Sorry, I just had to laugh when I read your post. Not because of your iron dying on you, but what you wrote about the steam nozzel flying across the room and the "cat's not over it yet" I can just visulize that happening and seeing the cat scampering and wailing. I personally don't have cats, we have always had dogs, but my daughter has cats and I have seen them spooked before.One can only imagine what the poor animal must have thought was happening and that you were definitely angry at him when it happened. I bought a cheap iron to take to quilting, it works fine. We all use it.