Our washer broke recently. You wouldn’t think this would be a big deal to us cats since we don’t wear clothes, but Pierre loves his clean sheets more than just about anything else. Our old washer was pretty old.
Well, maybe not quite that old. But it was old. And our new washer is all fancy and opens on the front.
Doesn’t that look like a great place to hang out if you’re a cat?
Of course, that’s not a photo of one of us. Our washer is in the garage, and we aren’t allowed out there. Lots of kitties live in houses where the washer and dryer are right inside the house, and there is no way that we would be able to resist such a tempting hiding place.
Unfortunately, a lot of cats have trouble resisting staying out of washers and especially warm dryers. That can be really dangerous. How often do you check the inside of your washing machine or dryer before starting to put laundry in there? Unless you said “every single time,” there’s always the risk that your kitty may have gone in there to take a nap when you weren’t looking. Washers with dirty clothes smell like their favorite people — you — just like your laundry basket does, and that makes them especially inviting. Not to mention that dryers are often warm. We all know how much cats like finding warm spots to rest.
We know someone whose kitty was sleeping in the dryer when it was started, and it didn’t turn out well, and we don’t want this to happen to you! Things you can do to help prevent this include:
- Always checking the inside of the washer and dryer before putting in clothes or running it, even if it was unattended only briefly.
- Securely closing the doors that access laundry rooms.
- Closing the washer and dryer door between loads to prevent access. For washers that get musty if left closed and do not have a built-in way to prop them slightly ajar, look into getting a gadget to hold them ajar just enough for air to dry the washer without allowing access to your kitty.
With a little extra diligence, your cat can be safe even around your tempting front-loading washer and dyer.
Photo Credits
Washing the Old Way by Dean Wiles on Flickr
Fate by Andrew Follow on Flickr
Our mom gets help from us kitties when she loads the washer and dryer. Our washer is top load while our dryer is front load. Mom let us smell the the dryer before she shuts it.
This is a really great post. I bet more kitties will be seeking out nice warm places to curl up as fall and winter get here.
I *always* check the washer and dryer before I put clothes in and run it. I had a friend who didn’t check, and it ended really tragically. 🙁 Our building’s washers and dryers are in separate rooms I don’t think pets can get into, but I always check anyway! I would hate for someone’s furry friend to get stuck in there.
I’m going to share this with my Facebook audience. It is such an important and timely reminder.
Our washer and dryer are in the garage too – and I’m the only one allowed there, and only because I’m in a carrier and on my way somewhere! So there is little to no chance we’ll ever wind up in either of them. (BTW, the humans got the cool, front-loading machines a couple of years ago and love them.) But this is a great PSA for humans who have in-house laundry going on!
Gweat posty. Ow washer and dwyer awe in da house, but mommy keps da lids closed all da time. And even duin’ dat hers looks fur us and then looks inside them as ifin there wuz anypawdy els in da house afur hers duz a load. So mommy wuld be one of da foo dat answered always. even tho’ there’s no way weez kuld get in there. MOL
Luv ya’
Dezi and Lexi
That is all so true. I had a friend whose cat was in the dryer when it was turned on. Very very sad. It is something that needs attention. Have a great Thursday.
That’s important information. The washer and dryer is in our litterbox room but we’re rarely tempted to crawl inside them. The mom keeps the doors closed. But we love to lay on top of the dryer when it’s running. So warm!
I have never tried to get in the washer, but my mum always checks before she puts anything in. In fact she checks again and again even though she knows I am not there. I think she is a bit neurotic about it but don’t tell her I said that.
That’s some scary stuff! None of us have ever shown an interest in those things but the peeps don’t take any chances!
We have never tried to get in the washing machine as Mum keeps the door closed, our dryer is in the garage and Mum keeps us out of there at all times as half of it is an overflow from the kitchen – freezer, dryer etc plus the local councils bins for every occasion need to be kept there until it’s a pick up day! Then there’s the car which takes up far too much room and we don’t know how but Mum has a built in alarm in her head if we manage to sneak in without her noticing and she spoils our fun.
Luv Hannah and Lucy xx xx
Great tips! Our washer and dryer is in the basement and Truffles isn’t allowed down there.
well done. our washer loads from the top and mom is there the entire time. she doesn’t use the dryer much but does the double check when she does use it – just in case.
Very timely advice for us. Right now, our washer and dryer are in the garage and we aren’t allowed out there either. But when we move, they will be in the house. Mom says she usually closes the doors immediately, but once in a while, she leaves the washer open to air out. She’ll be sure to check them now!
We have a top loader and it stays closed. But we are careful because well the cats like to check everything out!
Our washer and dryer are in a separate room. The dryer is stacked so I really can’t get in there. Once TW couldn’t find me after she started the washer and she freaked. I never go in there but she freaked anyhoo.
My old bro Russell got into the dryer once just to check it out, but since my mom got a picture of it, she knew he was in there. He really did know better, since he was dry clean only!
Our washy/dry things are in the dungeon. Mum even leaves the washy door open once she is done so it doesn’t get musty. The dry thing, the door is shut unless she is trading loads. Although Derby has jumped in, mum can clearly see him so he won’t get sent spinning.
our mom remembers a friend’s kitten that drowned in a washing machine 🙁 we only have a washer and we aren’t allowed in the laundry room, and more especially when mom is loading it to do wash. our mom was always afraid we’d crawl into the dryer vent opening in the wall (we had a dryer that wasn’t ever hooked up. Now it’s gone and the wall opening is covered)
Pip, Smidgen, Minnie, Hollie
Home safety is very important. I’m never allowed in the washer or dryer, even when mom is watching. There are a few places animals just DON’T need to be.
Yes, we heard about that. *shudder*
And also, our human’s sister claims that her cat was walking the rim of the washer as it was being loaded, slipped and got her leg caught – and it broke. VERY very dangerous things, but we do SO love the warm laundry!
That’s so weird. We just got a new washer, too. Just last week! The old one stopped spinnin’ properly and the clothes and stuff were comin’ out soppin’ wet. Oohhhh… the language I heard… MOUSES!
Purrs,
Nissy
WE stay out of both ENTIRELY! Both look dangerous to us. Fortunately, TBT removes dryer clothes quickly, so we arent much tempted to get in there.
Great post! I am always paranoid about this. The washer and dryer doors stay closed all the time, but I do always check anyway… just in case 🙂
super good advice! Cody normally doesn’t go in the dryer but I need to be super vigilant and check because you never know!