To break into my new neighbours house *THREAD 2*

[Catsos]

Following on from my thread yesterday https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4881905-to-break-into-new-neighbours-house-serious-question-not-trolling

to update all of the lovely people who are trying to help me rescue my cat who has got himself stuck in an unoccupied house.

Updating very shortly

Great news that the cat will be safely released.

However, I really don't think some people have any understanding of what a troll actually is - it 100% does not mean somebody who disagrees with you, doesn't share your interests and wants you to take responsibility for your own pets rather than forcing them to put themselves out on your behalf. It's very childish to brand somebody a troll or a hater, just because they don't agree with you that you should automatically get your own way.

Plenty of cat owners DO take responsibility and understand that other people don't want to have to clear up their cat's poo, cat-proof their own gardens to keep your pet out (some of whom will have pets of their own living there, whom they don't want to be terrorised or bullied by intruders). It's just a shame that so many will shrug, throw up their hands and make their choice everybody else's problem.

It actually sounds like this cat flap has not been installed correctly - it should be doing the opposite of what it did - only let specific chipped animals in. The exit doesn’t need to be responsive to the chip because only animals who should be in the house can get in.

Perhaps it was installed backwards.

So glad the builder is going to rescue your cat, Catsos. What a relief. I am a bit shocked about the RSPCA. How was the poor cat supposed to get out?

I'm sooooo pleased for you both, your poor things.

I would be equally as demented in this situation, and I probably would've been wedged down the chimney myself by now. Enjoy cuddles and squeezes with your hairy, what an ordeal for you both! Ps, don't forget to rescue the crab sticks while you're there!

Do we even know ow the cat got in via the flap? Cat could have wandered in unnoticed while builders were loading up to go home, 1and the cat flap could be completely blocked/locked. Or even if it is openable and the cat got in by a different route, does it even know what a cat flap is and how to use it?

It actually sounds like this cat flap has not been installed correctly - it should be doing the opposite of what it did - only let specific chipped animals in. The exit doesn’t need to be responsive to the chip because only animals who should be in the house can get in.

Perhaps it was installed backwards.

The first picture that OP posted, I thought it looked more like an outlet vent (e.g. for a tumble dryer) than an actual purpose-designed cat flap.

Op should not be going in to clean herself

1. the owners need to make a full assessment of the damage
2. the odds are extremely low, but the owners may have allergies to certain cleaning products. Op could cause even more harm by cleaning with the wrong thing.

And she has no right to be in the property without their permission

I didn't post on previous thread, just looking at your cat made me think of ours with the same sort of expression. Hope he's in the right house soon, you'd not have to move if he'd got into ours, it would be one heck of an icebreaker too!!

Keep us updated OP - great news you got hold of the builder!

Oh phew. I do hope cat is safely at your house and has learnt a useful lesson.

Also that you have time to clear up the fish sticks/ham and any cat wee and poos so that your neighbours don't come back to a very nasty smell.

Because the cat probably wouldn’t even get to the ham and you will have left meat that will rot inside their house which probably lead to maggots/ flys etc. you are causing unnecessary further damage to their house as if they crab sticks didn’t already do enough harm.

You really think OP should leave miscellaneous fish and cat poo around their house when she can remove it? She can wipe it over without using any cleaning products at all. Finding a clean house won't prevent the owners from assessing any damage.

Have been following this thread and so pleased to hear your latest update, OP.

Not a cat owner but we are currently taking care of our neighbours' beautiful cat and even though he's not ours the thought of him being stranded anywhere makes me feel ill. Always such a relief each night and morning when we either see him or note that he's eaten his food.

I hope your cat is none the worse for his ordeal and that he hasn't caused too much damage in the house. And maybe that he's learned a lesson from his cat-house-breaking activities - but from what I know about cats I suspect this might be slightly optimistic!

the odds are extremely low, but the owners may have allergies to certain cleaning products.

Or to cats, if the 'cat flap' was actually some kind of air vent and not a cat flap at all.

Either way, I don't think it's going to just be a case of a half-hour wipe around if the cat was in there without toilet facilities for such a long time. Maybe scratch marks too. It could have run up a significant bill to make good the damage for the home owners. If they've paid for a brand new carpet, I think they'd be horrified to be expected to just put up with it having been used as a toilet by a stranger's cat before they could even properly enjoy it themselves.

And I completely disagree with the poster who said they should bear the costs for damage and cleaning themselves, as 'punishment' for having a cat flap on their own property. Just as absurd as blaming people for having a letterbox and thus exonerating anybody who puts fireworks, dog poo or any other unpleasant/offensive materials through it.

It sounds like the cat flap might be set to "in" only - we do that if we want the cats to stay in for the night. Once you have the cat, put something over the opening or in the tunnel to stop a repeat of this. I know it's not your house but you need to do something pending the owner's return.

can’t wait to see a pic of the free cat.
The world needs more cat lovers like you!

Wonderful news, I can't imagine the stress of this situation. Have the Dreamies ready for him.

The world needs more cat lovers like you!

Ones that happily allow their cats to have the free run of other people's homes and steal other cats' food - and then plan how to break in themselves when the cat comes a cropper?

It's a happy ending to a worrying episode, but I hardly think it makes OP into a heroine amongst pet owners.

If I was moving out with a cat then I'd very likely set my cat flap to "let my cat in but not out" in the previous 24 hours. The scenario you want to avoid at all costs is that cat gets spooked by removal guys and does a runner when you're just about to leave. Of course what you should then do is double lock the cat flap as soon as the cat is in its box for the move.

@FatherJackHackettsUnderpantsHamper it's not me that's being ridiculous, you can't compare a criminal act such as someone posting a firework through a letterbox to a car using a cat flap ffs 🤣.

Owners are responsible for keeping their property secure against animals who aren't aware of the societal norms and laws...

The thread that keeps giving. Would love to see some of you at a party.

I guess it's best to do a quick 'removal wipe' & then contact owners (re allergies) & offer to pay for professional clean / repairs also.
It's certainly OPs responsibility, not theirs. Relief that cat is OK though.

Great news op!

and when you get your cat back how are you going to prevent him from going straight back in there?? i suggest you block the entrance to the flap with something

and please for the love of God go and get some paper towels and strong disinfectant and clean up all of the cat piss, cat hair, rotten crab sticks, ham and Ice cubes that you destroyed their new house with
I feel so sorry for your neighbours

it's not me that's being ridiculous, you can't compare a criminal act such as someone posting a firework through a letterbox to a car using a cat flap ffs 🤣.

Owners are responsible for keeping their property secure against animals who aren't aware of the societal norms and laws...

Granted it wasn't the best analogy, but the comment I was responding to was self-righteously effectively blaming the owners for having their home invaded and damaged, with the poor helpless owner of the cat that has a reputation for intruding completely blameless.

One common way that home owners keep their properties secure from animal intrusion/infestation is by putting down traps or poison that kill them. As you say, wild animals - and those who are pets but not supervised or controlled by their human owners - can't be reasoned with as to what is somebody else's private property. Is that the kind of responsibility that you'd prefer to see them do to keep out invading cats as well?