We recently purchased a home that was built around 2006. We then decided to add a couple of cats and one of them is a kitten.
Apparently there appears to be some unfinished work around our kitchen cabinets, mainly in between the sections, and our kitten was able to climb in.
NOTE: I can reach my hand back in there and it's a completely open space in between the cabinets from what I can tell.
My questions
- Are openings as shown below normal with kitchen cabinets?
- If not, how should these openings been finished?
- What can I do to properly finish these openings?
Images of openings
Best Answer
That isn't "unfinished work". Cabinet makers almost never fill that gap because 1) its size and shape may change when the cabinets are installed, and 2) no one ever sees it (unless they have kittens).
In your shoes I'd get some heavy card stock or rolled sheet metal and cut it to fit. Use carpet tacks, a stapler, or maybe hot glue to mount it to the underside of the cabinet frames. Keep the front edges back 1/4" from the front face of the cabinet to keep it hidden.
I'd guess that kittens won't try as hard as mice would to get in there, so card stock should work and will be easier to handle.