Do people really drive round / get a taxi with dead cats ???

https://www.cats.org.uk/help-and-advice/lost-found-and-feral-cats/found-dead-cat

I went to see a dead cat that had been reported on next-door as I thought it could be my sons cat. I took a box with me with the intention of taking it to a vets if it wasn't but when I saw the cat oh my God the smell! It was in "active decay" mode and there was no way I was touching it let alone putting it in my car. I agonised over what to do so the next day I went back with the intention of reporting it to the council but someone had already done so as there was no trace of the cat except a tuft of fur. 7 weeks later my sons cat came home so I just hope this poor dead cat was identified

I love cats but I wouldn’t be annoyed at anyone not taking my dead car to the vets - especially in your situation. Keyboard worriers are tiresome.

A cranky toddler, a dead cat and a taxi sound like an absolutely dreadful combination. Overtired toddler will probably have a screaming fit, and you'll end up leaving the cat in the taxi. Or, while you're paying, the toddler will get into the box and the cat will end up on the seat of the taxi. I love cats too, but there's nothing you can do for this one and this feels like a step too far. Ask if someone with a car/no child can collect the cat and, if not, you've done your bit.

I remember that thread! It was crazy with the 'suggestions' of what you should do if you hit and injure/kill an animal by accident, or came across one totally disregarding any situation like the quoted poster where taking them anywhere is if not impossible then dangerous!

Some people are just ready to have a go at someone else @Isthisreallyathing regardless of any circumstances. Cats roam and sometimes they get hit by cars, it's horrible for the cat and the owner I agree, and any way you can help is a decent thing to do, and you did that. I would probably take a cat to my vets, but I drive and my child is 21, so completely different circumstances.

I wouldn't be paying for a taxi and trying to wrestle a toddler there and back in a taxi, a FB post is enough, maybe a call to a local vets.

If they were genuinely that bothered about the owner and not just using an excuse to be a keyboard warrior, surely they'd have just quietly come and got the cat and taken it to the vets, not mouthed off on Facebook about what you didn't do and did bugger all themselves.

I would just leave the cat where it is. A fox will soon take it away. It is the owner fault for letting it out.

I had a very similar experience last winter- found a dead cat in my garden at 9pm, posted a description on the local lost pets forum and was harangued about not taking it to the emergency vet there and then. I did wrap it up and put it somewhere safe and took it in first thing in the morning but I was made to feel guilty for not doing so immediately.

You have to factor in that most local facebook groups have dim bulbs in them with their own agenda
Posted today on ours someone posted about a huge xl bully that was on the loose near her house. Said that dog warden was on the way so if it belonged to anyone they should come over quick.
Apparently she had sentenced to dog to death and should have just taken said xl bully into her home and looked after it.
Dim bulbs

I wouldn't dream of picking up a dead animal and taking it anywhere (and I do drive). I would take an injured animal though.

Put on facebook that you don't drive and have a sleeping toddler and ask if someone else could collect it.

I would go and collect it if I could and have done so before.

In your situation, no of course YANBU. To be honest, even without the sleeping toddler situation, not everyone could afford the taxi.

But as a pp said, could you put gloves on and check the collar for details? And move it somewhere predators can’t easily get at it if you can. And ideally ring around local vet’s tomorrow to see if they know anyone who might come out to scan?

I know it’s a lot of extra work but it is likely someone’s beloved pet - it probably is microchipped and it can be hard for even the most devoted owner to balance a cats want to roam vs their safety.

I wish someone had found our missing cat and done the same for her She was a rescue and wouldn’t have tolerated being stuck indoors all the time and too wary/shy to have followed someone else “home” - but it was gutting for us not to have any closure.

I once picked up a dead cat on the road, Took it to the nearest house who denied it was theirs. I tried neighbouring houses. Nope. Then I was just left with a dead cat. I could hardly put it back on the road, could I?
I reason if it was my cat I'd want someone to do what they could. I drove with said dead cat to a vets.

No to the taxi but I do drive and would take a dead cat to the vets.

(I have had cats for many years and buried a few so dead cat bodies don't bother me)

Oh god I'm one of those people who put an injured seagull in a box. I don't drive so another passer by brought them to a rescue.

Poor kitty, this is why my cat is strictly indoors, much more work but he's happy and safe. I'd probably have checked the collar for a phone number and if not put him in a box and brought in a taxi to a vets. ONLY because I don't have a toddler and not much else to do!

I think you absolutely did the right thing OP, surely there are local people who are in the position to bring him in. So many cats go missing and the owners don't know what happened to them, if my cat somehow went missing I would be scouring the local facebook pages and would rather know if the worst had happened, instead of constantly posting in false hope.

Many people would have walked right by unfortunately.

There should be a local page for pets lost and found. They may be more helpful than general public ranting on.

Cats are free to roam, unfortunately one of the risks is that they may get hit by a vehicle. I wouldn't put a dead cat or other dead animal in my car either, and I definitely wouldnt pay for a taxi for it.

Facebook community groups in my town are exactly the same! The poor person that finds the Cat gets a bashing for trying to help find the owner - it's crazy!

Not what you asked for OP but the answer to these type of things is simply - do not post on social media. It's a horrible place. I know you meant well.

I'd ring a local vet and see what they say. You can't take the cat to the vet when you've got a young child.

I would. In fact I’d get an Uber Exec, give it the send off it deserves.

You don't drive and have a sleeping child so no you shouldn't feel guilty about this. Some people feel strongly about these things, let them do it. My sister was desperately searching for her cat when she got a call from a vet, someone had indeed gotten a taxi to scan the cat. She was forever grateful. But that kind woman also a cat owner and didn't have a young child to look after. It's a wonderful thing to do but no one should be criticised for not doing it!

I’ve taken dead cats to the vets before to be scanned.

My cat died and people went out of their way to find me and I will forever be grateful to them.

I wouldn’t get a taxi purely because I couldn’t afford it.

As PPs said, many people will have a scanner now or would be willing to take it to the vets on their way to somewhere else.

You did a nice thing by putting it on FB.
I’m sorry you’re getting abuse on there.

Just try persuading a stunned injured owl that you rescued from a road at night that it wants to be put in a Mint Velvet carrier bag and taken to the Abingdon emergency vet.

It was NOT happy. Neither was I (feather phobic). Boyfriend had to let me drive and take over fighting the owl. Emergency vet was truly lovely, FWIW.

People accept these things happen, but it's incredibly cruel not to let them know!

I drive, so yes I'd take it to the vets. If I didn't drive I'd ask neighbours/friends to help me or find a charity that will either come & scan or come & collect. Failing that I'd wrap it up, put in in a box & bus it to the vets.

Most serial commenters on local facebook groups are fucking crackpots. You've done your bit, of course dont get a taxi to the vets unless you really want to!