by Michael
(London, UK)
This is a short post on the hazard that recliner chairs pose to kittens and cats. I am particularly concerned for kittens because they are able to crawl into smaller spaces. The idea for the post came from Elisa’s article on cat accidents that can happen in the home.
Recliner chairs are pretty popular. Perhaps they are more popular with older people. Older people are potentially the best group of people to care for domestic cats because they are around the home more than active younger people. They are also less likely to be moving home and relinquishing their cat.
Photo by uberculture (Flickr)
Recliner chairs have a mechanism that allows the chair to recline. That is obvious. The mechanism is under the chair. The mechanism will by necessity have air spaces around and through it to allow it to work unobstructed.
These air spaces are ideal dens and sleeping spots for kittens to curl up into. As these spaces are accessible from under the chair and close to the ground a kitten can easily jump up into the space.
As it is impossible to see a cat in this space you can see how a disastrous accident can occur.
When the chair is reclined the space will be compressed (flattened) or the shape and position of the moving parts will change. This is highly likely, perhaps almost certainly, to cause the kitten to be trapped and crushed.
Severe injury is likely to result.
Conclusion: Well, the obvious conclusion is not to buy a reclining chair if you keep cats and particularly if there is a likelihood of kittens being present in the home.
If kittens and cats are to be in the home temporarily an alternative is to jam the recliner mechanism in the closed position, or block access to the underside of the chair or remove the chair to a locked room to which cats do not have access.
I feel that there is a great and unrecognized danger to kittens particularly from recliner chairs of all types.
Please be aware of this.
Note: Some recliners may well have a valance type structure around its base to prevent access but many don’t. Also these chairs will allow access when in the opened up (reclined) position.
Recliner Chairs and Kittens to Cat Health Problems
Just happened to me, really sad experience, I’d thought of it too, thought this recliner could kill the kitten, forgot, and it did, not sure how to feel. Only had her a week, she was so good, can’t get her out of my mind . I know it was quick, but still, she was so good, such a loss.
Mary Lou. This is your post:
https://pictures-of-cats.org/riser-recliner-chairs-can-crush-pets.html
It is verbatim except for a tiny addition – the use in brackets of “riser recliner” to let Google find that phrase more easily.
I hope you are OK with this and thanks again.
OMG I hate to read that. It is so sad. I am so sorry to read your story. RIP Harley. It is so sad, Mary Lou. So sad.
I am going to make your comment into an article to warn others. I’ll do it now. I hope you approve that. It may serve to protect others so some good comes from this terrible accident.
Thanks for visiting and sharing Mary Lou.
This picture is the style chair. Harley’s little body was stretched across the front bar, the chair goes down about 3″ above the floor when lifted. I believe the chair must have been reclined, and somehow, he got swept under it as she was moving from recline, to sit, stand. She is very hard of hearing, unable to wear a hearing aid, the tv is always very loud, so did not hear him.
My beloved 10 year old, 18 lb Cairn Terrier, Harley, who grew up around Recliner Lift chairs somehow got swept under my mothers lift chair August 15, 2014 and was crushed to death. I am devasted, my mother is as well. He would have been 11 in January. He bleed out from his crush injuries, sadly was not found for a while, as she got up to go to bed, and I found him when I came home. I am angry at myself, for not protecting him, at the manufacturer for not having better warnings, or not installing “Stop” mechanisms like garage door openers. I would gladly have paid more $ for a chair with this. Of course, I knew recliners could be dangerous to children, but thought that was corrected by making the “X” recliner mechanism smaller so heads didn’t get caught. Since he was always around them from the time he was a puppy, and never went near the bottom of the chair I’m in shock. He always sat on her lap when I was out, never under the recliner part, as a matter of fact, she rarely reclines. The woman at the cremation place told us this is a fairly common cause of death for cats, dogs of all sizes as well as ferrets, etc. Also, sofa beds commonly trapped and kill pets. I looked through the manual, a tiny one inch warning logo, in black. I talked to the medical supply store, never heard of this, never warned anyone. They promised me, they will ask if there are pets in the home to anyone who comes in to but one, and warn them of the danger. There should be better safety measures in place. Heartbroken! Thank you, for sharing your story and I am sorry for all of the people who’ve posted losses. R.I.P. Harley, hope there really is a Rainbow Bridge and I see you again. <3 (Picture of Harley on her lap in the death chair,during AFC Championship game Feb.2013.)
Tonight has been so horrible for me. My cat had kittens and they’re now a month and a half old. My mother is staying with me, and she has a recliner. Well I havent seen one of the kittens all day, her name was Snowball. When it was time to feed, all of the kittens came out but Snowball. I know the kittens like to sleep under the recliner. The first thing I do is go look under the chair, and I lift it up. Snowball is hanging there, lifeless, stuck between a piece of wood. I’m devastated and I can’t stop crying. I will never own a recliner and I am getting this one out of my house. Please beware of recliners, they’re dangerous!