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?!

I just found another old thread on MN. The lady ended up calling the RSPCA, who then involved the police. To knowingly leave an animal trapped is just wrong, to people suggesting to wait. Depending on the cats health/medical needs, a cat can begin to suffer from liver damage after 48 hours of no food/water.

That's not actually the case. When I locked myself out I just showed them the door then paid by card afterwards. Nobody asked for proof of ownership and being locked out in the street I wouldn't have had any proof anyway.

Is the estate agents local? Could you post on your local fb groups (for sale, lost pets, local info ones) saying does anyone know anyone that works at (name) estate agents & say you need to contact someone urgently about one of their properties?

Your cat is gorgeous!

It’s worth a shot!

If you can get a crab stick through the window gap you should be able to get a thin tube through to deliver water in some way. We have a hose that goes flat until you run water through it, maybe someone has one of those.

Water is the most essential thing. What can you fit through the open window? Yoghourt pot? Cut off plastic bottle ? Even a mini one ?
whatever will fit poke 4 holes around the top, tie string through each hole and tie ends together ( so it looks like a hanging basket ) make strings as long as possible. Hook onto wire. Fill with water and put through window, lower to floor. Hopefully they may have left a toilet seat up, cat will drink from the toilet as long as there’s nothing in it.
My cat got locked in a house for several days ( we thought 4) he was fine when he got home.

Wire coat hangers? Or the flexible pipes plumbers use.

What about calling the fire brigade?

I'm following to see what happens. I hope you can get your poor cat soon. Do you have cat biscuits? They would have been better and smaller to put through the window gap than crab sticks and won't go off and make an awful smell and mess. Will last longer in the heat as well. Not sure what to suggest about the water situation. Can the cat definitely get access to that room do you think as there could be a closed door somewhere between where you saw your cat and that room.

The hose is a simpler idea, better than mine :)

She'll flood the house 🤣🤣

How thick is the wall for it to go round a bend, do they live in a fortress ?

I'd put something on the local Facebook - someone my know the relatives of the last resident.

I would also do as other suggested and contact the estate agents via social media or email.

I already clarified this but it is a room downstairs. I referred to it as a bedroom as there is a bed in there. But on reflection, they are likely just storing a bed in there while decorating upstairs or something!
The white is a windowsil and also a window seat

have you stood on their front door step in case they have a ring door bell, and spoken to them?

Where are you op ? Maybe local mumsnetters can help?

This made me laugh crap sticks

How wide does the open window open? Can you borrow a small child?

Gripped by this.

A social media plea may be your best option now. Maybe someone can alert the new owners. The problem with that is that you'd need to identify the house so you'd be broadcasting that it's empty.

Is there a local Cats Protection or smaller rescue place OP? RSPCA aren't great

I love this post for so many reasons.

Well no you’d just turn it on enough for a tiny trickle to make a little puddle on the floor then straight off again. Won’t work if floor is carpet though.

They might as well be crap sticks - the bloody smell of them 😆

I posted icecubes through with the crabsticks. :) I posted a photo earlier.

I would somehow try and break the catflap so he can get out. You can always give them some money for it when they're back.

Cats should be house cats anyway as they just get themselves killed (usually by being run over rather than this) otherwise. I would keep him as a house cat from now on, they do adjust to it, as like all cats he can't be trusted to keep himself safe.

@porridgeisbae
the cat flap is accessible through a wall and is long and windy