Just ran over and killed a cat

[Herts501]

I've just run over and killed a neighbours cat and I'm distraught!

I'd just dropped my son off at nursery, turned into my road and saw a ginger cat run across so slowed down then felt my car go over something. I hadn't seen anything in the road but then when I looked in my rear view mirror I saw a tabby cat lying in the road fitting then it stopped moving and had obviously died. It must have run out after the first cat. I didn't see it at all.

I went and knocked on the nearest door in floods of tears and the lady there knew the owner who lived over the road. We both went to tell her and it was absolutely awful.

I feel like I need to do something to help somehow; should I send a card and flowers or something?

Please don't blame yourself. People who allow their cats to roam know that there is a risk of them getting run over (I say this as someone who owns a roaming cat!)

I would be gutted if this happened to mine but I'd also accept it was always a possibility and I'd be very grateful if the driver acted with as much grace as you did.

Well done for doing the right thing - love my cats but animals can have bad awareness for cars, it’s always a risk. I’d leave it for a few days and probably not send card/flowers agree with pp.

My DM’s cat was hit by someone who didn’t stop and dragged himself back to front garden, very upsetting when they found him.

This happened to ours yesterday she was less than a year old. It was heart breaking and we are all devestated. However if whoever had done it had brought her to us, I would have been greatful.

We have no idea exactly what happened, as it was round the corner on a slightly busier road. A neighbour informed us. I don't think buying a gift would make them feel any better though. It's just one of these horrible accidents.

It's a horrible thing to happen but it's not your fault, the cat ran out.

Certainly don’t do what has been suggested up thread to pay for a cremation , at our local pet crematorium ( which is lovely ) that would cost upwards from £150 depending on the size of cat . I think I would leave it , if people let their pets roam this type of thing is the risk you take , you weren’t speeding and this isn’t your fault .

You did the right thing and it wasn’t your fault.

personally I don’t think flowers is a bad idea, perhaps in a few days when the dust has settled a bit. But the most important thing is you have told the owner what happened.

Cat owners who let their cats roam near roads know and understand this is a serious risk.

You did all you could by finding out who the owner was and informing them.
As a cat owner you either keep them 100% indoors or in a cat proof garden, or you allow them their freedom and with that comes risk.Unfortunately cats sometimes run out into roads and accidents happen, not your fault.

Ah I’m so sorry, how upsetting for you. These things do happen and unfortunately it’s a risk people take with free-roaming cats. You were very kind to go and speak to the owner, and I would leave it at that. Flowers would be sweet but, as evidenced on this thread, may evoke mixed feelings! Definitely do not offer to pay for the cremation, that’s expensive as frick

How awful for you OP. The same thing happened to my neighbours cat a few months ago, it was being chased by another cat and the driver that hit it couldn’t have done anything different. Sadly these things happen. Everyone who owns a outdoor cat knows the risks, it’s something I dread happening, almost every cat on my road has died this way (apart from mine) as we live in a place where the speed limit changes from 60 to 30 into the village.

I’ve witnessed it first hand the way some cats will run into the road while chasing something. It is very unfortunate.

That's awful. What a terrible thing to happen. Poor kitty, and poor owners.

But yes also traumatic for you @Herts501 I hope you are OK.

Sending a card and some flowers would be very kind. You sound lovely. 🤗

Most people would just buggar off and leave! Bless your heart. 💞

You did absolutely the right thing by telling the owners. It must have been traumatic for you and I hope you can take things easy for today as it will have been a shock.

I am a cat owner but wouldn’t blame you in any way if this happened. It wasn’t your fault and sadly just one of those things of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Take care and big hugs.

How awful for you. But don’t be hard on yourself. It was an accident and couldn’t have been prevented. And you did all the right things shh the opting and finding the owner.

Oh no we had a ginger tabby hit today near us. Not our cat but well known Mr Strawberry who used to visit all the children at school.

But these things happen

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I think you’ve done enough by seeking out the owner and letting them know about their cat. Although it wasn’t your fault at all I’m not sure I would want flowers, a card or a gift from someone who had run over my cat even if I didn’t blame you. Maybe just leave it now - you did the right thing and that was enough.

you have to expect your cat won’t last long if you let it roam around

My friend's cat snuck into his schoolbag once when he was a child! He only realised when he got there. Then had to go back home :)

Not your fault op and you went over and above what many people would do in finding and telling the owners.

My neighbours have lost a few cats on roads. As previous posters have said It is the risk they take in letting the cat roam.

You have already done your due diligence by knocking on doors. If flowers are appropriate, they would be from the cat owner to you. They are the ones responsible for putting you and the cat through that trauma.

I have lost cats on the roads. You have done the right thing - it’s not your fault at all.

I would have really appreciated flowers from the person that ran him over - I found that people rank cats lower than other animals in pet stakes and didn’t think I’d be as upset as I was. My friend bought some flowers over and I was so touched x

I ran over a neighbour's cat a few years ago. It was awful. Bless her,. she hugged me while we both sobbed our eyes out.

I bought a lovely rose that she could plant in memory of him and she buried him under the rose bush.

One of our cats was killed by a driver three weeks ago, they didn't stop. So thank you for stopping and helping the cat.
I personally would appreciate a note of condolences and apology, nothing over the top, and I wouldn't find a small bunch of flowers odd, but that would be enough.
If you really want to, you could offer something towards a cremation. It cost us £190 to have our boy cremated.
But honestly I think stopping was the best thing you could do and the owner is unlikely to expect anything else.

Perhaps make a donation in the cat's memory to a cat rescue, and send a card to your neighbour to let her know.

I don’t no where to start I found my cat in the middle of the road not moving as I pulled up near my home I froze we run out of the car pick her up her eyes and mouth was open and a tear was on her eye she looked and moved a little with her head we rushed to the vets but they quickly looked at her and in a few moments they said she had passed away it’s been 3 nights now I cannot sleep and cannot get the image of seeing her in the middle of the road lying there not moving whenever she would get injured or hurt herself before She would come and make noises outside the house this time she could not even move. This is killing me I do not know how to deal with this my son and my daughter are in so much pain as well .We buried her on the riverbank next to our house because she always used to chill there. That was her favourite spot and when we opened are door we can see her there on the riverbank. I put flowers there thank you for your time for reading this. her name was Ghost she was only seven she was a little baby girl. I love her and miss her so so much.

OP has just had a traumatic experience too.
The thing is, if you let your cat outdoors then there's a chance this sort of thing csn happen. OP did her best.