It’s a common problem. You clean the stove, and when you get finished, there are cat toys hiding under it. If this is something that has been an issue in your house, then I’m here to tell you how to fix it! In this blog post, we’ll discuss 5 simple strategies that will keep cat toys from going under the stove, fridge, or any other appliance for that matter.
How Do You Keep Toys From Going Under The Stove?
Cats have a mind of their own and no matter what you tell them, they are going to do what they want. Below are some steps you can take to keep your pet’s toys from getting trapped under the stove.
- Clean up after your pets everyday – this will help reduce the clutter that can get caught under appliances, doors and etc.
- Use a mat to prevent the toys from going under the stove.
- A toy blocker can prevent toys from going under furniture.
- Invest in a yardstick.
- Ignore it
We’ll discuss these steps in more detail below, so keep reading.
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#1 Clean Up After Your Pets
If you live in a small apartment, home, or duplex, then you know how easy it is to kick a cat or dog toy under the stove or fridge. We were constantly finding cat toys under the furniture and sometimes it was there because the kids would accidentally kick it because it was in their way.
Cleaning up after your pets will help reduce the clutter that can get caught under the appliances. Just like your kid’s toys have a spot, the cat toys should too.
When your pets are done playing with their toys, pick them up and put them in their spot. Some cats won’t like you picking up their toys and putting them away, and may even take them out and leave them lying around.
As you keep picking up after them, they will eventually learn their toys don’t belong in the kitchen.
#2 Use A Mat on The Floor
The toys tend to slide easily under the stove or refrigerator because the flooring is made of hardwood, tile, laminate, vinyl or etc. If you’re constantly having an issue with toys sliding under the stove, then consider getting an anti-fatigue mat to put in front of the stove.
This will prevent the toy from sliding underneath the stove, plus the mat will encourage good posture and help alleviate stress in your body while you’re cooking.
If you’re having issues with toys going under the couch, consider using a pool noodle. We discovered this trick when we were always finding the kids, dog, and cat toys under the couch.
It works much better than using a towel as the towel eventually ends up moving when your cats chase after the toys.
You can even purchase a black noodle so no one knows you have a noodle under the couch. If you can’t find a black pool noodle, then just spray paint a colored one and let it dry before using it.
#3 Use A Toy Blocker
If all else fails, consider investing in a toy blocker. Toy Blockers are sold in different lengths so you can easily put them under the coffee table, television cabinet, sofa, refrigerator and etc.
- 3.2"H×16"L×5 pieces.Clear and free cutting for any length.
- Fix on hard surface floor such as hardwood ,marble,tile,vinyl,etc. and easy to use.
They are designed to work on hardwood floors such as; vinyl, tile, hardwood and etc. Unfortunately, they won’t work on the carpet.
Just place the blockers 1 – 2 inches at the edge of the furniture and it will block the toys from going under the furniture. The best part is it is concealing, so your guests will never know they are under the furniture.
They won’t damage your floor and can be removed easily to clean.
If you don’t want to spend the money on buying a toy blocker, then you can DIY your own. This video will walk you through the process of creating one and the best part is you don’t have to be a creative person.
#4 Keep A Yardstick by The Stove
Another option is to keep a yardstick or long curtain rod beside the stove. This makes it easier to push the toy out without having to continually move the appliance.
When the toy slides under the stove, grab the yardstick (or curtain rod) and push the toy out to the sides or the back of the appliance. Of course, this won’t work if your stove is pushed in between the counters and up against the back of the wall.
If you can’t get to the toy with the yardstick, then try pulling out the warming drawer instead of moving the appliance. It’s still a lot of work, especially, if you use it as storage for your pans, cookie sheets, muffin tins, etc.
#5 Ignore It
Finally, if it seems as your cat is doing it to be mischievous, it’s time to ignore it. According to this forum, many cat owners have said their cat continually puts their toys under the stove because they know their owner will move it.
Its kind of like your cat is saying “move the stove and get my toy.” When they see you do it, they’ll keep doing it.
The only way to get them to stop doing it is to stop getting the toy. After a day or two, you can get the toy again. Hopefully, they will learn if they put it under the stove, they are going to have to do without their favorite toy.
If the cat starts crying (which is likely, especially if it’s their favorite toy) try to get their mind off the toy. Take them to another room and try to get them to play with another toy.
Cats are like children and dogs. If you can find a way to get their mind off of the toy under the stove, they’ll forget it about it and move onto something else.
Final Word
We’ve discussed 5 simple strategies that will keep your cat’s toys from going under the stove. We hope you can use these tips to cut down on how much time and energy it takes to clean up after your pet!
It will take some time to implement the steps above, but all of them can be done inexpensively. You’ll have to try more than one method, especially, if your cat’s toys are constantly found under the couch, refrigerator, or stove.
If nothing still seems to work and your cat seems to enjoy seeing you move the furniture to get their toys, it’s time to ignore them.
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