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Original poster

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

94 replies

franch · 05/06/2008 21:45

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 ...

OP posts:
flibertyplus2 · 05/06/2008 22:10

Could you try asking their next door neighbours for help?

They might be able to get into the garden (or let you through) to check the back door, catflap and leave food & water.

southeastastra · 05/06/2008 22:11

it's only a cat

BettySpaghetti · 05/06/2008 22:12

Can you go and knock on the doors either side of the house and ask if you can go into their garden to get over the hedge/fence -you could check through the back windows if all looks OK inside as well as feeding the cats.

Rhubarbs right about burglars securing doors so they're not disturbed

southeastastra · 05/06/2008 22:13

or call in the chopper coppers

alarkaspree · 05/06/2008 22:15

If they have a cat flap they will be fine. Put some food out for them in your garden, I'm sure they roam around.

Due to a mix-up with our catsitter (she thought I was booking her for the following week) my cat once went a week without being fed. She turned up within 2 minutes of our arrival home looking none the worse - not even a little thin.

MrsMuddle · 05/06/2008 22:21

In the old days, before dry cat food, our neighbour lost my key and squeezed canned food through our letterbox from a freezer bag.

Luckily we had lino on the hall floor. Was v smelly.

southeastastra · 05/06/2008 22:31

cat people are very weird

Original poster
franch · 05/06/2008 22:35

I'm not a cat person by any means but they're my friends, they have little kids and these are their pets - I agreed to look after them - am I supposed to just let them die or what?!

OP posts:
ShinyPinkShoes · 05/06/2008 22:37

I love cats and could never let any animal starve or go without water

What are you planning to do Franch- I really feel for you.

harpomarx · 05/06/2008 22:37

I would go for the locksmith option if you can afford it and can't get into their back garden.

the cat will be fine if it can get out but it might go and get itself a new home and the kids would be gutted...

theyoungvisiter · 05/06/2008 22:37

can you knock on the door of the people living right next to them and get access to their garden?

Even if you can't get in the garden you could at least push a dish of water and some cat biscuits under the fence.

But tbh I can't see that it would be very difficult if you had a ladder? I have climbed in and out of my neighbour's garden in the past and there are 6 foot chainlink fences between us. It's really not hard if you have a standalone step-ladder and someone to hand it over to you (so you can get back). Even easier if there is a bench/shed on the other side.

I wouldn't get a locksmith/firebrigade except as an absolute last resort - depending on what kind of locks they have it can be incredibly expensive and it could be v awkward if they refused to pay you back or asked for damages to the door or something.

Original poster
franch · 05/06/2008 22:40

Bloody hell, if I'd known what I was taking on! I've got a 2yo and 4yo so not in the habit of skipping along the street with a stepladder under my arm ...

Hope the cats will be ok till tomorrow - I'll work something out then

OP posts:
ConnorTraceptive · 05/06/2008 22:40

This happened to my neighbour while we were away, he just left food and water outside. Don't worry cats are very resourceful to the point of being vermin -they won't starve believe me!

theyoungvisiter · 05/06/2008 22:41

btw I would be worried about leaving them without food and water - though it depends on the age of the cat. A young fit cat will be fine - he'll just go walkabouts and find a pond and a friendly neighbour/slow witted mouse. But he may not come back, as others have said.

An elderly, frail cat is less likely to wander but could realistically die. Sorry - I realise this is probably not what you want to hear!

lucykate · 05/06/2008 22:43

if the cats are in the house, where are they going to the toilet?, if they don't have a litter tray then there must be a cat flap for them to come and go. if the cats can get out, even though you can't get in, they'll be fine. they'll just find food and water themselves

theyoungvisiter · 05/06/2008 22:45

I'm SURE they will be fine until tomorrow.

Try the neighbours each side tomorrow and see what the back access to the garden is like.

If they have those panel board type fences you can often just lift out the whole section - it's really easy. We did this last year to get a large piece of furniture into our house. Took 10 minutes to take the panel down and 15 minute to nail it back again.

Even if you have to do a bit of DIY it would be a bloody sight easier (and cheaper) than replacing broken locks...

lucykate · 05/06/2008 22:46

when i say they'll find food, i mean birds/mice etc, they are animals after all, although our cat once came home dragging a ham and pineapple pizza with him

Ecmo · 05/06/2008 22:49

I asked my cat and she said

bbrrrrrp, meeeeeoww, brp brrrp

which i think means get off the computer and give me a cuddle

have you seen them use the cat flap?

Original poster
franch · 05/06/2008 22:54

No, haven't seen them use it Ecmo

Thanks youngvisiter - now I think about it the house on one side is being renovated so there's nobody there. May try the other side, tho if they were the accommodating types who didn't mind their fence being knocked about a bit, I've a feeling the cat-owners would have asked them to feed their cats!

OP posts:
Original poster
franch · 05/06/2008 22:55

I think there's a catflap in the back door - to be honest I've never taken any interest, but yes, am pretty sure there is one

OP posts:
theyoungvisiter · 05/06/2008 22:55

but lucykate it does depend on the age of the cat - our cat is 18 and is far too arthritic to get to the water in the loo, let alone catch a bird.

He hasn't caught a bird or a mouse for about 4 years - he's just too old and slow - and he won't leave our garden because the other cats beat him up.

Also if they have collars with bells on they may not be able to get close enough to a bird to pounce.

I'm not trying to worry Franch because I think the cats will probably be ok - but without knowing the cats it's a bit blithe to say "oh yes they'll be fine". They probably will - but it's a bit of a risk to take with another person's cat.

theyoungvisiter · 05/06/2008 23:00

sorry, x posted with you Franch.

Poor you - I hope it's ok!

Fingers xed the people next door are just feckless student lodgers who are perfectly lovely but just not the cat-feeding type...

Ecmo · 05/06/2008 23:03

A cat can survive for several weeks without food. Its the water thats a problem. You need to find out for sure if there is a cat flap. A cat flap would be large enough for you to put food and water through.

Original poster
franch · 05/06/2008 23:06

You know, I might try the police. They're pretty friendly round here and there are often bobbies on the beat around. I'm increasingly concerned about a break-in - they never said anything about a dodgy lock

OP posts:
micci25 · 05/06/2008 23:08

cats are very good scavengers one of my cats goes out and does not come back for weeks at a time, he was last seen about a week ago, and he always comes back looking fine.