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?!

@Maireas I am wetting myself. You are funny.

Really hope cat’s ok though.

In regards to making a Facebook post, when I briefly spoke to the new neighbours in the past, they told me they do not know anyone from this area, they are “down from London” and do not know anyone in the area. So I do not want to make a Facebook post - especially if I am then accused of bringing attention to an empty house.

In regards to why I haven’t called a locksmith yet, I ran this thought by a friend who was adamant they wouldn’t break into a house without proof of ownership, so I hadn’t seen that as a real option. But after reading the replies on here saying you don’t necessarily need proof of ownership I will contact a locksmith tomorrow. It is 10pm now and I really couldn’t afford some crazy out of hours fee right now.

But is it a cat flap? It could be a dryer vent.

I thought the poster meant 'come out of the house'. As the night wears on, more & more animals, small children & workmen will appear at the windows, looking out forlornly, until the house is bursting at the seams.

And they’ll all want crab sticks.

Oh I feel for you OP, next time post in Litter tray not AIBU as it's much more reasonable. My cat recently has health issues where he didn't eat or sink for 5 days. He survived but because he's a big cat it did tip his blood sugar levels

And you think the OP is the unreasonable one?

UPVC windows can be removed by taking out the quad round the edges and then levering out the glass panel. If the quad is on the outside that is. A flat screwdriver should be able to do the job. Failing that I would break one - you said there are some small windows, it would cost very little to replace a flag window sized piece of glass.

Or can you find some thick bendy wire to force open the catflap? Do you know any Dynorod people who could help? (Or a friendly fireman - they are always rescuing things)?

I feel for you - you must be so worried.

I'll be worried about the cat now

Will locksmiths open other people's houses?

Whats stopping a burglar from using a locksmith then

This thread is batshit.

You do know that breaking and entering is a criminal offence?

And no reputable locksmith will break into someone’s house. So if they do they’re clearly not law abiding citizens.

If someone broke into my house to rescue a bloody cat I would report them to the police. I could care less if their cat had been shut in, they should have kept it inside if it has a habit of going into other people’s houses.

What about a swimming noodle? You know the long foam tubes? That would work to get the cat flap open.

This happened to us with our (very nosey) cat. Who decided to move next door when our new neighbours moved in, they swore blind that she wasn't on their house, for 3 days she was stuck in their bathroom, that was the one way catflap. These cats, she was very hungry when they eventually found her

You could post on FB asking if anyone knows someone that works for the estate agent and if they can contact you, as your cat is trapped. You do not need to add the address of the house to the post.

Yes they will.
I'm not sure a burglar would use a locksmith 🤣

Methinks a burglar won’t pay for a locksmith and a locksmith won’t leave a property unattended or insecure.

So you'd rather have a dead cat in your house? Why would you want to come across that uncaring

Absofuckinglutely I do. No excuse for being an irresponsible pet owner.

oP can I check is your cat deaf?

To be fair there are enough to go round!

Same, really hoping it gets rescued and is ok

Nonsense!

Off topic, but 'do better' really pisses me off.

Most people are already doing their best. We are not children at school being told off by a teacher.

Do better yourself.

Call me crazy but I certainly don't want an indoor car (🚙!) -JFC can you imagine the mess and dead animals and flies brought in?! Give me my indoor cats each and every time 😻

You are batshit. And cruel.

Is the cat flap set to one way? I actually think I would beak in now, get my cat and pay for any damages (after trying the swimming noodle idea mentioned earlier).