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Original poster

Meant to be feeding next doors cat but I've been locked out!

197 replies

Imthekingsmummy · 04/06/2022 10:13

My Neighbour asked me to feed & water her cat whilst they are on holiday. I've been going in everyday to look after her but yesterday when I tried the door wouldn't open. There's a Yale lock and a normal lock and it turns out one of the in laws has been round to water the plants and locked the normal lock. I only have a Yale key.
I messaged yesterday and she said she would get the in law to come back and unlock the door. I've tried again today but it's still locked.
This means the cat hasn't been fed or watered for 2 days.
Neighbour doesn't get back until Monday.

I feel stupid keep going to check a neighbours door and not being able to get in but I'm really worried about the poor cat.

What would you do? I've messaged again but not had a reply yet.

OP posts:
Viviennemary · 04/06/2022 10:53

Folk are such idiots. Message again and ask for relatives number.

Helenahandkart · 04/06/2022 10:55

If I was on holiday and my cat wasn’t able to be fed and watered I would want to come home to resolve the situation. I know it’s going to be a really awkward conversation but I definitely think you should let the owner know so that she can decide whether her cat’s life is more important than her holiday.
Cats can (I think) develop kidney problems if they don’t get regular meals, so the lack of food could be very serious even if it doesn’t starve.

Viviennemary · 04/06/2022 10:56

I just googled this. Somebody suggested ice cubes thtough letterbox which doesnt sound a bad idea. Would never have thought of that.

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Cats
Dearmariacountmein · 04/06/2022 10:58

have you tried calling to talk through the options and what they want you to do. To be honest I’d break in at this point either via locksmith and charge back to neighbour or if there is a small window. My very young and fit cat went four days without food and water before and he was in a bad way. An elderly cat will die.

don’t feed dry food through cat flap as they need to have water with it.

bellac11 · 04/06/2022 11:02

This is a worry, dont put dry food through for it to eat because that increases her need for water and dry food for elderly cats isnt great anyway

If the cat has access to outside she will find water and its been raining quite a lot recently (down south) so she should be ok

If it were my cat Id come home. We have cat cam and leave food and water around the house, we know what she eats and when and when she is in or out but if we didnt see her we would have to come home

IllDoItButOnlyForTheAttention · 04/06/2022 11:02

Can you squirt water through the letterbox with a sports bottle? Would make a puddle she can drink from if it's a hard floor?

titchy · 04/06/2022 11:06

Shallow bowl of cat food through letter box - wet food as it'll provide water. Then ice cubes (brilliant!) in another bowl through letter box.

Use those long gripper things to lower down to floor.

Unless there is a cat flap in which case shove through that.

Longdistance · 04/06/2022 11:10

Just contact the neighbour again and tell her the stupid in law still hasn’t unlocked the door properly for you to gain access.
Poor cat 😔

Mummyoflittledragon · 04/06/2022 11:11

Your neighbour could come home to a dead cat. I think the suggestions to put things through the front door are great. However, it’s no guarantee the cat will find them and access to the front door could be blocked.

Can you phone your neighbour and say you’ll escalate? The easiest thing would be to break the gate open.

PegasusReturns · 04/06/2022 11:12

Ring your friend and tell her either she gets her in laws round in the next hour or two or you’ll have to break in

watcherintherye · 04/06/2022 11:13

It’s a really worrying situation, but I can’t help picturing the horrified owner returning to a house with wet cat food smeared on the letterbox and slopped all over the floor, water damaged laminate flooring and an infestation of mice encouraged by the dry food scattered everywhere! (But hopefully a healthy cat!).

ItsLisaLou · 04/06/2022 11:13

Definitely ring your neighbour if they’re not responding to messages, a similar thing happened to me in the past and I came home without hesitation. Wasn’t even angry just terrified for the welfare of my cat. Would be grateful for you getting in touch!

GodspeedJune · 04/06/2022 11:14

So irresponsible. Your neighbour needs to sort it out now. Are they planning to just wait until they’re home now?

Benmac · 04/06/2022 11:14

Post raw liver through the letter box. Enough liquid to her going. Friends did this when the cat they promised to feed was so vicious they could not get into house. Smell and redecorating not your problem

thecatneuterer · 04/06/2022 11:16

For starters don't message anyone. Phone them! Make a big fuss so they somehow sort something out today. Either the relative comes back now. Or they pay for a locksmith. Cats do run out of water, and you can't leave an elderly cat (or indeed any cat) without water.

WisherWood · 04/06/2022 11:17

I'd just message the neighbour to say that unless I'd heard from them by midday I'd be breaking into their house to check on the cat. Unless you can get a bowl and a hosepipe safely through the letterbox. Hosepipe doesn't need to be attached to mains water. Just if you can fix it onto the end of a bottle of water and pour it down into a bowl.

dworky · 04/06/2022 11:19

Unless there's a way you can get food in, you'll need to contact them and then RSPCA if necessary.

WhereYouLeftIt · 04/06/2022 11:22

"What would you do? I've messaged again but not had a reply yet."

I would message again, saying they need to get their relative to come round with the keys NOW, otherwise I was going to have to call the RSPCA to get to the cat. And if their relatives aren't there within the hour, call the RSPCA. (If relative lives near enough to come and water plants, they're near enough to get there quickly.)

CapYourDoff · 04/06/2022 11:25

I'm baffled as to why the in laws weren't asked to feed cat along with watering the plants.

Can you explain?

thecatneuterer · 04/06/2022 11:26

Once again, don't message, PHONE! and then phone again, and again until they answer

LondonMaybe · 04/06/2022 11:27

Well they don’t care if they’ve not told the in-laws to get back there or told you to break in through over the gate and leave some water. If they can get out a cat flap and into the garden then they’ll be okay

Wheresthebeach · 04/06/2022 11:30

WhereYouLeftIt · 04/06/2022 11:22

"What would you do? I've messaged again but not had a reply yet."

I would message again, saying they need to get their relative to come round with the keys NOW, otherwise I was going to have to call the RSPCA to get to the cat. And if their relatives aren't there within the hour, call the RSPCA. (If relative lives near enough to come and water plants, they're near enough to get there quickly.)

This. Stop waiting for them and call. If they ignore call RSPCA and let them deal with it.

bellac11 · 04/06/2022 11:32

CapYourDoff · 04/06/2022 11:25

I'm baffled as to why the in laws weren't asked to feed cat along with watering the plants.

Can you explain?

How would the OP be able to explain this?

Beautiful3 · 04/06/2022 11:32

I'd message her asap and explain that the door's still locked, meaning her cats had no food or water for 2 days. I think its awful, I'd be worried sick about the whole thing.

WisherWood · 04/06/2022 11:34

I have a feeling the in laws are probably nosy bastards who took it upon themselves to water the plants.

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