to think if you've hit and killed someone's cat in your car, you should stop and check for owner ID and contact them?

[Greensleeves]

My ds2 and his friends found a very recently killed cat at the side of the road yesterday. They contacted the owner and waited until she came to collect it. She was obviously very upset.

One of our cats was also killed on the road a few weeks ago. A pedestrian found him and took him to a vet, who contacted us (he was microchipped) but unfortunately he'd died by the time we got to him.

In neither case did the motorist involved stop and attempt to contact the owner of the cat they'd killed. I understand that cats running out into the road isn't necessarily the driver's fault, but if you've killed an animal, even if you don't think it's your fault, shouldn't you stop?

I have been a vet nurse for 12 years and I have NEVER heard of a client being billed for bringing in an injured animal found in the road. Certainly it has never happened at my practice, and I would be really surprised to hear of it. I know it would all depend on individual practice policy, (having said that there are very few independent practices left, most are part of corporate chains even if they have kept their independent logo/name).
We also interestingly, have cases where clients will bring in their OWN animal and claim they have 'found' it in order to avoid paying a bill, or if the animal is in a sorry state and should have been seen much sooner than it was.
But truly, we are obliged under law to treat an animal in need of help and to alleviate suffering. We would never turn away an injured animal, and despite what lots of people believe, we are not 'in it' for the money (certainly not the nurses!). The costs in here in Scotland would certainly not be met by the RSPCA, but is an animal was signed over to the SSPCA due to an owner not being locatable, then they might meet some of the costs of treatment. Having said this, they are a charity that relies entirely on public donations so if any treatment was going to be cost prohibitive or with a prospect of lengthy or hugely involved surgery etc, then a seriously injured animal would probably be put to sleep.

I hope this reassures some people who would be frightened of taking an injured animal to the vet. Its even better to drop it off on the vets doorstep or give us an anonymous phone call (we have been known to drive to pick up pets by the roadside on the strength of these calls) than it is to drive by and do nothing.

Yes, morally you should stop and try to locate the owners of a cat if you have hit it in your car.
Realistically, many people wont be able to do this.
The owners may not be home. How far would you expect drivers to walk, knocking on random doors to locate a cats owner? Most cats roam for a distance that tens or perhaps hundreds of houses are situated.
Secondly, some drivers are on their way to a destination and have only left enough time to get where they are going, traffic permitting. How long should the driver spend looking for the owner?
To be held up for a few minutes is something drivers may take into account, but to be held up whilst looking for an injured cat, scooping up injured cat, knocking on doors in an attempt to find the owners or indeed anyone who knows the cats owners, and then possibly driving the cat to the vets, all before continuing on their way, is a lot to ask someone who never asked your pet to run out in front of them.
You are asking perfect strangers to take responsibility for your animal and its welfare.
Perhaps if cat owners were to ensure their cats had an ID tag on with the owners details, it would be helpful in this situation.
My facebook feed regularly asks for people to look out for their cat who has gone missing, then states the cat does not have a collar on, or an ID tag.
Any other animal that is hit without a form of ID on it may be reported to the police, but drivers arent expected to wander around neighbourhoods looking for owners.
As for the argument that cats need to roam, this is not the reason why cats are legally allowed to roam. The reason cats are legally allowed to roam is because it's believed that the damage they cause is minimal.
It is not and never has been because of their 'need' to roam.
Practically every animal on the planet would prefer to roam freely, but we dont allow all animals to roam.

I think I said 'right' to roam, not 'need' to roam.

Also, I have seen horrific injuries caused by collars so its not always desirable to have a collar with ID tag on an outdoor cat. Microchipping is much better and more reliable (provided people update their details when they move). We are not asking people to drive around aimlessly looking for the owners. All you need to do is google the nearest vets and hand the cat over if possible. They will scan if the cat has a chip, and will treat the cat regardless or end its suffering if that is appropriate.

’ll be generous and assume you’re just misguided and unable to Google rather than actively trying to stop people helping injured cats. So now you can stop worrying about that enormous vet bill if it ever happens to you
@saucery......I did google, I told you that already. I also told you that the article I found said that often the bill is split in 3, between the person who brought the animal in, the vet, and the rspca, but it went in to say the rspca will only pay if called before the animal is taken to the vet and they agree to it. I wasn't actively trying to stop people helping injured cats, what utter nonsense. I really can't see how you came to that conclusion, so I think you are the misguided one.. I think there may be a cost to the person bringing the animal in as you are the one asking for help. Besides which, it was obvious I was asking the question, and other people on here were also interested. You see, the thing about a debate on here is that lots of people come on from all walks of life and get involved and have different views.

I can only reiterate that in 12 years in the business I have never come across or heard of a member of the public being billed for finding and handing in an injured animal. Maybe it's different in Scotland.

It's the same in England you don't pay for an injured animal you take in off the street.
Can only assume that in tabbymumz example the person that took an injured animal to the vet became invested in its recovery and the vet negotiated a way to pay for it, to save it being PTS.
How can they sue you or charge you, if they don't know who you are. You don't present your passport and driving licence. You just say I have found this animal can you help it.