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?!

With no receptacle, just melting water on their lovely new floor 😆

long and winding

So the cat has scratched the walls. Probably pissed all over their new carpets. There's been stinking crab sticks posted through the window and now we want the OP to shove a hose pipe through and turn it on as a water source. What could possibly go wrong

This sounds like something from an episode of Miranda.....

Absolutely hooked by this thread! I was in stitches at the crab sticks and ice cubes through the window! 🤣

Seriously, though, must be so stressful for you, though, OP, having to leave your cat there. Fingers crossed you get a resolution tomorrow x

Is it a cat flap? Or is it for a tumble drier or other kind of vent? Just a thought. If not a cat flap, it may of got in somewhere else.

Yes I saw that but thought a hose would be better.

Any plumbers living nearby or you know? They may have a tool that can work round bends?

Then come out a different way…

I'd try a couple of locksmiths tonight OP. what have you to lose? They can only say no.

If you’re waiting to see if owners turn up tomorrow, OP, I’d stick a note through the door giving them your contact details, in case they turn up early for a full day’s renovating, see your cat shoot out the door, and then go and find the damage….

Best to let them know where to find you at the earliest opportunity.

Hi @Catsos , I worked for years in animal rescue so have had to rescue cats in similar situations.

It sounds like your best bet is to break the cat flap. The best way to do this with most cat flaps is the use a chisel and hammer to try to break it at the hinges and take the whole this off

If you can't do that take the chisel and use it with the hammer at the centre of the flap to try and crack the plastic and pull as much away as you can. Make sure to remove enough for your cat to get through and smooth any sharp edges if you can

Obviously offer your neighbours a new cat flap

Good luck!

Honestly@Catsos after a shitty weekend this thread has cheered me up no end. I really do hope your cat will be ok and gets to enjoy those crabsticks.

I definitely vote for poking a hose - no water just to be clear - through the cat flap, it might just open it a bit. You will need to broadcast this live though.

@^BrownOwll
^
Don't be ridiculous. Cats have freedom to roam. How do you expect OP would stop him from entering people's homes? Follow him around all day?^

^
Oh come on. Because her cat goes outdoors other people should accept it might end up
In their houses???

Any progress op @Catsos

The CPL aren't going to break into a house for the OP... Places like come out for catch, neuter, release for feral cats. Not quite the same.

@Catsos post on Facebook / Next Door app etc and ask if anyone knows who bought it or who is working on the site. Spam the estate agent as well. Sounds like leaving him in there until tomorrow is the only option.

Cats are canny bastards - if there's a way out, he'll find it.

@kagerou
it is a long tunnel of a cat flap

We need a picture of the inside of the tunnel to see how bad a bend this is and also a picture of the window to see if you can maybe unscrew the latch or lever out the window.

You may need to borrow a crowbar......

Borrow another cat , put a lead on
it and feed it through the tunnel, as the borrowed cat walks through the tunnel, feed a drain rod through at the same time, as soon as the flap opens shove the drain rod through it so it doesn't shut again.
Although this (quite clearly idiotic idea) may result in 2 cats being stuck inside 🤣

Tell me you've never had a cat without telling me you've never had a cat.

(Cat owner for 40 years here.)
(Not the same cat, obvs.)

How far down is the bend? Would poking a claw hammer down there so anything?

They might be able to advise. I didn't once suggest they would break in for her!

2 cats being stuck would provide excellent entertainment for us though. Just when you think nothing else can go wrong

Me too!

Until they wreck the paintwork and/or the cat finds them, drinks the water and pees on the neighbour's new flooring...