To break into new neighbours house *serious question, NOT trolling*

[Catsos]

Name change as I don’t want neighbours to recognise me😭

I have a cat who has a bit of a reputation on our street for forcing his way into neighbours homes by breaking open their cat-flaps to steal their pets food. He’s been doing it for years, not much I can do about it besides keeping him in which he would hate. Anyway….

Here is the problem..

This afternoon I realised I hadn’t seen him for nearly 24 hours (very unusual for him). I went out into the street to look for him when I spotted the bloody buggar in the window of the house two doors down!!!
This house was recently bought by a couple who are living elsewhere while they are renovating it. I have briefly spoken to this couple once, and they mentioned they have cats, so I assumed they have already had a cat-flap installed which he has broken into.

I was really confused why he hadn’t come back out, so I peered through their front window and spotted the catflap which he must have entered through. It’s one of those “smart” catflap brands which only opens if the cat has the right microchip. So he’s managed to get in, but now he can’t get out as his microchip isn’t unlocking it. I can see his muddy scratch marks on their newly painted wall besides the catflap, so he’s obviously been trying to get back out 😩😩

So here’s the even bigger problem…

As i’ve said, the couple who own the house are living elsewhere while renovating it. So there is nobody here to let him back out. I usually see them visit the house every week or so but I don’t know when they will be here next and he has already been inside for around 24 hours.

I’ve already spoken to all of the neighbours and nobody has contact details for them. I did think I could contact the estate agents who their house was on the market with to try and get their contact details but as it is the bank holiday they won’t be open until Tuesday - which means he will have been trapped for 72 hours inside their house.

What should I do?! Do I try and break in, get my cat and then secure the property as best I can and explain what happened when they are next here? That sounds like a really bad start to a relationship with them but then my cats trapped inside, presumably without water?!

So, to anyone who suggested the OP might be prosecuted for criminal damage…… as long as she tells the owners what happened and pays for any damage, she will not be prosecuted. The police and CPS are not going to go to the trouble of a prosecution when OP is willing to pay to put everything right.

Any luck OP?

Op are you saying you have a ladder up to their first floor window? How aren't there neighbours coming out to have a look wondering what's going on?

I'm shocked. ..so this via proper channels op or you risk serious legal problems and make cat an indoor cat cat...my neighbour next door cat can only access their garden (due to ugly fencing that looks like a prison camp) or their house. Safer for your cat. Phone the police, estate agent etc. Can you pop food or water through the cat flap and be prepared the pay for the damage your cat down to the house.

Also wanted to suggest posting food through the letterbox but didn't expect a porch. I'd open a can of tuna and waft it near the slightly open window, that'll bring the cat zooming !

Who wants to bet the fire brigade will show up, be getting ready to break in, and OPs cat will just saunter out the catflap again like nothing has happened?

I NEED to know if the OP tells the police about the crabsticks 😂

Yes, I'm thinking the police may be turning up rather sooner than expected if indeed the OP is up a ladder at a first floor window with neighbours watching.

Maybe try calling your local fire station (not on 999) and having a chat with them, if they're not on a shout they might be happy to come out

Seems highly irresponsible if not sinister to set up an empty house that allows animals in, but not out again. What is it, some kind of pet house of horrors? Id be kicking the door in, who knows how many animals they have trapped in there. What are they intending to do with all those poor furry bodies?? Definitely smuggle in more crab sticks.

Omg. This is the best thread

Would still be worth it 😆

Here for the updates!

I'm expecting the OP's cat to be sitting at home and maybe, when the OP gets her arm caught in the cat flap, "rescues" the neighbour's own cat, OP's cat will wander out looking for a crab stick and a cube of ice.
I'd watch that show for sure! I'd cast Tamsin Greig as OP.

Crab sticks???? 🤦🏻‍♀️

OP will have to send the cat back in again to eat the crab sticks if it gets rescued too soon

Here for the update.

You seriously posted crab sticks into their house, after your cat already got in and has done some damage. Cat urine STINKS and can destroy carpets. I really hope they send you the bill, I do t find this thread funny at all it’s horrible. The UK have a weird attitude towards cats. I’d be mortified if my animals damaged someone’s property. I hope you get your cat out but you need to make sure this never happens again.

It's too late for tuna, the op threw a crab stick in 😆

Can you not just use something to force/break the cat door flap?

I hope the police can help.

Can't wait for the neighbours to come home and worry about the fish burglar and wonder what the heck they are moving into

@Catsos are you sure your cat doesn't have a doppelganger? You don't want to end up like this...

Has no-one got the details of the previous owners? They may have new owner details.

Their house is going to stink by the time they return, at least if they have installed the cat flap they like cats.

The cat flap was probably there from the previous owners?

I know this may sound far fetched but, This happened to a neighbour of mine. The house the cat was in ,the owners had gone on holiday and the cat had snuck in the house without them knowing . After seeing her sunbathing on the window sill and not being able to get to the cat . The neighbour rung the rspca and I believe they told them to ring the police as it would be classed as animal neglect. The police broke into the house and got a lock Smith to renew the locks and put a note through the door to contact the police when they got back.

This isn’t true. 0nly certain people have a right to enter another persons home, usually supported by a court order. It’s breaking and entering and if the owner reports it, OP could be charged. Even breaking the cat flap is criminal damage. If it was legal just imagine how it would be exploited by criminals. Get police advice before considering anything illegal