11/29/06, 09:11 AM

There was a news item on tv recently about a dog that turned on the stove in his attempt to get to a box of donuts either on the stove or in a cupboard above it. This caused a fire in the apartment and, according to the news, this was the second time he had done this.

I suppose the ability of a cat to turn a knob would depend on the stove. I've had lots of different stoves over the years and different brands, ages, etc. have different knob set-ups.

I guess if I was concerned about it, I would unplug the stove when not in use.