Trapped Cat, No Key

October 19, 2009 3:39 PM

Another trapped cat problem: How Long Can They Really Live Without Food or Water?

Help, I'm supposed to be catsitting but I can't get into the apartment. The owner's contact info-- including emergency info-- is not producing a response. Cat has now possibly been without food/water for nearly 24 hours. It's a Manhattan apartment and will cost a fortune for a locksmith-- and I don't know if they'll let me break into someone else's apartment anyway.

I've tried everything within the building but no one has keys or an ability to get through the digital passkey system (what appears to have happened is the digital lock will open with my password but there's another lock that doesn't so I can't get in).

Any ideas on what to do? I don't know if the cat has access to the toilet for water.

posted by Maias to pets & animals (25 comments total)

When did the owners leave and when are they due back? Assuming they didn't leave the cat with an empty bowl of food, she's probably OK for now. A bit hungry and probably yammering but OK.
posted by amethysts at 3:42 PM on October 19

Have you contacted the landlord? Surely they can at least accompany you into the apartment to feed the cat until a better solution can be found.
posted by wordsmith at 3:42 PM on October 19

Can you slide anything under the door? A small plastic lid (like from a yogurt container) with some water in it . . . and slide under the door.

You could also cram some dry catfood under there, or go Seinfeld and slip some fresh deli meat under.
posted by Sassyfras at 3:42 PM on October 19 [4 favorites has favorites]

The cat is probably okay for now.

Could you try calling 311 and see if the police could help you? Don't they have an animal squad or something in New York?
posted by Jess the Mess at 3:46 PM on October 19

Relax. The cat will be fine for a couple days, at least, depending on the amount of food and water the owners left out. They're pretty good at self-rationing too. Get in touch with the owners first, don't panic for another day or two.
posted by Oktober at 3:48 PM on October 19

To answer your question... unless the cat is sick, old, or has special dietary needs, 2-3 days without food or water isn't going to hurt the cat. Piss him off? Probably. Besides, it's unlikely that the owner left the cat without any water... so that part is probably okay anyway for a few days. Since it's cool outside, the temperature likely won't be a factor. So I wouldn't think about drastic measures (locksmith) until you get past the 48 hour mark, and presumably you might get it touch with the owner during that time.
posted by kimdog at 3:52 PM on October 19

The owner had someone else-- who probably locked the wrong thing-- feed the cat yesterday and didn't want extra food left out for fear the cat would gorge. There is no landlord because it's a coop and no one on the board or the super has the key. Nothing can fit under the door. But I guess it looks like I should just wait till tomorrow to freak out ;-)
posted by Maias at 4:09 PM on October 19

From the ASPCA's website about hepatic lipidosis: "A number of medical problems can cause a cat to stop eating—but did you know that not eating can cause a life-threatening medical problem? . . . Even just two or three days without food can have devastating consequences."

How long will the owners be away? Can you leave a voice message with their contact info? Do they have any nearby relatives? Seconding contacting the non-emergency police number to see if they can offer you any options.
posted by contrariwise at 4:11 PM on October 19 [1 favorite has favorites]

Can you get in through a window from the fire escape? (A neighbor could let you onto the fire escape.)
posted by Jacqueline at 4:23 PM on October 19

I'd be pretty concerned about no water. Any idea if the toilet lid would be up? Cats are smart enough to find any water available. If the previous caretaker left plenty of water 1 - 2 days w/ no food is manageable for a healthy cat.
posted by theora55 at 4:26 PM on October 19

You could also cram some dry catfood under there, or go Seinfeld and slip some fresh deli meat under.

If all else above has failed, this is pretty much exactly what I'd try to do.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 4:27 PM on October 19

The owner is going to be away until Sunday, so-- a long time. I've left messages on every possible contact number I have for her. The police in New York are not going to break down a door based on a cat complaint from someone who cannot prove that they have authorization to try to get in.
posted by Maias at 4:28 PM on October 19

If someone else locked the wrong thing, call a locksmith. It will cost a fortune, which your friend, or the other person should gladly offer to reimburse you for. Will you feel worse spending some cash getting in there, or explaining to your friend why her cat is sick/dead/hurt because you couldn't find a way in?
posted by CharlesV42 at 4:34 PM on October 19 [5 favorites has favorites]

Do you know other people who know the owner? I'm wondering if friends, or an employer, might have additional emergency contact information or an email address or something.

Do you know if the cats have any medical conditions? It's possible the usual 48-hour window wouldn't be good enough if they have certain medical conditions. If that's the case, you may need to starting working any additional contacts you might have. Or try calling animal rescues; if there are any police officers/locksmiths/etc. who will help out in this situation, rescues probably know who they are.
posted by Stacey at 4:36 PM on October 19

Any way at all to get contact with the cat feeder person from yesterday?
posted by Atreides at 4:46 PM on October 19 [1 favorite has favorites]

I understand the not leaving food out, but surely there's a water bowl left out. We have 3 cats and it takes them like a week to go through it, some of which is surely evaporation.

IANAV, but some cursory googling leads me to believe no food until Saturday is bad news. If this cat is overweight (which would account for not wanting to leave food out) or old, there's a non-trivial risk of feline hepatic lipidosis due to rapid weight loss.
posted by cj_ at 5:06 PM on October 19

I think I wouldn't worry too much tonight, give the owner a chance to call you back with instructions or the info that she is cutting her trip short. Also, if it is at all helpful, try to get in touch with yesterday's cat caretaker. If he/she engaged a lock you can't open, maybe they have a key you don't.

If it comes to hiring a locksmith, presumably the owner will pay for this. I have twice had a locksmith come to open apartment doors for me, and neither time was I asked for proof that it was my residence (yeah, at the time I wondered how he knew I wasn't a thief). So maybe you won't need to go into a long explanation of why you need in, just say you're locked out and pay with cash.

Heh, I like the idea of sliding a plastic lid of water and thin deli meat through. Too bad there's not enough room to do so.
posted by JenMarie at 5:14 PM on October 19

Can you get water under the door if you spill some next to the door? You should keep contacting emergency info tonight, then phone a locksmith/shelter/mutual friend/earlier petsitter tomorrow, when it is easier to get in.

Also, are you really sure the co-op board has no way of getting access? What would happen if there were a leak or something and the owner was out of town? *You* might not be able to get a locksmith to help, but the board is likely to have the authority.
posted by jeather at 5:17 PM on October 19 [1 favorite has favorites]

ps. You are a good person for going through so much trouble and not giving up. I left the country for five weeks this summer and was terrified that something would go wrong with cat sitting logistics and my cat would be alone and starving. I did go through some trouble to make sure multiple people had sets of keys and gave out an emergency ph # plus checked email constantly. Luckily, all was well. But it is risky.
posted by JenMarie at 5:18 PM on October 19 [1 favorite has favorites]

In addition to a board and a super, my coop has a management company. There are signs posted in our lobby listing their contact info. Perhaps the cat owner's coop does too? If there are no signs posted in the lobby, the super or board should have their contact info. They might have a set of keys or be able to help in some way.
posted by Majorita at 5:32 PM on October 19

Thanks everyone... I live in the same building and the board members, management company and super are all aware of the situation and do not have a way in. If I don't hear from her or someone else by tomorrow morning, maybe I will try spilling water under the door, but I don't think even the thinnest deli meat would fit through, it is unfortunately very secure. I guess if I don't hear by tomorrow afternoon, I will try to have a locksmith break in.
posted by Maias at 5:39 PM on October 19

When you call the locksmith, be sure to mention that the super can vouch for you. Better yet, see if you can get the super to call the locksmith himself/herself.
posted by Johnny Assay at 5:52 PM on October 19

Definitely have a locksmith let you in.

If I was the pet owner, I'd be much more upset with a dead/starving kitty than I would with having to reimburse a kitty sitter (in fact, I usually leave a blank check for just this sort of emergency--in the future, you might want to ask friends to do the same if you petsit for them).
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 5:59 PM on October 19

Solved! The lady with the key turned up. Thanks everyone!
posted by Maias at 6:56 PM on October 19 [16 favorites has favorites]

Yay Kitty!
posted by Atreides at 5:42 AM on October 20