Cats and roads

[AIMD]

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.

*if it's already dead

We’ve had cats and despite living quite a way from a busy road, 2 of the 3 were run over.
But I’d still never have an indoor cat. Yes, it’s far safer, and the owner isn’t going to have all the anguish of a dead pet, but IMO it’s more for the owner’s mental comfort than the cat’s, and I still think it’s cruel.

I have a cat and live on a relatively busy road. But I live in terraced housing, and my cat can’t get out at the front, as there’s no access. If it was determined, it could go out in the back garden and clamber over many, many neighbours’ fences until it reached a side street and climb over the final fence. But it doesn’t.

@GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER

We’ve had cats and despite living quite a way from a busy road, 2 of the 3 were run over. But I’d still never have an indoor cat. Yes, it’s far safer, and the owner isn’t going to have all the anguish of a dead pet, but IMO it’s more for the owner’s mental comfort than the cat’s, and I still think it’s cruel.

I think it's far worse to let a small animal out to fend for itself amongst feral cats, foxes, cars, lorries and busy roads. Cats stand no chance if they are hit by a car. Why would you put your beloved pet at risk of such an awful death?

I agree with the OP. It’s completely unreasonable to own a cat and not accept any responsibility for keeping it safe. Obviously, people shouldn’t be driving recklessly, or speeding but IMO if you choose to let your cat out on the road, then you have to accept there is a reasonable risk it may get run over. If you don’t want to take that risk then perhaps don’t own a cat, or don’t let it out where it might get run over.

I agree with you, OP - we do as cat owners accept some level of risk on behalf of our beloved felines.

I live in a cul-de-sac and my cats are scared of car engines so if anyone starts their vehicle they run away. They do wander outside, one keeps the rat population down so the neighbours are quite happy with them living here. He can also open windows... so there's less keeping them in at night than I would like.

When I rescued them the rescue did look where I lived and wouldn't have rehomed on a main road - they do their best - but breeders are often people wanting to make a few pounds from their unneutered girl cat and aren't nearly so fussy.

@vanillandhoney

Cats stand no chance if they are hit by a car. Why would you put your beloved pet at risk of such an awful death?

I lost one car on the road, and he clearly died within about a minute, as by the time we got outside (it happened right outside) he was gone. No visible injuries, and from discussing with a vet it's most likely he would have lost consciousness immediately and not known anything about it.

It was awful for us, and it robbed him of what should have been another decade of life, and we mourn that, but compared to the pain of illnesses, slow decline with age, endless treatments and trips to the vet, that for him, it was merciful.

But for every cat killed outright and instantly, there will be another in agony being rushed to the vets. We've been there too and it was hell.

This exact conversation is going on in my local group too, I wonder if we are on the same one . I agree with you though, I have two cats and it's a risk you take when letting them out. A few times a cat has darted out in front of my car, managed to avoid them but it can easily happen. The driver is always blamed and assumed to have been careless or speeding, but that is not always the case. I also think that because of the emotional reaction of the owners it may put people off taking the cat home, if you aren't as confident or if you have anxiety then leaving them by the road may be the best they could have done.

Someone on our local Facebook page has just lost their young cat after it was hit by a car. Nobody stopped and the poor thing was found by a stranger dying on the side of the road. They took it to the vets but it had a broken spine and head injuries so was sadly PTS.

So awful. How can you hit a domestic animal (or any animal, but worse when it's someone's pet) and just leave it dying by the roadside while you get on with your day? I just don't get it.

@vanillandhoney

Someone on our local Facebook page has just lost their young cat after it was hit by a car. Nobody stopped and the poor thing was found by a stranger dying on the side of the road. They took it to the vets but it had a broken spine and head injuries so was sadly PTS.

So awful. How can you hit a domestic animal (or any animal, but worse when it's someone's pet) and just leave it dying by the roadside while you get on with your day? I just don't get it.

When it happened to me I’d have been putting my own safety at risk to try and help the cat owners, and I don’t see why anyone should be expected to do that for the sake of people who choose to have a pet that is so often unsupervised and an inconvenience for others.

It’s sad for the cat, but it’s the owners fault, not the drivers.

Personally, I wouldn’t stop even if I did feel it was a safe area and time of day, I’m not going to be late for work/collecting my child/appointments when cat owners know the risk and still choose to take it, and I wouldn’t know how to handle an injured cat anyway. I’ve been known to help wildlife plenty of times where I can, but the fact that it’s a pet is what makes me feel I have less responsibility, not more.

Personally, I wouldn’t stop even if I did feel it was a safe area and time of day, I’m not going to be late for work/collecting my child/appointments when cat owners know the risk and still choose to take it, and I wouldn’t know how to handle an injured cat anyway. I’ve been known to help wildlife plenty of times where I can, but the fact that it’s a pet is what makes me feel I have less responsibility, not more.

Sorry, but I think that's really disgusting behaviour. You would leave an injured animal dying in pain on the road just so that you're not late for work? That is absolutely shocking.

Jesus christ there are some vile human beings in the world. I feel sorry for any poor kids being raised by humans so lacking in emotion. Horrible.

We live on a busy main road. We built a catio so that our cats could go outside but not die on the road.

@Terrace58

Not being able to contain your cat is a cultural issue, not a universal truth. Where I live the standard of care is keeping your cat indoors or at least contained to your own garden. Even the garden with cat fencing is a risk because cats get eaten by hawks, eagles, coyotes, etc. the safer bet is a cat run with a roof or just staying inside. People also have to protect small dogs in a similar fashion.

This is interesting. What would be though if cats pooing in others gardens etc where you are?

[quote donttouchmyhair]@Hingeandbracket if you injure an animal and choose to leave it to die on the road because you don't want to be late to the school you are a shit person. Also I said if it's already you can at least move it to the side of the road. [/quote]
So she’s supposed to not pick her child up from school because she’s driven a dead cat to a vet?

In all honesty I’m not sure what I would have done in that situation. I certainly wouldn’t have taken a dead cat straight to the vet if it meant I would be more than 5 or so mins late collecting my child. Possibly I’d have put the cat in the car but then if it was (sorry to be graphic) very messy/bloody that might be hard too.

Is taking a dead cat to the vet the right thing? Never really though what I’d do if I hit a cat. Is it just pets your supposed to do that with? What about like foxes /deers etc.

I think it’s a risk if you let your cat out to roam these things happen so it is the owners responsibility. Apart from roads there are so many other risks too. It’s just not worth it in my opinion. I wouldn’t be happy to let my cat out to roam.

I’m sure I read somewhere that in a few other countries cats aren’t allowed to roam...

Personally, I wouldn’t stop even if I did feel it was a safe area and time of day, I’m not going to be late for work/collecting my child/appointments when cat owners know the risk and still choose to take it, and I wouldn’t know how to handle an injured cat anyway. I’ve been known to help wildlife plenty of times where I can, but the fact that it’s a pet is what makes me feel I have less responsibility, not more.

I generally think people should keep cats indoors but what a terrifying insight into the mind of a sadistic narcissist this post is....

My previous cat was sadly run over the day I went on holiday, my daughter was out at the actual time, but the driver took him to the vets for which I, and all my daughters, were so grateful. He was chipped and the vet kept him till I could get back myself, and we could all say good bye, as he had grown up with them all there. I would definitely stop and do this, and phone the school and say I had an emergency to be honest, particularly if it was still alive, it seems wrong not to do so for a cat, when you would have to report a dog. It was a quiet road though I’d moved over a year previously from a much more rural location. He’s the only cat we had from a kitten and he cried to go out from very young, and monitored all doors and windows carefully, he also just absolutely loved exploring when I finally did let him out. when I moved I kept him in a good while longer than recommended, as the road at the front had more cars than he was used to, though ironically less than he was used to on the road where he ultimately was hit, however he was very, very stressed and unhappy indoors, so I felt I had to let him out, it was interesting to watch him learn really slowly where his territory was, and how to leave it and return. Still miss him so much, but I have now rescued an actual house cat who never went out in 7 years before, he sometimes sits on my fenced in garden (he can’t jump) but I watch him in case. I love cats and have had one for the last 30 years, normally rescued or they adopt me, but have to accept I can’t have an outdoor one here, for my own stress levels as much as risk in a way, and doubt myself you can train them to stay in on the basis of my last cat’s behaviour particularly. I fell lucky with my current boy, but cats have a very strong sense of what they want.

I should add I don’t think it’s nice for others coming down the road, or walking past to see a run over cat as you can’t be bothered to stop - just general societal courtesy to move it, even if you think the cat’s owners were aware of the risk. Personally, I just find it a bit disrespectful to the animal to let it get re hit, and left, but others may disagree - on the other hand someone could swerve to avoid it and cause a further accident, so you know lots of reasons to act decently and do something about the cat you hit, however unpleasant that is - if you’re driving then you know the risk you might hit something.

[quote donttouchmyhair]@Hingeandbracket if you injure an animal and choose to leave it to die on the road because you don't want to be late to the school you are a shit person. Also I said if it's already you can at least move it to the side of the road. [/quote]
I didn't injure it, it ran under my car - there was no choice on my account. That doesn't make me into a shit person, and are you seriously suggesting being late to collect DD from school is less important than your pet? I don't choose to have a pet. Cat owners choose to have a pet that cannot judge risk - this will result in the deaths of some. Shit person? Get a fucking grip.

The driver is always blamed and assumed to have been careless or speeding, but that is not always the case.
Indeed - I was travelling at about 10mph and had no chance to avoid the cat I hit as it ran straight under my car.
My neighbour ran their own cat over.
Neither of us wanted to harm any cats.

@LST

Jesus christ there are some vile human beings in the world. I feel sorry for any poor kids being raised by humans so lacking in emotion. Horrible.

I think you are missing the point. The cat that ran under my car being fatally injured was a very emotional experience for me; and it still troubles me - it was awful. That doesn't translate into me having some massive responsibility to the human cat owner.

Completely agree with nailsneeddoing and hingeandbracket.
If your cat is injured or killed while out roaming, it is not the responsibility of the person who witnessed the accident or indeed the person who struck your cat with their car to transport your cat to the vet. It is a kind thing to do if you can stomach it and you have the time, but the driver has no responsibility to even stop.
When did we become a nation of cat owners who feel so entitled that we delegate the responsibility of our pets onto unsuspecting strangers and are comfortable with this?
Cat owners appear to think their pets are entitled to more consideration than any other pet, or indeed any other owned animal and yet they continue to put their cats in grave danger every day when they fling their doors open and allow their cats to roam.
Another thing that pisses me off about cat owners is whenever I see residents who dont own a cat complaining about cats roaming onto their property, defecating, or killing wildlife, cat owners almost ALWAYS put the responsibility back onto the person who doesnt own the cat.
Cat free neighbours are advised to make adjustments, spend money, clean up the cat shit and they legally have no responsibility to these cats.
Whatever next? Should we all stop driving completely? Perhaps we should all donate to a neighbourhood kitty fund to pay for cats to be microchipped, transported to the vets, maybe a law could be introduced to protect people from disciplinary action if they are late for work or meetings because they stopped to tend to a cat that wasnt their own?
How far should we pander to the desires of cat owners who basically refuse to do anything to contain their pets on a daily basis for the flimsiest of reasons.

I'm the first to say dog shit is disgusting and I dont want my children stepping in it, but similarly, I dont want my children picking up cat shit either. Both are equally toxic imo.
If you dont control where your cats go, and therefore you dont control where they defecate, I do hope you also dont complain about walking in dog shit when you're out and about, although I suspect that once again, it will be 'different' because your pet is a cat.

As for the argument that cats arent happy being restricted as to where they can go, guess what? Neither are any other animal!!

To those shouting at those who wouldn’t help the cat find its owner. Have you not seen the posts before where people have stated they would of punched the person who ran over their cat or scream and shout at them?

Very very rarely does someone deliberately run over a cat yet if someone try’s to do a good deed and door knock they are highly likely to in counter a very angry person after just having a traumatic event themselves. I wouldn’t risk it. Sometimes I wonder if those dead cat seen in C place are actually the people who hit the cat but too scared to say so.

If you want the same treatment as dogs when getting hit you need the same responsibility’s as dog owners in which case you could be sued for damages/trauma to the person/car who killed the animal running out in front of it.