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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Cats and roads

192 replies

AIMD · 23/09/2020 10:17

There’s a post on a local Facebook group about a cat being run over on a main road. There are lots of comments from people about how cars drive too fast and people should stop to take the car to the vet/comfort them. Of course I agree with car drivers sticking to the speed limit and that people should help animals who are hurt. If I hit I cat I would obviously stop and try to find the owner or seek help.

However there is no mention on the thread about pet owners being more responsible and maybe choosing not to have a cat as a pet if they live in an area close to very busy roads. The road/area mentioned was very busy/city centre area, where it would be hard for a cat to go anywhere without going across very busy roads.

I wouldn’t comment that on the thread because the pet owner is obviously upset and it is not the right place for that comment.

AIBU to think cat owners/breeders are also responsible for cats being hurt On the roads when they buy/sell cats into homes that are surrounded by very busy roads?

There’s been an obvious increase in cats as pets in my area over the last 19 years (not sure if people notice that elsewhere too) and an increase in cats/traffic. It’s a recipe for cats being hurt.

OP posts:
howmanyroads · 23/09/2020 10:23

Yabu

Yippeeforme · 23/09/2020 10:24

Or they could do what we do and keep them indoors.

Original poster
AIMD · 23/09/2020 10:28

@howmanyroads

Yabu
Can I ask you to explain why?

If you live next to a busy road, buy a cat that you let out does some responsibility not fall on you for buying a cat and exposing them to that risk?

OP posts:
Bergerdog · 23/09/2020 10:29

It’s difficult. We live rurally and have two rescue cats who are impossible to keep in.
We tried however one jumped out of an upstairs window left open about 2 inches.
It’s impossible to live and never open a window or door especially in summer so we made the decision that they should be allowed out.

It might sound awful but I would rather they were happier outside than inside miserable and crying at windows for the next 20 years even if it does mean that they are more at risk.

makingmammaries · 23/09/2020 10:29

Except that cats don’t like being kept indoors.

We live in a very rural area. It took one drunken arsehole going too fast in the small hours to kill our beloved cat. We are still reeling from the shock.

But I still can’t see why the human’s love for irresponsible use of internal combustion engines should trump all other considerations.

Original poster
AIMD · 23/09/2020 10:29

@Yippeeforme

Or they could do what we do and keep them indoors.
Yes that’s an option.

On the post though a few people have said about that being cruel and comments such as “better for them to have a short life with freedom than a long life outside”.

I don’t know much about cats so not sure how they manage being inside.

OP posts:
AnnieOH1 · 23/09/2020 10:30

I dismay at people with cats who let them roam with all the risk to the animal AND the risk to local wildlife. I don't care that it's what people have always done.

Hingeandbracket · 23/09/2020 10:30

YANBU Cats have a right to roam but the downside of that is that they will get killed or injured on roads. It’s also not necessarily anything to do with speed. The one I killed darted out as I was pulling away from a junction (gently) I was doing about 10mph

Original poster
AIMD · 23/09/2020 10:31

@Bergerdog

It’s difficult. We live rurally and have two rescue cats who are impossible to keep in. We tried however one jumped out of an upstairs window left open about 2 inches. It’s impossible to live and never open a window or door especially in summer so we made the decision that they should be allowed out.

It might sound awful but I would rather they were happier outside than inside miserable and crying at windows for the next 20 years even if it does mean that they are more at risk.

Yes I understand there is some risk anywhere and understand an owner could never reduce the risk completely.

Would you have taken in the rescue cats if your garden backed into a busy duel carriage way and was surrounded by other roads? Is that something that is discussed when cats are sold rehomed?

OP posts:
Itsabeautifuldayheyhey · 23/09/2020 10:32

My relative lived in a road that wasn't busy. Their cat ran out to greet her and they accidentally ran it over. They had no chance to stop. It doesn't matter whether it's a busy road or not.

Original poster
AIMD · 23/09/2020 10:33

@Hingeandbracket

YANBU Cats have a right to roam but the downside of that is that they will get killed or injured on roads. It’s also not necessarily anything to do with speed. The one I killed darted out as I was pulling away from a junction (gently) I was doing about 10mph
I’ve also killed a few on my street but managed to avoid it so far. We have a couple that sleep/lay on the road too so they are always there.

Despite the fact my gravel is constantly covered in their poo I would be really upset if I was to hit one.

OP posts:
Hingeandbracket · 23/09/2020 10:33

The cat mafia around here are forceful with their pitchforks and torches so I refrain from commenting but as sad as it is, this is what will happen to some cats and it isn’t from reckless driving most of the time. Actually I was mortified as no doubt most people are - yet I was also worried about being savaged by the angry cat owner mob.

viccat · 23/09/2020 10:34

I agree with you although my thinking is a bit different about the reasons/actions.

I think more cat owners should be realistic about the risks (not just roads but lots of other things too) if they let their cats roam and rehoming charities need to be leading the conversation. There are many ways to catproof your garden or part of it so that your cats get to enjoy the outdoors safely but not roam. That's what I've done with mine and it's an absolute no-brainer because I live in London and it's impossible not to be near roads. It's the best of both worlds for the cats, and also protects wildlife, stops them bothering neighbours etc.

One of the big issues though is people are totally unwilling to spend any money on doing that. Ironically lots of people ask about catproofing and join a Facebook group about catios after they've lost one cat in an RTA and suddenly understand it makes sense.

There's also a really persistent culture about free-roaming and some people are adamant it would be cruel to restrict their cat to their own garden... the whole "he had a short but full life" argument which is really strange to me, somehow it's never said about dogs though.

LockdownMayhem · 23/09/2020 10:35

I do agree to an extent. We live near a busy road. We had a cat who was absolutely fine on the road and died of other (natural) causes. We got another cat who was sadly run over a few months after we got him. We knew it was a risk, but our other cat had always been fine, but we feel absolutely awful and we've said we won't get another (outdoor) cat while we live here. We're going to look for either an older cat or one who has something like FIV who can't go out, but we won't risk having an outdoor cat again, as it's not fair to the cat or our children.

Original poster
AIMD · 23/09/2020 10:40

@LockdownMayhem

I do agree to an extent. We live near a busy road. We had a cat who was absolutely fine on the road and died of other (natural) causes. We got another cat who was sadly run over a few months after we got him. We knew it was a risk, but our other cat had always been fine, but we feel absolutely awful and we've said we won't get another (outdoor) cat while we live here. We're going to look for either an older cat or one who has something like FIV who can't go out, but we won't risk having an outdoor cat again, as it's not fair to the cat or our children.
Oh your children must have been so sad. Hopefully you find them another type of pet they can love.

That’s the type of situation I am referring to really. Some people would continue to get cats when there is clearly a high risk of them being hurt on the road in their area.

OP posts:
Original poster
AIMD · 23/09/2020 10:42

@Hingeandbracket

The cat mafia around here are forceful with their pitchforks and torches so I refrain from commenting but as sad as it is, this is what will happen to some cats and it isn’t from reckless driving most of the time. Actually I was mortified as no doubt most people are - yet I was also worried about being savaged by the angry cat owner mob.
Actually I wouldn’t comment this on the thread I saw because I think I would be hung out to dry as well as it not being very sensitive for the person who lost their pet.

Just surprised me I never see comment about responsible ownership as well as comments about car speed (which I am not disputing is an issue).

OP posts:
Hingeandbracket · 23/09/2020 10:44

But I still can’t see why the human’s love for irresponsible use of internal combustion engines should trump all other considerations
What happened to your cat is sad but there are a few things wrong with that statement.
Your cat would have been as dead from being hit by an electric car.
Most of us don’t want to use cars irresponsibly - it’s generally a matter of necessity.
Cats who are allowed to roam will face the risk of encountering hazards.

WeAllHaveWings · 23/09/2020 10:44

Outdoor cats are really not a suitable pet for a busy urban environment.

Keeping indoor cats is cruel.

But they are a popular pet partly because they are seen as easier, less responsibility/accountability and less restrictive for the owner than a keeping a dog.

XjustagirlX · 23/09/2020 10:44

I have cats and am currently looking to move house. One of my top non negotiable criteria is that I won’t buy on or very near a main road for this reason. Not everyone can be picky with where they live but I don’t think you should get a cat if you currently live on a main road.

For people who already had a cat when then moved to a main road it’s just an unfortunately situation and they need to weigh up the risks of outside with cruelly keeping an outside car indoors.

contrmary · 23/09/2020 10:46

@makingmammaries

Except that cats don’t like being kept indoors.

We live in a very rural area. It took one drunken arsehole going too fast in the small hours to kill our beloved cat. We are still reeling from the shock.

But I still can’t see why the human’s love for irresponsible use of internal combustion engines should trump all other considerations.

If the driver was over the legal alcohol limit and/or was over the speed limit then there are laws in place to deal with them, regardless of whether or not they hit an animal.

I don't see what an ICE has to do with it, in a few years we will all be driving electric cars instead. Arguably these will be WORSE for collisions involving animals and humans because they are so much quieter than an ICE car.

Fireandflames666 · 23/09/2020 10:47

Some cat owners need to take responsibility for their pets. I don't think they should be allowed out to roam. They could get run over, stolen, injured by other animals and they can catch diseases. My three are house cats and only go in the back garden supervised.

AlwaysLatte · 23/09/2020 10:51

YADNBU. Any cat killed on a road by a motorist driving within the speed limit should have a responsible owner not allowing it to happen. If that means keeping it inside if cat proofing your garden that's what you have to do.

Hingeandbracket · 23/09/2020 10:52

I know I will get zero sympathy for this, but....
I was really upset when I hit the cat. I was in an unfamiliar area close to my daughters school. DD doesn’t live with me but I collect her from school in the nearby town sometimes. I had no knowledge of local vets etc as we didn’t have any pets and I don’t live in the area. I had a little leeway for time but not enough to find and visit the vet. I could have (having watched the poor thing expire) put the body in my car and then done the whole thing with my young daughter straight after school but it wouldn’t have been pleasant for anyone. The cat had no visible ID and it wasn’t obvious where it was from. I felt I had to leave it there.
The experience still troubles me but - it was not my pet and I really couldn’t have avoided what happened.

makingmammaries · 23/09/2020 10:55

Wow, thanks all for the pedantry regarding engine type.

I don’t get up at 3am to breathalyze my neighbours, and no police action is going to be forthcoming, obviously, on the basis of probability.

As to whether people have to drive as badly as half of them do, I’ll beg to disagree.

RedRiverHog · 23/09/2020 10:57

It's not always people driving too fast. I've seen two cats killed by cars. One ran across the road as my neighbour was slowly going over a speed bump outside the school, just straight into the bumper and died instantly. The other jumped from a wall into the side of a passing car.

My friend's cat was chased by another cat into the road and was hit. She always avoided the road before, preferred to stay in her garden.

It's something cat owners have accept if they choose to have a pet that has a right to roam. You can't control their actions or what may happen to them.