As of a couple years ago I have a non-working fireplace. It was properly cleaned at the time and I haven’t been able to burn a fire since due to its aging. The cost to properly restore it to burn fires safely would cost roughly 16k (and that was a couple years ago) But i live in the lowcountry of South Carolina so a fireplace isn’t that crucial in winters especially when it costs that much to restore. With that said there’s a perch in the fireplace that my cats loooove to jump on but they get ashy paws and track it all over the house. I wipe them down every time I catch them in there BUT does anyone have any ideas to make it cat safe? I obviously don’t want them to be exposed to any toxins so I’m just not sure where to start, do I get in there and try to thoroughly clean any remnants of ash and just put a bed in there? Do I paint it?I’ve been trying to brainstorm the last couple months but only a year into cat parenthood and don’t know what to put in there. It’s a great little hideaway and could be so cute but I don’t know where to start 😭 please help me find a way to repurpose my fireplace for my cats.

First photo is the cat tax 😸

Second and third photos are of the perch, fourth photo is my fireplace and the perch is directly behind the verticals row of bricks.

Thank you for any and all advice 🙏🏼

Can I make my fireplace a little hangout for my kitties?