Neighbours vanished leaving 2 cats

[nicegem]

Name changed this is incredibly outing.

Over a week ago one of my neighbours (they are a couple) was taken ill and an ambulance was called. We are friendly ish and I asked if they needed any help, they said that they were not going into hospital but to stay with a relative whilst the ill person recovered (Not coronavirus). I know they have two cats so I volunteered at the time to feed them but they said not to worry as they would be back each day to do it. They took other animals (puppies) with them.

It’s now well over a week later and I have seen no sign of the neighbour. I’ve been WFH with a desk at the window looking out onto the shared driveway and seen no car. I can also hear their front door (terraced house) and haven’t heard them. Unless they’re coming over in the dead of night then they haven’t been.

I guess it’s now more of a WWYD? I’ve half jokingly thought about posting some cat biscuits through the letterbox! They’re indoor cats with no access to outside (we have a cat which is why I know this, my cat often goes in their garden and I’ve made conversation to ask if theirs were allowed out). AIBU to feel the responsibility to do something?

I'd call RSPCA - Cats Protection don't have any legal power to act, RSPCA do.
I'd be wary of putting cat biscuits through the letterbox - you don't know if they have access to water.
Do have a look and see if you can see the cats - sod whether anyone thinks you're being nosy - although it doesn't sound if anyone is around to notice.
Agree with PP that they may have decided to take them after all - or come back for them and you didn't see them.
Is there anyway you can track them down on social media and get in touch?

Better safe than sorry by calling RSPCA.

Not ideal, but they may have left an automated pet feeder, would be fine with dry food. Definitely poke around and see if you can see them through windows.

If you are caught looking for them I would just tell the truth!

Go around and have a good nose. If anyone says anything say you heard noises and were checking everything was ok. Have a look through the letter box and call for the cats. If they've been there alone for a week it will be getting pretty whiffy so that might be a sign.

I'm sure they would be very grateful to know you helped, if they've been left without food or water! Just call RSPCA

@ListeningQuietly

Cats are INCREDIBLY resilient. They have been known to last for weeks without food. BUT If they are trapped in a house and somebody waves a tin of pilchards by a window or letter box YOU'LL KNOW ABOUT IT

Yes, and people can also last for weeks without food. But three days is the maximum both people and cats can last without either food OR WATER.

Don't worry about what anyone thinks - that really isn't important. Making sure there are two dying cats in there is what is important.

Post a note through the box asking them to come round. If they don’t, you know they aren’t coming back. If they do, make up some excuse like you thought you heard an alarm coming from inside.

I would also have a good nosy around to see if I could spot the cats inside.

But otherwise this is what the RSPCA are for, they will put a notice on the door asking to be contacted and if they aren’t they can get a warrant to enter.

*there aren't

Do you have a phone number for the neighbour? I'd text them and ask. Give them a chance to explain.

Give a shit whether the owners know its you or not that called RSPCA, if there are two innocent kitties in there, they deserve to have someone looking out for them, and if not, worst thing is you may have pissed off your neighbours.... I'd say its worth the risk Tbh... And if they are animal lovers they should understand your worry and not be pissed anyway

thecatneuterer
If they have the run of the house they will have found the toilet
I took in a cat that weighed 2kg by the time I found it

and YYY to not giving a stuff about curtain twitchers.
Tap on the window and see if the cats appear

I hope you've been round by now.

@ListeningQuietly

thecatneuterer If they have the run of the house they will have found the toilet I took in a cat that weighed 2kg by the time I found it

and YYY to not giving a stuff about curtain twitchers.
Tap on the window and see if the cats appear

Unfortunately I have been involved with the rescue of more cats from this sort of situation than I can count. Frequently interior doors are closed, or the toilet lid is closed (or it's so disgusting - addicts' flat - that even the most desperate cat wouldn't drink out of it). Sadly some of the cats I've found have been deceased.

Oh cat neuterer that’s awful.
OP if you don’t have a contact number could you put a note through the door asking them to let you know if they have been back to feed the cats.
And I might call the cats through the letter box whilst I was there and post in some dried food and a few ice cubes if I was worried!
Hope those cats are safe and well.

Please say you've been round. Don't give a stuff about anyone wondering what you're up to. You have genuine concerns

If they haven't been fed or watered in a week then they may well be dead already

Call the rspca

Worry about the rest later

@nicegem , @thecatneuterer always has good advice when it comes to those kind of situations.
I would put some (inconspicuous ) tape across the door and frame so you can easily see if the door has been opened.
If it hasnt within the next 10 hrs (during the day ) i would put wet food through the letterbox , not dried in case they don't have access to any water . also some ice cubes . and a note explaining why you have done it
The cats owners may not be happy when they come back to a smelly wet carpet but the cats lives are much more important .

Do you know where their horses are stabled ? could you go to the yard and ask around to see if they have been there and leave a note and your number for them to contact you.
I would make sure the note whether it is posted through the letter box or left at the stables is kind and enquiring if they need / want help rather than accusing them of neglect , you are more likely to get a response that way ( hopefully )

I’ve been round however I couldn’t see into much of the house - I can only access the front window and that’s where their kitchen worktop is - I looked through the letterbox but couldn’t see much! I’ve put a note through asking her to let me know that they’ve fed the cats.

My ex neighbour went away once leaving a cat locked up in her house due had asked someone to look after the cat but they didn't show up I called the rspca but they weren't bothered all I could do was call him daily to see if he popped up at the window according to the rspca I could have missed the person feeding him I said well why is he still in the bloody bedroom then? God knows how but he survived

@nicegem
did you tap on the windows for 30 seconds
the time it takes for even a hungry cat to get its arse in gear

We went away last summer, with MIL feeding our cat, per numerous other occasions. On the very first day she locked herself out of the house. We ended up coming home the next day, although in retrospect there were far better solutions, I just panicked. We have a vestibule thing, so putting food through the letterbox wouldn’t have been any use because the middle door is always kept shut.

Cat-face was mighty pissed off at having had no breakfast, but otherwise fine. I hope your neighbours’ cats are okay, OP.

I agree with the pp who said put some tape over the doors. If it isn’t broken you know they haven’t been back and you call the authorities.