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Original poster

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

1000 replies

Catsos · 27/08/2023 18:19

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?!

OP posts:
Thread gallery
12
BeenThereDoneThat101 · 27/08/2023 22:24

Furryrug · 27/08/2023 22:19

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

Show quote history

An abusive ex partner very likely would though.

Alargeoneplease89 · 27/08/2023 22:24

Omg you must be so stressed, reading your updates and could imagine my cat doing this (thankfully he's indoor because he's an idiot).

I really hope you get him out soon - maybe he will learn not to do it again (though it's highly unlikely!)

Maireas · 27/08/2023 22:25

Teenagehorrorbag · 27/08/2023 22:17

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'm just wondering what Dynorod could possibly do?

ifIwerenotanandroid · 27/08/2023 22:25

Would all the boring cat haters & emotional vampires please vacate the thread so the rest of us can get on with visualising the many comedic ways this could play out?

Thank you!

CoolShoeshine · 27/08/2023 22:25

Have you tried the Estate Agent op? Even if they don’t have an out of hours number you could put an anonymous post on a local facebook group saying you want to get hold of them urgently. The power of facebook groups usually works swiftly.

Yujismum · 27/08/2023 22:25

BeenThereDoneThat101. ifIwerenotanandroid.

Just read the poster names, explains why they say what they do.
**

Wakintoblueskies · 27/08/2023 22:25

Chenford · 27/08/2023 21:33

I had this exact situation, OP

I broke the cat flap and left a note through the door. Never heard anything from the neighbours.

I presume you went around afterwards to make sure you spoke to them?

Thisismyname33 · 27/08/2023 22:26

We have a microchip cat flap, it only lets authorised microchiped cats in but it doesn’t need a microchip to exit

Reetnice · 27/08/2023 22:26

oh no. Hang in there.

call estate agents and get them to pass on your information to the couple?

failkng that you might just need to break a window then pay to replace it?

X

Daynightx · 27/08/2023 22:26

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines - previously banned poster.

ifIwerenotanandroid · 27/08/2023 22:26

I'm just wondering what Dynorod could possibly do?

They have firm but flexible pipes.

So I've heard.

Yujismum · 27/08/2023 22:27

ifIwerenotanandroid.

sorry wrong person.

Inkpotlover · 27/08/2023 22:27

Crying with laughter reading this thread. One for the MN Classics.

Maireas · 27/08/2023 22:27

ifIwerenotanandroid · 27/08/2023 22:26

I'm just wondering what Dynorod could possibly do?

They have firm but flexible pipes.

So I've heard.

Oooh err, missus.

Dontstoptherain · 27/08/2023 22:27

ifIwerenotanandroid · 27/08/2023 22:21

Nonsense!

Show quote history

Oh ok. Yes, of course, how could I be so stupid! Of course it’s not your responsibility to keep your pet safe! Of course you should allow an invasive predator out and about to kill and maim wildlife! Yes, it’s perfectly reasonable for your pet to be on or inside someone else’s property and kill their small pets (just like it’s ok for someone’s dog to do that to your cat, isn’t it?)

yes, it’s definitely completely reasonable to allow your pet, that you chose to have, to crap all over someone’s else’s property and make them clear up after it.

yes, you sound like a perfect pet owner, so responsible and full of respect for other people and animals. You also sound like the sort of idiot that posts about their dead/missing cat and blames everyone but themselves. I pity any pet you have.

socialdilemmawhattodo · 27/08/2023 22:28

BeenThereDoneThat101 · 27/08/2023 22:18

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.

Your view is abnormal. Any decent person knows that cats investigate. There is no obligation to keep a cat inside or on a leash like a dog. Different legal frameworks. So you would prefer to come home to a dead cat in your house? Really wierd. The Siamese I had as a child got locked in a neighbours house - they had left to go on holiday - so doors were open in the summer - she got in as they left. She was locked up for 5 days. We searched everywhere. Finally heard the shouting. Looked up and there she was at their window. I cant remember now how we got in - it wasn't normal to leave keys with neighbours. Yes there was damage - wee/poo etc. My parents simply and immediately offered to pay for all damage. I don't know if the neighbours accepted - it was just one of those things.

MolkosTeenageAngst · 27/08/2023 22:28

Sorry this sounds so stressful. I don’t think you should try and post ham through for the cat, it might get stuck in the air vent and you don’t even know whether the cat can access that room. Plus ham is salty so not going to be good if your cat is thirsty, processed foods like ham and crab sticks are not really good for cats; the last thing you need is for the cat to have diarrhoea in the neighbours house. That’s worse for the neighbours and worse for the cat if it has no access to water. If you can fit a crab stick through the window won’t some dry cat biscuits fit through? Dry cat food would be better for the cat health wise but also less problematic for the neighbours as they’re not going to rot and smell if you can’t get in to move them like crabsticks and ham will.

DixonD · 27/08/2023 22:28

PinkFootstool · 27/08/2023 19:21

They don't just have all the knowledge.

You need a piece of useful data to start off with, like a number plate for a car - that gives you the registered keeper, the insurance company if it's insured and named drivers on the policy. They can look for cars registered to a specific address, but they need a CRIME INVESTIGATION to be allowed to look at the datasets. This is not a criminal investigation.

If the owners of this house are renovating and staying elsewhere the likelihood of them registering their car and insurance at this address is slim to none.

Police can check the voters register - the complete one, not the redacted one - but again, need to justify looking at it, and again, the likelihood of the owners changing their voters record to this address is likely nil.

Police don't have OOH access to the Land Registry records or any access to household insurances. Or OOH access to the estate agents.

Show quote history

Everyone has access to Land Registry records. You can get a copy of anyone’s title for £3.

But, if they’ve only just bought this property, the Land Registry won’t update the “deeds” for months.

mummytippy · 27/08/2023 22:29

HateTheView · 27/08/2023 22:19

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.

Best idea yet

Mouldyfoodhelp · 27/08/2023 22:29

BrownOwll · 27/08/2023 20:53

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?

Show quote history

Oh they have freedom to roam? That's fine then OPs cat can mess up their neighbours wall and piss and shit all over the house they're renovating no harm done

JudgeRudy · 27/08/2023 22:29

Catsos · 27/08/2023 18:19

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 think your next step is to call the police and let them handle things. Not that theyll be any better at it than someone else but it will be documented and they may have the authority to call a locksmith. You are vulnerable to all sorts of claims if you break into someone elses house. I'd take the cat flap out as I think that would be cheaper to replace than (presumably) a double glazed window or a locksmith. Either way it's going to cost you both financially and in neighbourly relations.
You also need to start thinking about your plan so this doesn't happen again....or take the consequences!

Keep us updated

QueenMegan · 27/08/2023 22:29

My cat locked in next door over the weekend I think we fed it through the letter box it escaped when the builders opened the door.

HeyBuggee · 27/08/2023 22:30

I would get some wet jelly cat food sachets and empty it through the small gap in the window. The water content in wet cat food is high and will hydrate the cat for a while if you keep feeding until you can get the cat out. It will make a mess so just apologise later and pay for any damages.

HootyMcBooby76 · 27/08/2023 22:30

Hi, your cat will be be fine without food even for a good few days and more, it's not ideal (obviously) but food is not the issue, water will be the issue if he is trapped for three days or more.
I wish I could think of something to help you OP, I am a veterinary nurse and if a client phoned me with a dilemma like this I would tell them to contact the SSPCA (Scotland) so I can't fathom why RSPCA are not helping you. If you had told them the owners had abandoned a cat in their house I'm sure they would have forced entry into the property so I cannot see why this is any different.
What would happen if an alarm went off in the property? Who would come to switch it off if nobody can contact the owners? There must be a way.......

IChangeMyUsernameLikeIDoMyMen · 27/08/2023 22:30

I could forgive you for breaking the cat flap... but the crab sticks?????? What the hell were you thinking? That has got to be the most irresponsible thing I've ever heard.

You are definitely going to have to move after this.

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