My cat is inside my neighbour’s wall cavity

[SerenityNowInsanityLater]

So, we’re presently a wrecking ball of anxiety and sadness as my kids and I wait to find out if we’ll ever hold our cat again.

He went out, two nights ago, at 2am. I’d been up preparing for a hearing (divorce). He was sitting at the back door, always an indication that he needs to go out. He’s out every night and home by 7am, sleeping on a patio chair.

He didn’t come home. Didn’t think much of it. Attended hearing (5 hours) and around 2pm asked my kids if they’d seen Gus. They hadn’t. DD had mentioned that she was aware that he hadn’t come to her room for daily snoozy snuggles.

I put out an alert on neighborhood watch and it turns out, he’d wandered into my neighbour’s house and looked utterly terrified to be there. She sent photos her painter had taken of my cat (homeowner was at work). They are having building works. Apparently he was hiding underneath a table, the painter tried to coax him out and grabbed him. The cat got totally spooked and they are pretty sure he ran into an opening of a newly built/plastered basement wall and climbed inside the cavity, they ‘think’. Their last sighting of him was in the wall’s opening climbing an electric cable. It’s all so grim.

I’ve gone over with food, talking to him, tapping, calling for him, chatting to him. I can see into the wall’s cavity. It’s an incredibly tight squeeze and this immediately scared me. The space is limited and the neighbour’s father in law built the wall and explained that the cat wouldn’t have much space to explore as it’s very limited and extremely tight.

There’s been no sound. Nothing. I heard nothing. Nobody’s heard a thing. Food has gone untouched. Fire Brigade has visited twice with thermal cameras and they’ve detected nothing both times (the space however is full of beams, cables, and insulation which could inhibit detection). RSPCA said I’ve basically done all that I can.

What more can be done? What’s crazy is he’s such a timid cat. None of the neighbours really know him because, although he wanders, he’s not the Six Dinner Sid our ginger cat is, visiting all and sundry like relatives at Christmas. Our little timid boy isn’t like that. He is extremely shy of humans. He looked absolutely terrified in the photos the painter shared. I hate to think the worst.

But what now, 38 hours on? 😢

Shows how much I know about building construction.

Might the neighbours permit you to spend the night (or part of it) in the room? So you could listen when its really quiet. Are they actively listening/looking for him? Is there some cat food down in there, by the cavity entrance?

I do think he will turn up alive, OP.

This is a good article about lost cat behaviour. He's likely hiding and frozen with fear and will be there for at least 2 days (maybe longer).
The suggestions for the long and bendy cameras are helpful, worth a try.
Also you could spray some feliway around the neighbour's house near where they think he is, or put a feliway plug-in near the cavity if the neighbours will let you, it might help to relax him.
Have you tried contacting the RSPCA and see if they have any suggestions?
Also it's worth letting other neighbours know to keep an eye out, putting unwashed bedding/clothes on the line that he can smell, putting posts on local facebook groups and on the next door app in case he's not in the house any more. Really hope he comes home soon, keep us posted!
Guide to Lost Cat Behavior: Expert Advice and FAQs | PawBoost

Our cat went missing for 3 days, after 24 hours I asked neighbours to check sheds etc but she wasn’t around. I went out calling for her at night once the birds had gone home and traffic noise was minimal and heard her meowing in the neighbours garage that they had checked twice! She was just so scared she stayed silent and didn’t move. It would be worth a shot incase he is stuck somewhere!

When my cat was a kitten she in a light socket in the bathroom, no idea how she got in but my then boyfriend (I had just moved in with him to his flat), cut a hole in the ceiling after two days. We are now married and the cat is 17 years old and devoted to him. Good luck OP, they are good at getting out of tight spots.

If you have cat insurance that usually includes some coverage for missing cats, might be worth contacting them to see if they can suggest anything.

I hope you get your cat back soon.

A borescope inspection camera is one of the best tools for locating your cat. These cameras have a small, flexible cable (e.g. 10 feet) that can be inserted into the wall cavity through any small openings. The camera will provide a live video feed, have LED lights, and you can navigate through the space and attempt locate your cat.

Always a good idea to read the post.

Many years ago we were having a leak repaired underneath the bath and the plumber needed to take up couple of pieces of floor board. For some inexplicable reason our cat decided to go down the hole - he was so quick the plumber wasn't able to grab him. We spent hours calling, lifted the carpets andna couplenof flootlr boqrdsnin each bedroom but no sign of him, no miowing, nothing. We left cat food and a lit torch near the hole overnight to try and help him find the way out but still no joy. Was so upset.

Three days later there was a knock on the door and the owner of the cafe at the end of our row of terraced houses was standing there with our filthy and bedraggled cat. He had somehow made his way accross the 4 houses in between us and into their ventilation system from the loft. He was really hungry and thirsty and we had to use washing-up liquid to get the grease out of his fur. A check up at the vets showed he was otherwise fine. So, don't give up!

I hope he turns up for you! X

Put his litter box outside. See if it tempts him back.

I really hope you get your cat this is so worrying x

Just about to say this. You can buy cheap inspection cameras on Amazon. Annoyingly Lidl had them a week or two ago.

Endoscope Inspection Camera, Borescope Inspection Camera with 5M/16.4FT Cord 1080P HD Digital 8mm IP67 Waterproof Camera Waterproof Sewer Endoscope Camera: Amazon.co.uk: Automotive

OP, a cat can get through any space if their head fits! They're very flexible creatures.
It's very likely that's he's escaped

@timenowplease FFS read the OP again!

My heart goes out to you! My extremely timid indoor cat got out and was hiding in a neighbouring building (not residential) for over 3 days in machinery. I was a wreck. As PP have said best chances will come from NOT leaving food out unattended unless it is in a trap. If your neighbours are happy, being there yourself after dark might help. I jingled toys, read news out in a normal voice on my phone. If you catch sight of him, do not be needy or desperate when you call to him because he will pick up on your anxiety. On day 4 she trotted out a crawl space quite unexpectedly when I was going to change food in the trap, it was dark then. If you can borrow a trigger plate trap from an animal rescue put stinky fish in and leave that - he will probably come out in the quiet of night for it. If he was/is stuck/wedged he will have been yowling or will start yowling sooner or later. I can see how much extra torment and anxiety it being inside another neighbours house/building work would cause. I will be sending out my very best vibes hope and peace to you. Don’t give up x

Wow, what a lucky and determined cat! So happy you got him back!

My cat has form for getting stuck in places for long periods of time.

Last year he made it 7 days in someone's garage with no food or water, miraculously! Cats are exceptionally good at hiding for a long time so it's possible he's not stuck as he'd be making a racket to get attention.

I hope he's home and you find him soon OP! But a local drain company could help!

Fingers crossed for a safe return.

What are you on about?

I came to suggest the same. Keep an eye on the roof/chimney. I think it would have gone upwards if anywhere.

You need a cat trap and his stinkiest favourite food. Then everyone needs to leave the room overnight, stop calling him, and let him come out in his own time. Cats hide when scared, even from their owners.

Someone like Cats Protection should be able to lend you a trap.

I also second the endoscope suggestion, in case he has got stuck somehow.

It's also possible that he's climbed up the cavity into the space between the ceiling and the floor above it. Go around your neighbours house listening for him moving or crying.

@SerenityNowInsanityLater Any news?

How awful, I hope Gus roles home unexpectedly, take care x