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Cat Forum / Cat Anecdotes / July 2004Kittens & Candles Don't Mix
Just thought I would pass on something that happened last night. Candles and cats together in a house probably aren't a good idea anyway, but I never had any problem. I was always careful to put them in a heavy votive holder and not to put them on the coffee tables where the cats jump. Anyway, I found the entire kitchen tableclock blazing last night. The napkin holder was turned over, and the kittens were looking at me like, "Well, WE didn't do it." I think they knocked over the napkinholder and the paper napkins caught on the candle, which caught the tablecloth. No harm done, the table has a cloth on it because the top was already scarred anyway. But it's another one of those lessons you don't forget. Sherry I've always been scared of cats and candles. I finally got some wall sconces that are way out of reach of the cats. I still hesitate to use it because I'm just chicken about fire, but it is definitely out of cats way. Glad the damage was not worse!! > Just thought I would pass on something that happened last night. Candles and > cats together in a house probably aren't a good idea anyway, but I never had [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > lessons you don't forget. > Sherry >I've always been scared of cats and candles. I finally got some wall sconces >that are way out of reach of the cats. I still hesitate to use it because >I'm just chicken about fire, but it is definitely out of cats way. Glad the >damage was not worse!! Everybody should be so cautious. It seems like since scented candles became so popular, you hear so much more often about houses/apartments burning because of candles left burning. I'm so paranoid about odor because I don't have a sense of smell myself, that's why I buy them. Poupourri would be a better choice I guess, or other things. Do you have a favorite? Sherry > >I've always been scared of cats and candles. I finally got some wall sconces > >that are way out of reach of the cats. I still hesitate to use it because [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > guess, or other things. Do you have a favorite? > Sherry I LOVE Yankee Candle air sprays. I like the "Clean Cotton". http://www.yankeecandle.com/cgi-bin/ycbvp/listing.jsp?category=%2fRetail%2fHome+ Fragrance%2fRoom+Spray Also the have car danglys (don't know what you call them, you hang them on your rearview mirror) in the "Clean Cotton" fragrance. I hang them on the door jamb in the bathroom as an air freshener. Works well. http://www.yankeecandle.com/cgi-bin/ycbvp/listing.jsp?category=%2fRetail%2fHome+ Fragrance%2fCar+Jars I get them at local bath and bedroom type stores. > Just thought I would pass on something that happened last night. Candles and > cats together in a house probably aren't a good idea anyway, but I never had [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > lessons you don't forget. > Sherry I've always been worried about cats and fire. I even put my cats in another room if I light the fireplace (gas logs, but the glass doors must remain open when they are lit). I could get a screen to keep the cats away from the flames if I used it very often. However, this is East Texas, so I rarely light the fireplace -- just on occasion when I want to look at it. I think cats would be intelligent enough to stay away from open flames, but I still have enough "fear" that I don't want them close to it. MaryL >> Anyway, I found the entire kitchen tableclock blazing last night. >> The napkin holder was turned over, and the kittens were looking at [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > must remain open when they are lit). > MaryL I don't have gas logs. In the winter, if I light a fire, Persia loafs in front of it soaking up the heat like it is sunshine. She never gets too close to the screen. I did, however, have to move the pine cones which I had (decoratively) placed by the fireplace tools. She likes to bat those around. I was afraid they would entice her too close to the screen when I have a fire blazing. Jill > I've always been worried about cats and fire. I even put my cats in another > room if I light the fireplace (gas logs, but the glass doors must remain > open when they are lit). When I had the gas logs lit last winter, Jo the kitten decided to explore the fireplace while the fire was burning! Fortunately without singeing fur or whiskers. YIPES! I'm glad you are okay! TBird <----- kittens! > Just thought I would pass on something that happened last night. Candles and > cats together in a house probably aren't a good idea anyway, but I never had [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > lessons you don't forget. > Sherry glad everything was ok. i tried floating candles as i thought that at least if anything happened there would be some water around. this didnt work as cat just drank the water fromt he other side of the bowl. i now tend to use gel candles as they solidify when knocked over so slightly less chance of large fire. CAti > Just thought I would pass on something that happened last night. Candles and > cats together in a house probably aren't a good idea anyway, but I never had [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > lessons you don't forget. > Sherry > glad everything was ok. i tried floating candles as i thought that at least > if anything happened there would be some water around. this didnt work as > cat just drank the water fromt he other side of the bowl. I had that problem too - all my floating candles where dry from cats drinking all the water from the conveniently placed (coffee table) new water dishes. I solved the problem by adding vinegar to the water - presto no more dry candle dishes! Hugs, CatNipped CatMom to: Bandit, (a.k.a. "Bitch Cat From Hell"), 14, DLH Tabby Demi, (a.k.a. "Ghost Cat"), 5, DLH Pure White Beauty Jessie, (a.k.a. "Jet Ski"), 4, DSH Tortoiseshell Samantha / Sammy, (a.k.a. "Mini Me"), 2 ½ months, DLH Tabby http://www.gcmensa.org/Cats.html (Jessie, Demi, Bandit) http://www.gcmensa.org/Sammy/ (Sammy) http://www.gcmensa.org/Sammy2/ (All my fur babies) I learned the same thing a couple of weeks ago just not as severe as you did. We had a bad storm and lost power for 5 hours. it was nasty. anyhow we are all sitting in the dark next to the one candle that is left and we look over and Sadie my kitten has her face right over the candle. I guess trying to figure out what the heck it was. I screamed and jumped and she ran away. It didn't hurt her. Only singed her eyebrows which used to be really luxurious and long. Now she looks kind of silly. Guess i just need to buy more flashlights!! > Just thought I would pass on something that happened last night. Candles and > cats together in a house probably aren't a good idea anyway, but I never had [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > lessons you don't forget. > Sherry > I learned the same thing a couple of weeks ago just not as severe as > you did. We had a bad storm and lost power for 5 hours. it was [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > singed her eyebrows which used to be really luxurious and long. Now > she looks kind of silly. Guess i just need to buy more flashlights!! Try oil lamps :) I was without power for 5 DAYS a year ago after a freak storm blew through. I had to cook on the grill for 5 days; got quite creative with it, if I do say so myself. I was making cornbread in a skillet using bacon drippings leftover from breakfast on the cast iron griddle. Made jambalaya, all sorts of things! I could have been an American pioneer! :D But oil lamps are very useful in an outage, unless of course there may be broken gas lines around. I have three of them; 2 smaller ones with the finger-hook thing so you can carry them around easily and a large one that I set on the table next to the sofa. I just set the regular electric lamp on the floor. I could sit and read by it without eye strain. The hurricane shades keep kitty-eyebrows and whiskers out of harms way. Of course, I have flashlights, too. Problem is, batteries. When 300,000 people are without power for a week or more, flashlights AND stores run out of batteries real quick. And flashlight beams are *directed*, rather than casting light all around. Jill >> Just thought I would pass on something that happened last night. >> Candles and cats together in a house probably aren't a good idea [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] >> But it's another one of those lessons you don't forget. >> Sherry > Just thought I would pass on something that happened last night. Candles and > cats together in a house probably aren't a good idea anyway, but I never had [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > lessons you don't forget. > Sherry Yikes! I'm glad you caught the fire before it was any stronger and did more damage. Also glad none of the kitties was hurt by it. Yeah, that's a definite lesson by shock experience. The other night when I was reading in bed, I was surprised when suddenly the lamp came tilting right at me. Cesca had been chasing a gnat which was flying around in the lamp shade. Melissa >Yikes! I'm glad you caught the fire before it was any stronger and did more >damage. Also glad none of the kitties was hurt by it. Yeah, that's a [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > >Melissa I once ran out to make a quick grocery run (thank heavens it was a short one!). Came home to find a lamp I had left on (no shade), knocked over into a laundry basket that had a blanket in it, and the blanket was smoldering. Sonia (RB) had a *very* guilty look on her face; she had earlier been chasing a fly around. Sure enough, when I pulled up the lamp, there was a fried fly on it. Threw the blanket in the shower, called the FD, and except for a bit of smoke, and a slightly burned section of the blanket, no harm was done (except maybe to Sonia's dignity). Ginger-lyn >Just thought I would pass on something that happened last night. Candles and >cats together in a house probably aren't a good idea anyway, but I never had [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] >lessons you don't forget. >Sherry Sherry, so glad everything was okay! That is very, very scary. I used to do a lot of my rituals with candles on the floor. That is, until Geesha's (RB) tail caught fire. I grabbed it and snuffed it out quickly, but candles are no longer left on the floor, and are in places cat tails cannot reach. Ginger-lyn >I used to do a lot of my rituals with candles on the floor. That is, >until Geesha's (RB) tail caught fire. I grabbed it and snuffed it out >quickly, but candles are no longer left on the floor, and are in >places cat tails cannot reach. > >Ginger-lyn Oh no! That gives a whole new meaning to "putting out the cat"! That's the very thing I always worried about. Seeing a cat run down the hall with its tail ablaze. Sherry I agree with caution when dealing with cats and candles. On the other hand, my Maggie proved to work well with candles. About six years ago, when my wife and I first moved into our house, the power went out. We'd only been in the house for about a week, and I was away on business. My wife set up some candles in the bedroom, to read, talk on the phone, or whatever it was she was doing. At some point, Mags, started walking between the dresser where one of the candles was, and my wife, mewing, and getting her attention. Wax had dripped out of the candle, down the dresser, and all over the floor. I doubt it was too serious a situation, but nice to have someone looking out for us. > Just thought I would pass on something that happened last night. > Candles and cats together in a house probably aren't a good idea [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > But it's another one of those lessons you don't forget. > Sherry Glad everything turned out okay. Imagine if you had been preoccupied in another room with something and didn't notice? (Not that I'm saying you'd wander off and leave the kitten near an open flame.) Jill Yipes I totally know the feeling. Most of the time when I light candles the candles are up high so they can't get to them But I'm Wiccan, so I have an altar with candles on it. I haven't been able to hold any formal rituals or anything because the kitties get too curious. Kristi > Yipes I totally know the feeling. Most of the time when I light > candles the candles are up high so they can't get to them > > But I'm Wiccan, so I have an altar with candles on it. I haven't been > able to hold any formal rituals or anything because the kitties get > too curious. Ok, is it just me, or is there an unusually high concentration of Wiccans & assorted Pagans in this group? Is there a correlation with cat ownership and paganism? I remember my first attempt at a Circle- went outside with four candles, set them down at the compass points, lit them and tried to start (being rather nervous and all). Shmogg is far too smart to get anywhere near fire, but Fluffy decided to sniff the flame of one candle and got a *very* hot nose. She yelped and jumped away. That ended that attempt at a circle (if a circle *had* formed, I certainly didn'thave time to undo it properly). Fluffy was fine, no blisters or anything, I think it was just a shock to her that something so small and pretty could bite so hard. I have not attempted a circle with Fluff around again. Yowie, Lost somewhere between Christianity and Wicca >>Yipes I totally know the feeling. Most of the time when I light >>candles the candles are up high so they can't get to them [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Is there a correlation with cat ownership and paganism? Seems to be. I can't even attempt a circle until Nancy has gone to bed and the cats with her. I can then sometimes sneak quietly into the back yard. But indoors? Nope - I'd get smoldering kitty fur. Likewise if I tried it with the back door open. > I remember my first attempt at a Circle- went outside with four candles, set > them down at the compass points, lit them and tried to start (being rather [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > Yowie, > Lost somewhere between Christianity and Wicca >> Yipes I totally know the feeling. Most of the time when I light >> candles the candles are up high so they can't get to them [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > Yowie, > Lost somewhere between Christianity and Wicca I have a Celtic (if you will) interest in this subject. Someone please email me so we may discuss things. I have some questions. Thanks! Jill In the fine newsgroup "rec.pets.cats.anecdotes", Jul 2004: > Just thought I would pass on something that happened last night. > Candles and cats together in a house probably aren't a good idea > anyway, but I never had any problem. Yikes! Glad it wasn't more serious!  SignatureCheryl And on the topic of candles in a house with small living things, let's not forget the importance of being VERY careful in selecting candles for indoor use! A disturbing number of them use lead in the wick, and can emit levels of lead into the atmosphere that can be quickly fatal to indoor birds and could likely cause health issues for cats before too long: http://www.umich.edu/~urecord/9900/Oct18_99/8.htm I tend to buy all of my candles at the local pagan shop, as they as manufactured by local folks and are made with known-good materials. Dan M <dan@webfolks.us> had some very interesting things to say about Re: Kittens & Candles Don't Mix: >And on the topic of candles in a house with small living things, let's >not forget the importance of being VERY careful in selecting candles for >indoor use! A disturbing number of them use lead in the wick, and can >emit levels of lead into the atmosphere that can be quickly fatal to >indoor birds and could likely cause health issues for cats before too long: >http://www.umich.edu/~urecord/9900/Oct18_99/8.htm See http://www.snopes.com/toxins/leadwick.htm for more info on this. Signature"Don't mess with major appliances unless you know what you are doing (or unless your life insurance policy is up-to-date)." - John, RCFL >Dan M <dan@webfolks.us> had some very interesting things to say about >Re: Kittens & Candles Don't Mix: [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > >See http://www.snopes.com/toxins/leadwick.htm for more info on this. The things you learn in this group! I would never have thought there'd be a possibility of lead in candle wicks, so the possibility of lead causing a problem never occured to me. The good news, I guess, is that the above links are, in fact, old news. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has since banned the manufacture, importation, and sale of candles with lead in the wick. http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml03/03105.html And, from my reading of links from my google search, Australia was the first to ban such candles. http://www.lead.org.au/lanv7n4/L74-3.html SignatureSteve Touchstone, faithful servant of Sammy, Little Bit and Rocky stouchst@JUNKsirinet.net [remove Junk for email] Home Page: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/index.html Cat Pix: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/animals.html > Just thought I would pass on something that happened last night. > Candles and cats together in a house probably aren't a good idea [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > But it's another one of those lessons you don't forget. > Sherry I'm VERY glad no harm was done! And of course the cats didn't do it.;-) SignatureAdrian (Owned by Snoopy & Bagheera) A house is not a home, without a cat.
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