We have a fitted oven/hob. The oven is electric but the hob is gas. At the bottom there is a plinth and about 6 inches from the floor there is a long opening which goes along the full length below the oven. This is about 3 inches wide. I've always assumed that this was for ventilation of the gas hob above.
Recently our cat has brought in live rats/mice which have escaped by leaping up through this gap and hiding under the oven. (Well actually, while we were trying to rescue one, the cat tossed it in the air sideways and it fell into this gap.) The other time a large rat was under there with the cat keeping guard, so we assumed it had leapt up.
Can I fit a mesh over this gap, or does it have to be completely open?
Or can I block it completely, assuming the gap is there by default in case a gas oven is fitted?
Recently our cat has brought in live rats/mice which have escaped by leaping up through this gap and hiding under the oven. (Well actually, while we were trying to rescue one, the cat tossed it in the air sideways and it fell into this gap.) The other time a large rat was under there with the cat keeping guard, so we assumed it had leapt up.
Can I fit a mesh over this gap, or does it have to be completely open?
Or can I block it completely, assuming the gap is there by default in case a gas oven is fitted?