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?!

It's still illegal to break in. I'm just pointing out there are two sides to every coin. Some people will be fine with someone breaking in, others won't be. This is an AIBU post, so there will be people with differing opinions

Here's another thought. Could you perhaps get an old shoe beam on as it were at the bend bit of the cat flap tunnel and with a broom kind of flick it towards the flap? This might literally kick the thing open. I suppose anything would do but an old shoe would have the heft and velocity.

Good luck OP

Have you tried: psssss psssss standing at the crab cake window.

Lower in a couple of grabby tool things and you can get him out through the crabcake window like a claw machine game.

Good luck. If it helps our girl cat (who has form for this) was recently trapped in the drawers under my DD's bed by the cleaners while we were on holiday. She spent three days there. Was incredibly hungry and in need of stroking but absolutely fine. Will keep my fingers crossed

Op no one is mocking you, it was just really funny with the crab stick situation. I'm sure your cat will be fine and hopefully will come out of his own accord tonight/tomorrow 🤞

If not, phone around a few locksmiths, it's got to be worth a try.

Seriously I would contact the fire brigade and see if there's anything they can suggest

Break cat flap - hold/prop open and tempt cat out with stinky fish/dreamies etc.

For what it's worth, our cat managed to get trapped in a wardrobe for 2 and half days. He was fine.

Good luck!

Good luck OP!

Try not to panic OP. If your cat is like mine, he will have found the toilet and be drinking out of that.

Does your cat like dreamies? try crackling the packet by the open window you dropped the crabsticks through, see if the sound entices him in there.

Pretty sure most people would understand as the cat could do some damage. What is the owner realistically meant to do?

OP - hope you get something sorted, I know I’d be worried sick if it was my pet

FFS, do you not think after 29 pages this hasn't been discussed? If you can't be bothered to read the whole thread then at least read all the OPs posts.

Please don't worry about your cat getting hungry. Our cat got locked in a shed for 4 weeks. We'd given up hope of finding him. He must have had a source of water but no obvious food. He got incredibly thin but totally fine!

Oh no! I'd be frantic with worry. I hope he has found some water and that he finds your food soon. You've done what you can and he knows you are trying to help. I tend to think cats are very hardy and hope he will be OK even if he has to wait to be rescued.

please @Catsos DO NOT use a locksmith to enter someone's house for a cat. that is criminal damage, trespassing and burglary all in one

It wouldn’t be criminal damage, because a locksmith wouldn’t cause damage. That’s the reason for using a locksmith rather than breaking the cat flap/a window.

Pretty sure it wouldn’t be burglary as long as the OP didn’t take anything (other than the cat, which is hers)

It WOULD be trespass, but that is a civil matter, not a criminal offence.

Well in this case , i think the OP would have a reasonable defence!

I understand your worry OP, I'd be out of my mind if it was my cat.

Can you try the Fire Brigade tomorrow? They may be able/willing to help

I remember a story on TV some years ago about a cat, who was being fed by a neighbour while the owners were away on holiday, but the cat disappeared. It turns out it got onto the roof and fell down the chimney. The owners returned, thinking the cat had run away, but one day, in an upstairs bedroom the owner heard the faint cries of a cat. They broke into the chimney and there it was; it had survived for some considerable time (can't remember how long), by licking condensation that formed on the bricks and a quick google shows many stories of cats that have survived longer than 3 days.

I'm really hoping you get some help tomorrow.

We are with you OP. I believe this will be sorted out tomorrow.

I agree with calling Fire, Police, locksmith, RSPCA died thing in the morning. And you don’t need to say it’s only been a day.

My cat got trapped under the floorboards for a week while we were renovating, I thought she’d run off. But when the workmen lifted the floorboards again she leaped out and was fine.

Microchip cat flaps can be set in different ways, it looks like this one has been set to let a cat in but not out again. Although they scan the microchip (that’s what the tunnel is for) and then open the lock, this can be over ridden if you press hard enough on the clear plastic. Your cat has obviously managed it. I’d get a plank of wood and poke it hard at the plastic to shove it open and use the wood to hold it open so your cat can get out.

Rather than destroying your neighbours house with foul smelling crab sticks and cat poo…..

I'm really sorry you're going through this, OP, what a worry for you, I wish there was something I could suggest but just wanting you to know that some of us are actually thinking of you and not taking the piss. Good luck for tomorrow 💐

Good luck OP. What a stressful situation. Locksmith sounds like a good try, if you explain you're locked out (without going into too much detail!)

Break the cat flap it will probably be a plastic door and cheapest to replace
i do understand though - my cat got locked in next door garage and cost me heaps to resolve

The ice cubes were a fantastic idea!! And so were the crab sticks as they smell quite strong too so will entice him to the ice cubes!

Thank God there was a gap in one of the windows.

As you say he may not be able to get into that room but at least you know he is safe.

You know where he is and that should be a big comfort.
Get some sleep knowing that he is safe.
He is not going to die after a day of no good and water.

Tomorrow I would try and focus on opening the cat flap or partially open window and then pay for the damage.

He is a gorgeous cat.

Someone upthread talked about easing out a window pane. If you don't get any luck tomorrow, are there any emergency glaziers in your area? I had one window (admittedly only one pane of the double glazing) taken out complete & replaced with obscured glass.