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?!

Sensible I know but could you not just wait for the builders / renovators to arrive and let your cat out?

I'd google the cat flap OK and see if you can find something similar that has fitting instructions - they do come apart fairly easily, my dog managed it daily

You need to call the RSPCA, they will be able to advise.

I hope you find an answer soon

Is anyone still in contact with the old owners? They might have the new owners contact details?

No updates in a while makes me think either the OP is getting help or she has been carted off by the police for crabstick related crimes

😂😂😂😂😂 Crabsticks?
You could have got some dreamies

If I was the owners (and I've been in the position of living 50 miles away from a house I was renovating) I would be livid both that your cat had got into my house and also that you'd broken in, and not sure which I was most cross about. But then I absolutely hate cats. If you do break in you'd better pay for everything to be fixed, and possibly a deep clean if your cat has pissed all over the place.

And if that's not bad enough, the crab sticks!

I don't believe for a minute anyone would be quite so stupid though...

Typical cat 🙈

This is the one I was thinking of 😂

Me too. I don’t hate cats and think they can be lovely, but I’m very allergic and their urine is one of the worst things to get out of a property (we were told when house hunting to avoid any homes with signs of cats that had urinated inside for this reason as even the concrete can require treatment!) The Uk attitude of letting your cat roam wherever the hell they like would really piss me off. I thought it was odd when we moved to a place where cars are all indoors due to predators and climate but actually the lack of cat shit and cats in my garden or doing house break ins is lovely!! My dogs are less stressed out too.

I think it sounds as though they haven’t programmed the cat flap to their cat yet so it might still be locked mechanically, and they have put it on get in but not get out. If you can push it open you could get your cat out then somehow block the flap to stop him breaking in again.

Mmmmmm 🤔

A cat can flick the cat flap open with a claw, I imagine that’s how yours went in. You need something like a wire coat hanger (not the finished smooth end) or slightly thinner - perhaps a fork actually (maybe bend all but one prong so it mimicked a cats claw) and flip the edges of the cat door (bottom left or bottom right) and flip it towards yourself until you catch the flap and then hold it open for your cat to exit.

if this fails then the round bits of plastic flip off with a flat head screw driver and then you’ll need a Phillips head Screw driver to undo the screws that are sitting under the circular covers. Take the outer bit apart and it should give you more access to opening it.

worst case scenario, ram the flap (break it) with the broom, get the cat, cover the hole you’ve made with plastic and gaffer tape and order them a new one from Amazon, let’s at home etc.

Unfortunately not. The previous owners were elderly. The gentleman died of a stroke and his wife is in a care home with dementia. Her relatives dealt with the sale. No contact details for them either

I would feel violated and unsafe if someone had been in my house.

If it makes you feel any better, if I was the house owner and knew that you were happy to set everything right, then i’d find the whole thing hilarious and we’d be friends henceforth. Hope you get the cat out and house owners with a similar sense of humour.

I’d also be furious my house had been broken into for your cat. I hope the police have been called! Your cavalier attitude towards breaking into someone’s house is horrible. Doesn’t matter if they are still renovating, it’s their home ffs.

escapingthecity · Today 20:22
If I was the owners (and I've been in the position of living 50 miles away from a house I was renovating) I would be livid both that your cat had got into my house and also that you'd broken in, and not sure which I was most cross about. But then I absolutely hate cats. If you do break in you'd better pay for everything to be fixed, and possibly a deep clean if your cat has pissed all over the place.

I absolutely love cats and this has really cheered me up after a rotten day.
it’s what life is about. I’m sure OP will make good. Love the crab sticks. 😂

@Yujismum

I bet you would not love them stuffed through your window and left for god knows how long to fester

This is what I’d do

Thismay be a silly idea but can you put a bit of cat food in the cat flap/tunnel thing to tempt the cat out that way?

Thank you OP for the best thread I've read for years.

Your cat looks like he is judging you.