Cats and kerosene heaters

[rfd...@optonline.net]

Anyone out there that has cats use a kerosene heater? After the power outages of
Hurricane Irene here in the Northeast, I'm scared to death of loosing power and
heat for an extended period during the winter. I want get a couple of kerosene
heaters for a dire emergency, but I have five cats and I'm worried one of them,
sending the warmth and comfort, would try to jump up on top of it and burn their
pawss or worse. There's only a steel cage type thing around it. So I'm looking
for someone with experience. Thanks.

[AMUN]

How smart are your cats ?
Probably smarter than you think.
I think most would keep their distance from anything that is a heat source,
and even if they did jump on it once,....they wouldn't stay there long
enough to do serious damage.

But you could try turning it on full blast and holding the cat with it's
legs dangling inches above it,....it would get the message to stay off.

[abc123]

This post is quite old, so at this point I am just responding to anyone who might be doing a random search for "cat and kerosene heater". My cat had a freak accident with a heater that was not on, getting his leg stuck in the wire cage (probably trying to jump on top, but I don't know). The wire then pierced his leg (in one side and out the other) and we had to cut the wire to free him.
I would never recommend these heaters if you have cats. If you really want a kerosene heater and you have cats please see if you can find one without the wire cage.