Is it possible to feed cats through a letterbox?!

[Nokeysnoentry]

I’ve been feeding my friend’s cats for the past week. As she was due back from her holiday this evening, I put the keys through her letterbox after I had locked up today. Unfortunately her flight has been cancelled and she won’t be back until Sunday evening. What do I do?! I’m most concerned about them not having enough water. Would it be crazy to pop some ice cubes and food pouches through the letterbox?! Or, will they be okay until Sunday?

She should tell you what to do surely?

You could try going to a local supermarket and ask to borrow one. They use them for ceiling displays. I have some and I have to really pull to get them off my fridge.

Ice cubes in a small plastic tub placed through letter box will work and then daily top up of ice cubes. Do you have / do you know anyone who has one of those long armed grabbers? Easier to replace the ice cubes that way!

Dry food poured into bowls and pushed through will also work

It's just a couple of days, it will be sufficient- good luck OP!

Ah there is bleachy stuff in the toilets. Sigh

I think I’m more stressed than my friend is! I did what she asked me to do, but I still feel responsible for this predicament.

I’m still worried that it’s too hot for them to locked up with one bowl of water for two days.

I’m not near Birmingham, no.

Hey I’ve work with battersea and rspca for almost 20 years and have been in this situation before. We couldn’t enter a property without a court order which could sometimes take days so we would have to get food and water through the letterbox. I suggest throwing in some dry cat food and some small tubs with frozen water. Take a few in case they get in upside down. If the cats are actually coming up to the door, you can squeeze in a pouch of wet food as that has water in. Whilst not ideal, cats can last a couple of days without water and almost 2 weeks without food. Obviously, if there’s any way of getting in that would be best but but this will do in the meantime.

How any cats are there sharing this one bowl of water?

I know, I thought I was being a good houseguest by cleaning the toilets before I left.

Get some of those chinese takeaway style plastic dishes (Poundland do them), crush a load of ice in a few of them and try and put them through the letter box so they land upright.

Try not to be too stressed out. Tomorrow morning go to the shops and find a strong magnet. Use that to get the keys out and they will be no worse for ware having been left over night.

There are two cats.

Thanks Legion I’m glad my ice cube suggestion wasn’t too ridiculous.

Magnet as suggested is the best bet. The house will stink if the cats can't get out to pee or poo.

I was hoping you'd say two and not seven! I think they'll be all right then, two cats one average bowl less than 48 hours. Go round and put some dry food through the box and some ice too if you can but honestly I think they'll be fine. Also if you go round there a couple of times and they race to the door and wail it'll reassure you that they're ok.

cats don't actually drink that much. I can't see them getting through all that water in two days. I'm pretty sure you'll be able to fish for keys with a coathanger. Works best if you also get someone to poke a handheld mirror on a stick through and angle it so you can see what you're doing. Have got keys back a few times that way. You could get a strong magnet delivered tomorrow from Prime if necessary or post on a local Facebook group to see if anyone had one you can borrow

They have a litter tray they can access, so I think they’ll be reasonably okay toilet wise for two days.

I’ve just thought of someone who might have a strong magnet...

Advertise on yr Facebook for loan of a very strong magnet (obvs without saying where for), or try a borrow from a garage - I think they use them sometimes to retrieve things from awkward places.
Otherwise I thing you can manage through the letterbox for a couple of days - ice cubes and food in tin foil tray lowered down on string to keep it upright as a pp said.

Next time I’m keeping the keys until she gets home!

I think the water will probably be OK, but rather than shove cat food randomly through the letterbox, maybe cook a chicken breast, shred it and post that through? The cats will eat it, and and leftovers can easily be cleaned up.

Next time I’m keeping the keys until she gets home

If you are a sensible friend who she clearly trusts it wouldn't hurt for you to have a spare key just in case. We have spares for a few people and they have our spares, you never know when you might need them.

Good luck on the magnet hunt and do let us know when you manage to get the keys back out.

I think they ll be fine honestly. Cats need water obviously but they don't drink that much, even in hot weather. A water bowl like you have described would last my 2 cats 2 days in hot weather. And they can go without for a while just like we can. My cats often don't take a drink for the whole day even though there is a fresh bowl right there. What time is your friend home on Sunday?

I don't recommend putting wet food through the letterbox though! Gross. Put dry food through only or you'll have a big mess.

Chicken breast is a good idea. Less messy and not completely dry.

Freeze water in a Tupperware box so it's solid and post it through the door. In this heat it will melt quite quickly.

I think food wise they will be fine.

Cats also love grated cheese, also not messy.

I think I've seen my cat drink water maybe 3 times in as many years.

I think it'll be ok. Chicken breast is a good idea, or dry food through the letterbox.

I think tying a magnet on a bit of string or something, and getting the keys back would be the easiest thing to do.