So...it's snowing like blue blazes. I have an auxiliary propane heater in the kitchen to knock the chill off. The one big Maine Coon cat saunters by it and brushes his tail right in the flame area, and grate or no grate, with that long fur if I wasn't watching I might have had cat flambe! He is very sweet, but not very bright. Good thing he doesn't have his own credit card.