Do you feel better leaving your pets at home with an alarm system activated?

lallorona · Aug 2, 2015

So last weekend my fathers bike was stolen during the day while we were home and neither of us noticed until my dad came back. He left the back gate open when he left and someone must have gone in and taken it. Now this makes me not want to go out anywhere without someone staying home. I'm now worried of someone breaking in and taking my cat while we're not home! Even though my cat hides when she sees strangers the thought of someone taking her is nerve wrecking. We had just installed a new alarm system, & even if this may guarantee catching a possible thief I the act I draw in to conclusions like what if they break in and the alarms don't send the signal to the police and said thief takes my cat?! Or what if while the police is on their way the thief has enough time to take her?!! My moms friend once left her home and came back to find $3,000 worth of stuff stolen and to make matters worse, the thief or thieves killed her dog! I wish there were some type of microchip where you can see where your pet is through gps! I even wanna install a camera on her collar but I wouldn't dare leave her with a collar on when I'm not home because what if it gets stuck on something? Ugh... How have your experiences been with an alarm system installed? We have yet to use ours.

margd · Aug 2, 2015

I can't answer your question about using alarm systems but I have been robbed three times and the burglars didn't hurt my animals at all. In fact, once they actually brought a McDonald's hamburger for my dog, which of course worked because my dog was a big friendly wuss despite having a tremendously scary bark and howl. However, I do remember the awful feeling of vulnerability after being robbed and suspect that is some of what you are going through. I worried constantly that the robbers would come back and I also thought about what might have happened to my dog had she not been so friendly. However, unless your cat is an expensive pure bred, you probably don't need to worry about anyone taking him or her, especially since (s)he hides when strangers come to your home. Trying to bundle a frightened cat out the door while also stealing the family silver would be too much effort - thieves want to be in and out as fast as possible. It's more likely thieves would leave the door open and your cat might get out, so make sure s(he)'s got a microchip. However with your alarm system, it is highly unlikely things will get that far. Also someone taking a bicycle from a back yard is a far way from actual breaking and entering. It's great you love your cat so much - my cats are also the most precious things I have so I can understand you worrying about yours.

blueyedgirl5946 · Aug 2, 2015

If someone breaks into your home and the alarm is activated, they are going to look for the fastest route away from your house. When the alarm goes off, I doubt their minds will be on stealing anything.

mingking · Aug 2, 2015

I don't think any alarm system can instantly send police over to your house at the moment of breaking and entering... I think there will always be a 5 minute or so timeframe.

My alarm system used to detect movement in the house but since getting a cat, we've had to bypass the motion sensor so that's a minus for us. There are two options for us: one where the alarm is on and people are in the house (called "stay") and one option where no one is in the house except the cat (called "away").

When the "stay" option is activated, and a window or door is open on our first floor, the house instantly goes into alarm mode in the garage. You won't hear the alarm inside (only faintly). I guess this tells the neighbours that the alarm has been triggered and maybe scare off the trespassers about to enter. Then we get a phone call about 30 seconds or less later. If no one picks up to tell the alarm system our password, then the company will call the police.

For the "away" option, there's no instant alarm sound when a door or window is open. But when we open the door, we have 30 seconds to input our passcode or the company will call the police.

I'm sure this has been explained to you before by your company! Where I'm from, alarm systems are the norm. There are even alarm systems that activate through your phone if you forget to turn it on or you can see who's come home or which doors or windows are open (I've only seen commercials of those though!).

As for the pet GPS, those things exist!!! I've only looked at them online and never heard of anyone using it.

lallorona · Aug 2, 2015

mingking said:
I don't think any alarm system can instantly send police over to your house at the moment of breaking and entering... I think there will always be a 5 minute or so timeframe.

My alarm system used to detect movement in the house but since getting a cat, we've had to bypass the motion sensor so that's a minus for us. There are two options for us: one where the alarm is on and people are in the house (called "stay") and one option where no one is in the house except the cat (called "away").

When the "stay" option is activated, and a window or door is open on our first floor, the house instantly goes into alarm mode in the garage. You won't hear the alarm inside (only faintly). I guess this tells the neighbours that the alarm has been triggered and maybe scare off the trespassers about to enter. Then we get a phone call about 30 seconds or less later. If no one picks up to tell the alarm system our password, then the company will call the police.

For the "away" option, there's no instant alarm sound when a door or window is open. But when we open the door, we have 30 seconds to input our passcode or the company will call the police.

I'm sure this has been explained to you before by your company! Where I'm from, alarm systems are the norm. There are even alarm systems that activate through your phone if you forget to turn it on or you can see who's come home or which doors or windows are open (I've only seen commercials of those though!).

As for the pet GPS, those things exist!!! I've only looked at them online and never heard of anyone using it.

When the people came to install our alarm system I asked them if it were pet friendly and they said not to worry because the sensor will detect like 80 pounds (I don't remember) but my cat was present when I asked and they said there would be no problem having my cat inside while the house is armed. I know how the alarm systems work and may this never happen, but in case someone breaks in I'd rather have them steal the TV than have them touch my cat.

lallorona · Aug 2, 2015

Margd said:
I can't answer your question about using alarm systems but I have been robbed three times and the burglars didn't hurt my animals at all. In fact, once they actually brought a McDonald's hamburger for my dog, which of course worked because my dog was a big friendly wuss despite having a tremendously scary bark and howl. However, I do remember the awful feeling of vulnerability after being robbed and suspect that is some of what you are going through. I worried constantly that the robbers would come back and I also thought about what might have happened to my dog had she not been so friendly. However, unless your cat is an expensive pure bred, you probably don't need to worry about anyone taking him or her, especially since (s)he hides when strangers come to your home. Trying to bundle a frightened cat out the door while also stealing the family silver would be too much effort - thieves want to be in and out as fast as possible. It's more likely thieves would leave the door open and your cat might get out, so make sure s(he)'s got a microchip. However with your alarm system, it is highly unlikely things will get that far. Also someone taking a bicycle from a back yard is a far way from actual breaking and entering. It's great you love your cat so much - my cats are also the most precious things I have so I can understand you worrying about yours.

Thanks. It's so hard for me to think things the logical way when worry strikes my mind. I have GAD (anxiety) so i can never be at ease with anything!

mingking · Aug 2, 2015

lallorona said:
When the people came to install our alarm system I asked them if it were pet friendly and they said not to worry because the sensor will detect like 80 pounds (I don't remember) but my cat was present when I asked and they said there would be no problem having my cat inside while the house is armed. I know how the alarm systems work and may this never happen, but in case someone breaks in I'd rather have them steal the TV than have them touch my cat.

Oh that's interesting to know it only detects 80lbs+ things. I wonder how they do it! I wish my alarm company did that.

And yes, I'd gladly give up all the things in my home before I give up my cat. They can all be replaced, but a cat? Never.

I hope you find some peace in knowing your cat is protected, whether its by you or your alarm system. I definitely think having an alarm system helps my family's mind be at ease. We even turn it on when we're all sleeping.

Kat0121 · Aug 2, 2015

blueyedgirl5946 said:
If someone breaks into your home and the alarm is activated, they are going to look for the fastest route away from your house. When the alarm goes off, I doubt their minds will be on stealing anything.

I agree. If they do have their minds on stealing something, it will be something they can grab quickly without fuss- something they think they can sell fast. They might grab a TV or a laptop or something like that but I seriously doubt they'd want to deal with a stressed out cat. If anything were to happen to the cat, it's much more likely that he/she will get out the open door. Most burglars aren't thoughtful enough to close it behind them. Unless it's a rare and/or valuable breed that they would recognize as such, they probably wouldn't even look at the cat much less take it. Even without an alarm

Willowy · Aug 4, 2015

Yeah, there's not much market for adult cats----just ask your local shelter!

I doubt any burgler is going to try to take a cat. Most cats will hide if someone scary barges in anyway.

And I agree that there's a big difference between someone stealing a bike out of a backyard and someone actually breaking and entering. Most thefts are crimes of opportunity---someone sees something unsecured and takes it---whereas someone who is willing to make plans to break into a house is more likely to be dangerous. Although most burglers don't want to be noticed.

Some burglers will kill dogs who are making too much noise, but they probably aren't going to bother to find a cat and kill it. They usually do it to make the dog stop barking and cats don't generally yowl at intruders

.

Do you feel better leaving your pets at home with an alarm system activated?

lallorona

Cat Munster

Thread starter

margd

Chula and Paul's roommate

blueyedgirl5946

TCS Member

mingking

TCS Member

lallorona

Cat Munster

Thread starter

lallorona

Cat Munster

Thread starter

mingking

TCS Member

Kat0121

TCS Member

Willowy

TCS Member

Latest Posts

Connect with us