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?!

@momonpurpose sorry about your cat. Those curved tall fences above the garden fences are something I’ve seen people do.

Is it too irredeemably South London of me that my first thought was why not just get someone to pick the lock? They're easy to find...

Really hope your cat is OK, OP. What's his name?

How can there be a bend in the catflap tunnel? How thick are the walls that two separate holes can be made and a tunnel somehow chiselled out within the wall to join the holes?

I don’t think this is what you want to hear! But my brothers cat was stuck on the roof of a bungalow and had to be reduced by a roofer because SSPCA/Fire couldn’t do anything. The roofer needed permission from the homeowner before going up to get the cat, so I’d imagine a locksmith would be the same?

The SSPCA wouldn’t do anything unless the cat was actually stuck - so RSPCA might be able to help your kitty??

The daft cat was stuck on the roof for more than 48 hours and was fine ☺️

I would post on FB groups and see if you can find anyone who works for the estate agents, and also inbox them on FB (the estate agent) in case someone is picking up messages

If ever you wanted the tabloids to pick up a story from here it would be this one!

They never pick up the ones you want them to!

Hose

Just break the plastic door of the cat flap and leave a note explaining this and saying to contact you when then are back so you can replace it.

The bloody crab sticks though, ffs you’ll be paying to deep clean the whole place.

Er - you can download it from the Land Registry in seconds for about £3.50.

@Catsos may be lucky - if the sale was expedited then the LR will already have updated it with the current owners' details.

But if it's still the previous owner on the online deeds - could try to track them down and see if they have a phone number for the new owners.

And yet some posters haven't revealed a particle of sympathy

You will forever be known as the mental lady who posted crab sticks and ice cubes into a stranger's house.

OP get a long plank and slide it through the letterbox. Encourage the cat up the ramp with with some meat or piece of cheese. The cat is of course too large to be rescued via the slot but it would put you in a better position to see what's what. Maybe administer an ice cube as well.

Omg! I really hope they turn up tomorrow!

They have long bendy wire things for unblocking drains. Might go round the cat flap tunnel and break the door inside?

I don’t have any advice, I just wanted to let you know that I would be the same in your situation. My cat is my baby.
hope you get him out tomorrow with a locksmith

I would be down b&q first thing tomorrow looking for something that may be bendable and long enough to get the cat flap open - there must be some sort of plumbing rod or something that would fit the bill

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

I agree with you. I get that everybody is concerned about the cat and him getting out safely, but I think the homeowners whose home has been invaded - and who are likely to end up with a horrible mess to deal with - are being treated as nothing more than incidental.

This is the eternal problem with cats, though: most owners don't see any need to do anything to stop them going (and pooing) wherever they like, no matter how much it upsets or inconveniences people, as they are 'free-roaming' animals; but then, when that free roaming gets them into very foreseeable trouble, all of a sudden, everybody has to be compassionate and understanding and drop everything to help them avoid any adverse consequences.

I hope the cat gets out safely (and maybe develops a healthy fear of invading other people's properties as a result), but I do find it infuriating how many cat owners want everything their way. I don't know if it's just selfishness and/or entitlement; or if, in spite of their protestations, some cat owners just aren't all that bothered about their pets.

i am howling reading these posts,place marked

Nothing short of a TV crew will get the RSPCA out. Or a report of a thin cat in a garden, then they will go and put someone's much loved pet to sleep without checking first. Have known this happen twice.

I would try removing a window panel rather than thinking of breaking a window and hope the internal doors are not locked. It can be done.

I once discovered the barman from the local pub with the person who lived next door. There had been a relationship breakdown and he was paralytic and couldn't find his keys. Barman was trying to keep him upright and go through his pockets at the same time. I told him to keep the guy upright, and got in through the window, opened the front door, went out and left them to it.

If you can't remove a window panel or pop it open, a crowbar on the door lock would do it, back door is best, block the cat entry point, and replace the lock. Can be done with minimal damage.

Clean up any mess and remove crab sticks (these do not tend to contain crab, are made of white fish and colouring, plus sugar and a few other things depending on make) before securing the house, or put them neatly on a plate for the owners to find in a few weeks, along with some prawns and a kipper for good measure.

@Uterusbegone Upstream is quite a good idea about a shoe on a broom stick.

Tie a kipper to a brick then at 3am lob it through the window.

@Catsos I’ve read your posts but don’t have time to go through all the rest, so apologies if this has already been mentioned.

Water isn’t the most pressing issue. Obviously going without isn’t great but he can live much longer than 3-4 days without, contrary to what Google says. It’s also possible he will find an open toilet lid or dripping tap.

The issue is food. Cats can only go around 48 hours without eating before they risk liver damage. It’s a strange metabolic response they have to a sudden lack of food and can result in hepatic lipidosis or liver failure. This is why cat owners are advised to take their cats to the vet if they stop eating for 24 hours.

If you can’t access him in the morning, prioritise getting him food.

Cats are wankers. My cat fell down the back of a fitted wardrobe. It took hours, an ikea bag and a pair of pyjama bottoms to get her out. I can’t think of anything to help you rn but hope you do get the little fucker out.
cats are very adept at finding water. Mine lick the end of the tap or drink from the loo despite there being lots of fresh water down for them.

Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast