My wife and I have been considering adopting a cat from a shelter.  I have a
concern about the fireplace, though.

The last time we had a cat in the house it was a week-long cat-sitting.
That particular cat loved to hide back behind/underneath our round, metal
fireplace.  In other words, we don't have a traditional stone fire place in
the wall.  We have one of those 1970's stove-pipe style models.

During the week of cat sitting, it was about 100 in the shade, so using the
fireplace wasn't a consideration.  As it cools-off this fall, I began to
think about how that cat loved to get back underneath the stove-like
fireplace and wondered if a new kitty could get burned by this arrangement.
I really don't think a suitable barrier could be constructed to keep the
kitty away, either.

Any thoughts/opinions?