Nieghbours asked me to feed cats while they're on holiday, but I can't unlock their front door! Can't contact them! Help!

[franch]

DH has tried door too - won't budge. They had friends house-sitting for them for the first few days, so I wonder if they've done something to it? Have texted neighbour but no response - I'm worried she's got no reception or her phone isn't working abroad.

I guess we could buy some dry catfood and pour it through the letterbox - they still wouldn't get any water though.

Neighbours will be back on Sun - cats were last fed yesterday ...

is it back door key?

Do the cats not have a catflap? If so can you not put food out next to it?

The cats are never going to last until Sunday, apparently it stresses their liver if they skip meals.... You might have to call the fire brigade

Front door key. Catflap is into back garden, which is enclosed.

Have a feeling the fire brigade might not be too amused ...

leg it over to the back flap then and post stuff through the cat flap. Including water. They can get in and out yes?

How enclosed?
Get dp to jump over / use ladder

No, but it might perk up your day, you know, men in uniform and all taht...

But I digress. How enclosed is the back garden? Would someone athlectic be able to access it?

Surely you can get into the back garden somehow and feed them there -ladder to get over the fence?

if cats can get out of the flap, then they won't go without a drink, my cat loves drinking from puddles!

Throw food over back garden and aim a hose at a bowl.

You have a key to the front door but it won't open? Have you looked inside. Because when we were broken into they put the catch on the front door so we wouldn't be able to get in and catch them at it, dh had to kick the front door in to get inside. I would check it out.

They're not our next-door neighbours! They're way down the street! I don't know anyone that athletic!!

my cat loves drinking out of glasses with wide rims like pint glasses - I think it's because it's a the correct height for their heads.

You could try graphite - rub a pencil on the key or I think you might be able to get some sort of graphite spray for the lock itself.

Presumably you have tried pulling the door towards you while turning the key, not putting the key all the way in etc. I have often been faced with an unwilling door and have used people walking past to get it open - some people just seem to have a knack! Or you could try a locksmith.

Or pull the handle up first.

I would honestly check around for signs of a break-in though, it is the first thing they do, to secure the front door from the inside.

CarGirl - ??

barnstaple - Well DH is pretty good at that sort of thing and he said it felt like it was bolted from the inside or something. Suppose a locksmith's an option - will the cats be ok till tomorrow?

Call a locksmith?

No sign of a break-in. They have the blinds down so nothing to see really. No handle to pull rhubarb!

south London justjules!

You see - bolted from the inside!!!

Please please check their house hasn't been turned over!

Will a locksmith break into a house that's not mine for me - ?

Honestly Rhubarb it's just a blank front door and one covered bay window - can't tell!

Knock on the door of one of their next door neighbours and ask to look through their back garden.

You can then leave food and water for cats.

Oh- and take a ladder maybe!

they'll survive, they'll drink the loo water probably

locksmith broke into my flat with no proof of identity etc. I was sitting outside with 2 year old though - take a small child with you and they won't ask any questions!

Tricky one to call re the locksmiths.
Is there another neighbour who could help in any way? YOu could post dry food through the letterbox and call the police and RSPCA in the morning for advice, tell the police you are worried re break in and cats and just see what the RSPCA suggest?