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?!

Which of you was small enough to get in through the cat flap? 😂😂

Another excellent idea.

🤣😂😆

if the cat is always searching for food than its clearly hungry otherwise it wouldn't be doing this

Probably just a greedy cat.
Our dog would eat until he threw up if we let him.

I thought cat rescue up the chimney with the "coastguard drone" was pure genius 🤣

OP

Stop feeding the cat and cetrinly not ham.

Your cat needs water to survive, the food is going to cause a problem for your neighbours at leat. Ham isn't good for cats there is too much salt it can damage the kidneys, which isn't a problem for the occasional treat but for a cat not drinking it's not good.

Hopefully the couple will use the bank holiday to work on the house.

I also agree with the dated and timed notes.

I'm sure all will be well and the cat will be out ASAP. In the meantime is it worth printing out a picture of your face. Stick this on the end of a long stick. Then you can go round all the windows even the upstairs ones. The cat will see you "looking in" and gain some comfort from this. Its an idea anyway. Good luck OP

Actually one time it happened to me. A few neighbours were feeding him, an intact male, and looking out for him. One day he was just gone.
It turned out someone had reported him to the RSPCA and they killed him. He was a bit scruffy but he was a sweetheart and I always regret that I couldn't have saved him. They took him before I could get him.

He wasn't the only one. The others had loving homes, just out and about, being cats, but old and a bit tatty looking. Someone sees a thin cat, has no idea about cats, calls RSPCA...

Hopefully it doesn't happen as often now, although they don't save as many as they want you think they do.

Try the fire brigade? I always thought they were first point of call for cats stuck in weird places. They might at least have more advice than the police.

This. Call them and explain the situation now.

Gosh what a thread. Big Hugs op.

my only contribution is that years ago similar problem happened to neighbours. The friendly fireman up the road got a couple of mates round and knocked in the back door by busting the lock. then they replaced the lock

update? Did Dcat get out okay?

@ProfessionallyIrritated The news continues to be grim. The cat remains confined.

@AlmostAJillSandwich

Ethical is prioritizing a living being over property.

Unethical is a post that fucking long. No one reads the long and winding post.

Have you called a locksmith?

Some of you are certifiably insane, or just very funny! I'm still laughing at the fire extinguisher solution and the toilet trumpet. Honourable mentions as well to the suggestions to send another cat in, or a small child (a child has been lost in the tunnel of goats etc...)😁. Almost as ridiculous as the poster who things a cat being hungry means it may have a medical problem!😂
I hope you get your cat out soon OP. One of my idiots got trapped in the neighbours shed for a few days, he was fine. Cats are very resilient, as well as being total fuckwits (I have two).

😂😂😂

The thread that keeps giving

Your cat can drink water from the toilet probably.

Be lucky OP. I'll put my hand up to some trolling tonight. All in good fun. Your cat will be ok.

I second the fire brigade :) call them and explain

And stop other cats from getting in.

If I were your neighbour in this situation I would expect you to pay for all the damage you and your cat have done, ffs crab sticks on a bench in the sun. Cat excrement, you can’t get that smell out of carpet easily.

You know your cat wanders into peoples houses. Why can’t you be a responsible pet owner and keep it inside.

meh, maybe I’m just in a bitchy mood but “howdy neighbour here are some rotten crab sticks and putrid scat smells as part of your welcome basket “ are a bad way to welcome your new neighbours.

If I were your neighbor I’d 100% understand you getting your cat out of my house!

Yes, but they have builders in and I doubt they read mumsnet care

You need to break in to stop any further damage to their home by your cat.
Hopefully you can do that simply.
Maybe you can physically open the cat flap and call your cat.
Next time you see them explain what happened.
Getting their phone number would be sensible.