* 19-yr-old female CRF indoor/backyard cat with door cat-flap
* Apparently was feral, "adopted" her human guardian, "L"
* Has always done her business outdoors in back garden
* Has run of the condo, & lots of favorite spots to snooze
* Once during rain & after garden cut way back, pooped in
cold fireplace ashes; never since
* Ashes cleaned out, now fireplace empty
* Square fireplace with two sides open, two sides walled
* 4-foot flexible mesh spark-screen on each open side
* Each spark-screen can be drawn to one side, like a drape
* Cat ("Monti") has taken to sitting in empty fireplace,
looking out through screen
* Gets black soot all over her coat, then all over condo!
* Small budget to work with
* Cat's legal guardian (L") travels 30% of year
* I am live-in cat-sitter, house-cleaner during L's travels
* Ideas, please, how to make fireplace unattractive to Monti?

Thank you!

Ari
cat-lover & Monti's 2nd-best friend