[Closed] Cat locked in empty neighbours house - advice needed

open catflap, call cat. Take cats favourite food with you, wave enticingly at the open catflap. If the house has soft warm places and lady cats, he might take a while.

I wouldn't panic though. Cats go missing for days on end, it's what they do. I know if tiggy went missing I wouldn't start worrying until she'd been gone a week. Chances are your cat goes there all the time but comes back regular when the owners come home. Now they're out for a while, he's having a nice rest/shag/eat.

Either he's had an accident, crawled in there and can't move much, or he's died in there

Highly unlikely imo. Cats if mortally injured or very ill, will do whatever they can to get back to their own home to die. It certainly wouldn't want to go into a strange house.

Unlikely too imo, although not impossible, is that it's locked itself in a room. A bit more likely is that the cat flap is set to allow the cat in, but not out. If that's the case, prop it open with a stick or something.

I guess I'm being pessimistic because their garden backs onto a busy road & this time last year he was lucky to keep his leg after a collision with a car.

I've called through the catflap but no answer. He has no trouble getting out of [i]our[/i] catflap when it's on in only. I'll try propping it with a stick though, and a rattly box of snacks. Cheers guys.

Just keep monitoring his location and calling him, maybe get a ladder and see if you can spot him in other windows if neighbours are aware you're not a cat burglar. Are you sure the tracker is correct, it's my experience that happy homey cats rarely run off for days unless there's a stress in their home (new cat, or moved home). Maybe he has shed his collar (ours used to get them off all the time) and it has been found and is in the house?

That said, cat I know of recently dissappeared for 2 days, turned out he'd chased a mouse into a neighbours house and was stuck under their kitchen cupboards unable to find his way out.

I don't think you have any right of access in any way, but if you break in be prepared to pay for the repairs and leave the house as you found it with a sorry note to the owners!

cats can survive for a long time on their own. One of mine went missing for three weeks once, got a bit concerned after several days had gone by. I eventually found him down the road where I used to live, I'd recently moved, kept cat in etc.. but when he got chance he went back. He was a bit bedraggled and thin but other than that fine.

Kev

cats can survive for a long time on their own.

If they have a source of water. Not if they're locked in a house or trapped in a cupboard, it's a fair concern.

worth calling the RSPCA and see if they can help?

yes coffeeking, obviously. but since the cat has not been seen in the house suggests he might not actually be in there. Of course he's concerened for his cat, I was just trying to put the guy at ease a little bit.

Kev

If it was my cat I suspect I would be breaking into the house and dealing with the consequences later, but I am totally soft about my cat. I would understand if somebody did it to me ! Put some food and water just inside the cat flap just in case.

And let us know what happens !

I'm sorry but breaking into someone's house for a cat is well out of order. I can understand that it's upsetting when a pet is missing but it's not an excuse for breaking the law.

I am aware of that - but I think I could live with the guilt - much better than I could if the cat died because I was worried about minor and reparable damage to somebody's house.

Have broken into my own house many times without causing any damage.

I'm sorry but breaking into someone's house for a cat is well out of order. I can understand that it's upsetting when a pet is missing but it's not an excuse for breaking the law.

Not if the cat is trapped/harmed. Hardly the end of the world to crack a small pane of glass and gain entry, then pay for the replacement. If someone *didn't* do that for their pet stuck in my home, for the sake of possibly offending me, I'd be more worried about them.

Frankly if anyone did that to my house for a cat, or any other pet for that matter, they'd be paying for all the costs including all conseqential damage as well as answering to the police.

Frankly if anyone did that to my house for a cat, or any other pet for that matter, they'd be paying for all the costs including all conseqential damage

That was already covered and accepted.

as well as answering to the police.

I suspect the police would rather you didn't bother for the sake of an obvious mercy mission in which all damages were already willingly paid for and repaired. But some people like wasting police time.

Och well if minor damage to property is more important to you than a loved pet then thats fine for you. I would rather somebody broke into my house than let their cat die any day. Lets hope it doesn't come to that.

Out of interest - what if it was a dog ? A small child ? The house was on fire ? At what point would it be OK for somebody to break a wee pane of glass in your precious house ?? Assuming they even need to - I have got into my own house using a wire coat hanger, and another house with the plastic milk bottle (empty) trick. I might be in your house right now typing this - and I'm about to wee on your bed...

OK I'm being silly now - but please rescue your cat !

I suspect gonefishin isn't an animal person 😉

Are the people who own that house Chinese?

Johnny Panic moves to red-level panic.

The police won't break into someone's house for a cat.

They might lock you up for doing it yourself though.

Hope your cat's ok.

But some people like wasting police time

and some people have respect for the property of others.

what if it was a dog ?

Nope that wouldn't be acceptable either.

A small child ?

A child is not a pet, although I'd probably still be calling someone as the parenting is clearly amiss somewhere if the child in question is allowed to crawl through the catflap of another persons house.

The house was on fire ?

The fire brigade might be the best bet in this instance as rushing into a buring building to save something or someone will almost certainly end badly for you.

I like animals well enough, although I am alergic to cats, I just don't hold to the thought that somehow person A's pet is more important than person B's property.

Send in a small dog to chase it out - cover all exits with a net.

Property is just bricks and mortar and expensive ****in gadgets. People aren't suggesting breaking the bloody door down and ransacking the house.

Though, I'd want to be [b][i]sure[/i][/b] the cat was in there...

[i] I might be in your house right now typing this - and I'm about to wee on your bed...[/i]

That was you!??
Thank **** for that. I thought the damp patch meant I'd have to start buying tenna pants.

I just don't hold to the thought that somehow person A's pet is more important than person B's property.

Well while I'm all for respecting peoples property, I'd put life before property any day. But not everyone does, clearly.

hora - Member

Are the people who own that house Chinese?

Your a very bad man... 😆

Imagine if you came home to find your house had been broken into just to sort out someone's errant bloody moggy. I'd certainly be pissed off.

You couldn't break into our house without causing significant damage, AND leaving it wide open for further burglars to walk in and help themselves. That is the reason I'd be very bloody annoyed indeed. How exactly would you secure the property again afterwards?

And I'm a cat owner.

Breaking in should be done with someone who knows the owner - hopefully a neighbour would agree. How much is the cat worth to you? As long as you'll repair the damage and have someone with you who know's the owner should be OK in the circumstances - though best find out if they're a friendly sort or they could get a bit aggressive....

Worth speaking to fire service, one of our roles is to 'render humanitarian services' so if you can prove the cat is in there enough I reckon you might be able to get someone in uniform to do it. Perhaps

You couldn't break into our house without causing significant damage, AND leaving it wide open for further burglars to walk in and help themselves. That is the reason I'd be very bloody annoyed indeed. How exactly would you secure the property again afterwards?

That's not really in question though is it, it has been covered by the owner willing to pay for repairs and re-securing the property, whatever that takes. One would assume they would not just smash a window and selotape some paper over it, leaving a fiver as compensation 🙄

Well while I'm all for respecting peoples property, I'd put life before property any day. But not everyone does, clearly.

So you value an animal life above property but will happily advocate killing an animal once it's "useful" life has passed.

coffeeking - Member
Tis nature at the end of the day, sad, but saves you wringing their necks when they stop laying I suppose.

Tell me, the cognative dissonance, does it hurt?

Actually - try knocking on their neighbours' doors - someone will likely have a key.

Tell me, the cognative dissonance, does it hurt?

FWIW I don't advocate killing the animal at all. It's the very reason I wouldn't keep chickens myself.

Actually - try knocking on their neighbours' doors - someone will likely have a key.

would be the sane first answer

Break who in..the cat? Saddle and stirrups?

Or you could always kick your neighbours backdoors in?

What a bizarre thread this has turned into.

I'm confident that if someone broke into my house to retrieve a cat, the police certainly wouldn't see it as a waste of their time if I demanded they were arrested for it and I'm with the chap above, if someone did do this I wouldn't hesitate to call the police. I don't care if they offered to pay for the damage. And yes, I'm an animal person.

There's at least one specific crime to cover this, breaking and entering, possibly trespass too. And then they had to convince you all that a)They had good cause and b) They've not nicked anything/****ed into your underwear drawer. It's one of the craziest things I've heard of on here.

Imagine coming home to find someone in your house cooing "here kitty kitty" under your bed? You'd own 'em, bomber style.

Not sure what sort of a beast would want to do that into your drawer but anyway that's sort of the reason why I suggested should be done with a friend of the owner and checking they think it would be OK. I hate cats but wouldn't want to return to the rotting carcass of one that got stuck in a cupboard belonging to someone down the road.

It's a tricky one.
I don't know what would be more upsetting - finding a dead cat, or finding my neighbours admiring my goat fancier monthly back collection.

An englishman's house is indeed his castle.

Lets hope the cats alright hey.

To be hope the F*cking stupid tracking thing actually works properly....(they have been known to get interference or give false readings 😀 )

Otherwise your gonna be in big s*it if you break into someone's house and it isnt there.

And if you broke into my house (regardless of whether your cat is there or not) i would be looking to press charges/own you with bombers, ( i couldnt give a monkeys if you would pay to fix any damage! you wouldn't have permission to be there so you are breaking the law!!)

I'd be mighty pissed off if someone broke into my house whilst away, but this guy's cat could be int here FFS?! Whilst the initial reaction would undoubtedly be anger, surely you could see that theyre not likely to have broken into your house without thinking it through and it was an act of desperation? Theres some seriously uncompassionate guys in here!!

No animal person would rather see an animal trapped and starving, but lets not get into an argument over such things. The easiest way to do this is call a locksmith, who could get in without damage. Hell you could get in to most houses without damage with the aid of the internet and some basic tools, I suspect they could get back out and not even leave evidence of their entry if they tried. I'd be glad they owned up and gave a reason.

I can't see where the OP has mentioned anything about forced entry.......why has this thread diverted into an unhelpful discussion ? He did talk however, about whether the Police or RSPCA had a right of entry. And whilst not disputing thegreatape's expertise on the subject, I'm surprised to learn that they wouldn't bother. As I understood it, if there is a seriously distressed animal, including when the owners are away, measures are taken to force an entry - with or without the owners consent. If this is not the case, then the law needs to be changed urgently. As seeking the owners consent, clearly makes a complete mockery of any animal anti-cruelty laws.

The easiest way to do this is call a locksmith, who could get in without damage

They won't do it without the owners or police permission, if the owner wasn't present, they'd want the police there before they'd do anything like that

Depends on the locksmith, uplink!

Goldfish on a fishing hook ??

Depends on the locksmith, uplink!

It shouldn't do - it's pretty standard good practice
My brother's a locksmith & he's forever waiting for the police

EDIT: hang on, I'll give him a ring

I never said one thats likely to be an upstanding citizen 😉

I like jeromes thinking!

I never said one thats likely to be an upstanding citizen

I think that makes them a burglar

Anyway, bro laughed very loudly - when he re-gathered his composure he said, "not in a million years" "no one would fall for that tale"

I think that makes them a burglar

Semantics....

1. The tracker could have come off the cat inside the house - ours manage to shed their collars on a regular basis.
2. If the cat's dead, breaking in and getting is not going to change that fact so it makes no difference (except for your own peace of mind) if you go in or not.
3. Cats can survive for many days without food (they may well be able to drink from the toilet if they were inside).
4. Our cat will cry if it's locked in somewhere - I've locked ours in the garage accidentally several times, so if it's stuck somewhere I think you'd hear it from the flap.
5. One of our cats has gone off for several days at a time and come home fine they're pretty resourceful.
6. If it's injured then of course if would be nice to go in and get it, but I agree with other comments that firstly it's unlikely to have headed to a house other than it's home if it was injured enough and still mobile and secondly you'd want to get in by a legal method.

Are the trackers unique? As they have a catflap, maybe they used to have a cat and still have the collar?

If you broke into anyones house and they called the Police to report a burglary (you). At the very least you'd receive a caution, more likely the person would want you prosecuted.

What next? Your Sons football goes into someones garden and you kick his gate off its hinges to get to it? 😆

hora - Member
Are the people who own that house Chinese?

How long did it take you to come up with that one, Hora? 🙄

Maybe it was him:

[img] [/img]

What next? Your Sons football goes into someones garden and you kick his gate off its hinges to get to it?

Of course, because opening the gate would be impossible 🙂 Mind you, only really a problem if the garden owner is the type to stab the football and shout trespass.

All the useful advice had been given before the discussion about legalities started. I know I put my tuppence in because I'd rather not see the OP with cat problems as well as being banged up for breaking and entering which is the way the discussion was heading. Whether you feel it's right or wrong, the general consensus from the involved parties, particularly the home owner, is going to be 'but it's just a cat'.

If the OP could actually see his cat bleeding to death through the window then he might have some justification but that would be about it.

If the OP could actually see his cat bleeding to death through the window then he might have some justification but that would be about it.

Doubt it. They'd still be up for breaking and entering. Their best bet would be, if they were in such a situation, to call the police. You can't simple break into someone's house for a cat that might be in there.

Imagine the scenario:

'So, what were you doing in this person's house?'
'Looking for my cat your Honour'
'20 years. Take him down'.

NAhhh they don't lock criminals up these days, especially not first time offenders! He'd most likely just get his own tracking collar.

Isn't the discussion still about breaking in on the [b]off chance[/b] the cat is there?

When it isn't the reasoning is not going to sound too plausible - especially if the neighbour has something they'd rather not share 😉

If it was my cat, I'd let the police know (not ask permission just tell them this is what I'm about to do) I'd break a window have a look round, get someone in to fix the window. Leave a few bottles of wine and an apology behind and my phone number to call when they get back.... not sure what I'd do if there's an alarm.... those things are pretty bloody annoying. Cant see someone being that pissed off as long as you are polite and if they are well **** em I'll pay for any damage so cannot see a hard pressed police force giving a flying **** either.

If it was my cat, I'd let the police know (not ask permission just tell them this is what I'm about to do) I'd break a window have a look round, get someone in to fix the window. Leave a few bottles of wine and an apology behind and my phone number to call when they get back

😯 ❓

You can't break into someone's house, it's a criminal act! Only if you believed there was a Human at risk or in danger, could you do so, and have a legal defence. Breaking in to see if your cat's there would not constitute a sufficient legal defence.

As said before, if someone did that to me, I'd have them done for it. A few bottles of wine? Are you taking the piss??

Cant see someone being that pissed off as long as you are polite and if they are well **** em

I wouldn't care how polite you were, I'd have you done! My home is my private space, and I have a legal entitlement to the exclusive enjoyment of that space. No way would I tolerate my home being violated, especially not for a ****ing cat!

You're legally responsible for your pets. If they 'trespass' on someone else's property, that person has the right to remove them, or if necessary, destroy them.

I'd break a window have a look round, get someone in to fix the window.

I can't speak for other houses but with mine you'd need to break a fairly large window if you wanted to get in & out as there wouldn't be an easy way to unlock any doors or windows.

Talkmada, you can rant all you like but I can do what I want as long as I'm happy to face the consequences. I doubt any prosecution would come from it. I would expect a civil case.

In your case I might leave a shit under the pillow too.

How long did it take you to come up with that one, Hora?

Well its hardly likely to be a cat that decided to go into someones house to play on their XBox whilst they are away is it?

OP Have you checked the trees and rooftops around the property? Sounds crazy, I know.

Isn't the discussion still about breaking in on the off chance the cat is there?

No, I think the original post suggested it highly likely that the cat was in there and possibly injured/dying. One would suspect common sense would dictate he make fairly sure it was in there first.

Talkmada, you can rant all you like but I can do what I want as long as I'm happy to face the consequences. I doubt any prosecution would come from it. I would expect a civil case.

Christ on a bike, are you serious?? 😯

Someone's home is their [b]private property[/b]. Do you know what that means? It means you can't go breaking in! Not under any circumstances (except maybe if their was a Human involved as I've said). If the cat was in their garden, injured, and you could clearly see it, you might get away with a caution, but breaking in? You're nicked, my beauty! Civil case? The homeowner/tenant can have you done, and the police would be obliged to press charges. You'd be ****ed.

You can do what you want, sure, but you can't break the law without expecting to suffer the penalty.

I'd call in a few favours from my legal contacts, and you, my son, would be going DAAAHHHYN! 😈

If the cat was in their garden, injured, and you could clearly see it, you might get away with a caution,

That's not even trespass, let alone breaking in to get cautioned.

Send a male one of these into the catflap. If the cats injured he'll find out. Theres a cat still inside our bush at the bottom of the garden 😯
[img] [/img]

...and BEFORE anyone bangs on about poor kitties- they are one the biggest cold killers out there.

It means you can't go breaking in!

Read what I wrote, I can as long as I accept the consequences, you sound a bit rabid to be honest. Calm down love. Takes scrotes endless charges before they are banged up, I doubt a fine upstanding member of the community such as myself would get more than a caution.

I doubt a fine upstanding member of the community such as myself would get more than a caution.

You reckon?

Come round mine, and try it! 😈

The thing is, if your neighbours decided not to press charges, then you might get away with it. I dunno if the CPS would pursue the matter any further, if both parties were happy to settle the matter to the satisfaction of all involved. Probably not.

However, if they did press charges, you'd be ****ed. You'd be charged with breaking and entering, and would face whatever penalty applies. Your fineness and upstandingness would have some bearing on sentence, possibly, but that's about it.

You can't make up Law to suit yourself, you know.

You can't make up Law to suit yourself, you know.

No-one claimed they could though. No-one said it wasn't illegal.

I know, but Angellis Arvensis seems to think he could get away with a caution! 😆

If it were my home, AA, I'd see to it that you did the maximum bird possible. I might throw in a couple of extras, like claiming you'd victimised and threatened me. You'd be off to the Scrubs quick time. And I'd get word to Big Mick and 'Pliers' McCafferty, to ensure you'd have an extremely unpleasant time inside.

And you would come to rue the day you dared question the Mighty Talkemada...

And I'd get word to Big Mick and 'Pliers' McCafferty, to ensure you'd have an extremely unpleasant time inside.

personally - I think I'd worry more about Big Mick

[img] [/img]

And you would come to rue the day you dared question the Mighty Talkemada...

But most peoples neighbours are understanding and not A-holes 🙂 😉

Sounds like the best thing is to break in, check for the cat, nick some stuff, leave, don't tell anyone.
That way it looks like a normal burglary, your neighbors don't think your some sort of freak who's been sniffing through their knicker draw on the presence of looking for your pussy, and you get some stuff to sell on ebay.

But most peoples neighbours are understanding and not A-holes

How does wanting to enjoy your privacy and to have your home not broken into, make you an 'A-hole'?

How would you like it, if it happened to you? Would you be so reasonable?

AA just wants to break in so he can rummage through my wife's knickers, the dirty bastard! 😯

'Missing cat' indeed...

😉

I can as long as I accept the consequences

You think this is just about legal consequences? Surely you must admit there's a moral issue at stake here?

I'm not sure I'd appreciate one of my neighbours breaking into my house, and leaving it wide open for any other burglars just to look for their cat...

AA just wants to break in so he can rummage through my wife's knickers, the dirty bastard!

I F**cked your wife last week so I am aware what sort of undies she has anyway.

AA just wants to break in so he can rummage through my wife's knickers

You have a wife? 😯