Please help me save my frozen foods
September 14, 2013 7:34 PM Subscribe
My cat Trilby has long been able to open every cupboard in my house and has now figured out how to open the freezer. I need to get some kind of childproof lock that he can't possibly figure out how to open. I was wondering if some of you MeFites had had experience with such locks and can advise me as to a kind of lock that requires opposable thumbs and will last for years. Obligatory pic of a certain freezer-opening, ice-cream loving pussycat.
I would assume something like these, which require a thumb, could be used. Especially if you put it in the middle of your door, farther out of his reach.
posted by royalsong at 7:39 PM on September 14, 2013
posted by royalsong at 7:39 PM on September 14, 2013
Okay, based on this single door model, I'd go with a hasp. Install perm with industrial glues or bolt on without breaking things (I <3 magnets but I worry about resale value). Simple pin or twisty to keep shut.
posted by tilde at 8:27 PM on September 14, 2013
posted by tilde at 8:27 PM on September 14, 2013
First, I think you need to get Trilby his own ice-cream stocked mini-freezer since the idea of a cat learning to open your freezer is too insanely cute to entirely curtail.
Then maybe try something like this fridge lock.
posted by otherwordlyglow at 8:36 PM on September 14, 2013 [10 favorites]
Then maybe try something like this fridge lock.
posted by otherwordlyglow at 8:36 PM on September 14, 2013 [10 favorites]
A couple of neodymuim magnets likethis pasted on the edge will keep her out. Will also ensure a solid seal.
posted by sanka at 8:42 PM on September 14, 2013
posted by sanka at 8:42 PM on September 14, 2013
We had a velcro child lock thing, that you could apply to any door, and it worked very well to keep small children out.
posted by Kaleidoscope at 8:56 PM on September 14, 2013
posted by Kaleidoscope at 8:56 PM on September 14, 2013
We've used a fridge lock very similar to the one otherworldlyglow linked to, to keep my father with dementia from getting into the fridges. They did not stand up to much abuse -- one's adhesive failed rather quickly, and the other eventually snapped where it gets flexed -- but they worked as long as they were needed. They won't ensure a freezer stays sealed, though, so another solution might be better.
posted by dhartung at 10:54 PM on September 14, 2013
posted by dhartung at 10:54 PM on September 14, 2013
right, duck tape
posted by fivesavagepalms at 12:03 AM on September 15, 2013
posted by fivesavagepalms at 12:03 AM on September 15, 2013
I had a cat that did all this and more. Graham, at one point, opened a cabinet over a counter and removed an unopened 10 pound bag of flour (it was standing upright on the counter), tore open the top of the bag and excavated a few inches. I, therefore, had child latches on every cabinet in the house.
Yes, he exploited the fridge. I lost a large pizza (of which I had 2 slices). Graham opened the fridge, pulled out the box and ate all the meat toppings. I lost a chicken that I roasted. I had some of it for dinner, planning to have the rest for leftover meals. He opened the fridge, pulled out the plate and ate all the skin off the chicken.
Being lazy, I put my fridge up on 3/4" blocks on the front two legs. If Graham opened the door, it closed immediately on him with no reward. Problem solved.
posted by plinth at 3:32 AM on September 15, 2013 [6 favorites]
Yes, he exploited the fridge. I lost a large pizza (of which I had 2 slices). Graham opened the fridge, pulled out the box and ate all the meat toppings. I lost a chicken that I roasted. I had some of it for dinner, planning to have the rest for leftover meals. He opened the fridge, pulled out the plate and ate all the skin off the chicken.
Being lazy, I put my fridge up on 3/4" blocks on the front two legs. If Graham opened the door, it closed immediately on him with no reward. Problem solved.
posted by plinth at 3:32 AM on September 15, 2013 [6 favorites]
Have someone who is handy install a simple door latch on the side of the fridge.
Or if you think your cat may be too smart for that, you can use the padlock door latches and secure it with a small carabiner.
I used this with much success to save my food items from a child that liked to sneak out of bed at 4am to paint the floor with condiments. I tried all of the child proof locks with no success. They tend to break/fail often and be expensive to replace.
posted by tenaciousmoon at 8:39 AM on September 15, 2013
Or if you think your cat may be too smart for that, you can use the padlock door latches and secure it with a small carabiner.
I used this with much success to save my food items from a child that liked to sneak out of bed at 4am to paint the floor with condiments. I tried all of the child proof locks with no success. They tend to break/fail often and be expensive to replace.
posted by tenaciousmoon at 8:39 AM on September 15, 2013
Masking tape will work for the next few days while you figure out another solution.
posted by pseudostrabismus at 1:06 PM on September 15, 2013
posted by pseudostrabismus at 1:06 PM on September 15, 2013
> Being lazy, I put my fridge up on 3/4" blocks on the front two legs. If Graham opened the door, it closed immediately on him with no reward. Problem solved.
I'm glad this worked out for plinth, but it seems potentially dangerous to me. What if a determined cat managed to hold the door open with his nose and squeeze completely into the fridge? He could be locked inside and die from cold/asphyxiation.
posted by contraption at 4:21 PM on September 15, 2013
I'm glad this worked out for plinth, but it seems potentially dangerous to me. What if a determined cat managed to hold the door open with his nose and squeeze completely into the fridge? He could be locked inside and die from cold/asphyxiation.
posted by contraption at 4:21 PM on September 15, 2013
Contraption - this treatment worked for a decade. It closes very rapidly.
Part of it is to understand the mechanics of how the cat opens the door. He got up on his hind legs, put his right paw on the adjacent cabinet and hooked his left claws on the door and yanked, bracing and counter balancing with his right paw. When the fridge released, he had to drop because his balance was off and the fridge closed before he could do anything else.
posted by plinth at 5:48 PM on September 15, 2013
Part of it is to understand the mechanics of how the cat opens the door. He got up on his hind legs, put his right paw on the adjacent cabinet and hooked his left claws on the door and yanked, bracing and counter balancing with his right paw. When the fridge released, he had to drop because his balance was off and the fridge closed before he could do anything else.
posted by plinth at 5:48 PM on September 15, 2013
Sure, I don't doubt it was fine with your particular cat and refrigerator, it just seems like something that could easily go wrong with a different configuration.
posted by contraption at 6:26 PM on September 15, 2013
posted by contraption at 6:26 PM on September 15, 2013
« Older Why Doesn't My Smartphone Stay Unlocked Abroad? | Help me find the fantasy series about fencing and... Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
Other wise a simple hasp (?) with super magnets.
posted by tilde at 7:36 PM on September 14, 2013