Recently one cat has figured out that the toastiest seat in the house is to sit right on top of the hot air vent in the dining room. I am running the furnace to heat her belly--when she's sitting there, which is at least 2 hours every day, the hot air never makes it into the room. What do I do? How do I keep the cat away from the vent without blocking the vent itself?
It's a good thing they are adorable, because my cats are so weird.
2.11.2009
Serious Energy Efficiency Question
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
10 comments:
Since the cat is blocking the vent anyway, you can try just closing it for a couple days and see if she figures out it's a useless seat now. (Of course, if she's smart, she'll notice when you open the vent, and go right back to it.)
You could get a vent redirect -- it's a curved cover over the vent, pointing the airflow out to the side instead of straight up. Even with this, though, your cat might just sit right NEXT to it, and the problem is the same. (Image from google: http://www.drillspot.com/pimages/1466/146620_300.jpg)
Depending on your views on cat training, you could spritz her with water every time she sits on the vent (whether it's on or off), and she'll quickly get the idea that she shouldn't sit there.
Or, you could not worry too much about it. Yes, the cat is absorbing some of the heat energy that you'd really like to be warming the room. However, she's also basically blocking the vent, which (slightly) increases the airflow to other rooms. Those rooms will get extra warmth from the extra airflow. Your dining room will be chillier than average, though. I'm actually taking an HVAC course at the moment; we haven't gotten to airflow yet, though, so I can't really quantify exactly what you're losing while Kitty toasts her tummy :) (And personally, I'd be bothered by it even if it's insignificant. Energy isn't cheap, and cats are supposed to sit in sunbeams to nap.)
Maybe try an upside-down colander over it--plenty of holes, and no place to sit...? Worth a try!
oh man that sucks! there are some sprays you can put around it that are "supposed to" scare cats away - have you tried that?
not sure what the best kind is, but it's worth a shot probably.
Ooooh, I like the colander idea!
Along the same lines as the colander idea I was picturing a milk crate like this http://www.shinynewmachine.com/tutorials/detail/images/milkcrate.jpg
That way cat still gets his or her spot, but warmth can come out too.
In the spirit of the colander/milk crate suggestions: upside down plastic laundry basket. She could still sleep on it, but the air would be able to get out the sides.
Ooh, you should definitely take Alex up on that offer. He sounds VERY legitimate.
Whatever you do to block off the vent (a la colander), make sure it's fastened or weighted tightly, or you'll come home to a displaced laundry basket and a warm cat.
Like some others have said, a milk crate or laundry basket upside down should do. For a more tailored effect, try a shoe rack, or even a cooling rack, with a little kitty cushion or folded bit of fabric.
I have no idea, but that is hysterical.
Good news, the colander seems to work as a stopgap!
But Jen and Laughing have inspired me, maybe I should design a little kitty platform so they have a warm place to sit that's not completely in the way of things.
Post a Comment