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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not stop for a dead cat

247 replies

Myusername33 · 26/06/2021 21:37

I recently passed a very recently deceased cat at the side of a busy road when I was driving with my kids in the car, I didn’t stop because I wasn’t going to stop in a busy road and leave my kids sitting there while I picked up a dead cat. I later saw someone had put a post up about the dead cat on the local community fb page saying they had picked it up and taken it to the vet so the owner could be found but they were disappointed that not only had someone hit the cat and not stopped but also lots of people had driven past without stopping, the owner of the cat eventually appeared to say how devastated they were that someone had hit their beloved cat and not stopped.

Aibu to not stop and pick up someone else’s dead cat from the road? I actually think it pretty unreasonable to let your cat out to run around in the road and get annoyed at the person that hit it for not stopping, I’m sure they didn’t set out to run over the cat and it was an unavoidable accident. If I hit a cat I would stop if I could do it safely but my kids and my own safety would be a priority over someone else’s cat that shouldn’t have been on the road in the first place.

OP posts:
barbedwired · 26/06/2021 21:47

I pulled over for my own dead cat, he was still warm. I'd pull over for someone else's too, they are part of the family

justastar · 26/06/2021 21:48

You don’t have a cat, do you Smile

They do their own thing

Globaluser · 26/06/2021 21:50

Yeah obviously; quiet road, yes and busy road, no.

Miyiam · 26/06/2021 21:51

Nobody 'lets' their cat run onto the road Hmm and yes YABU, it's common decency to stop if you hit somebody's cat and to to try and make contact to see if you can help give the owner some closure

Myusername33 · 26/06/2021 21:51

I would pull over for my own cat too but I wouldn’t expect anyone else to do it. I would stop if I could do it safely but the only times I’ve ever seen one at the side of the road was this time when it would have been dangerous to stop and once I was running, I reported that one to the local cats protection league and the lady asked me if I could carry it to the vets.. 6 miles carrying a dead cat.. no thanks!

OP posts:
Pinkypink · 26/06/2021 21:51

I wouldn't stop.
Esp if it's dangerous for you and your kids and secondly I wouldn't want to touch a random dead animal. Would be worried about germs and touching blood etc
Sorry if this offends. I am being honest.

Of course it's very sad someone's beloved pet had died but I would not get involved.

elsaesmeralda · 26/06/2021 21:52

You're not unreasonable as you had your kids with you and I know for a fact if it was my son it would have really upset him seeing the dead cat too! But I also feel for the owner losing her pet

SupermanInk · 26/06/2021 21:52

I’d have stopped. It may have been still alive. And even if it wasn’t, I’d have taken it to a vet. For the owners, it’s devastating.

The person who hit the cat and didn’t stop is a total cunt.

Arghlife · 26/06/2021 21:53

If I saw a dead cat when I had the kids I the car, then no I wouldn't stop. On my own, yes I would.

elsaesmeralda · 26/06/2021 21:53

The person who hit the cat should've stopped though.

Anythingelseintheboxpandora · 26/06/2021 21:54

It literally would not occur to me to do this.

cadburyegg · 26/06/2021 21:54

YANBU to stop for a dead cat that you didn’t hit. But IF you do hit a cat then you should absolutely stop. Most cats are quick enough to run away from cars but some people drive too fast

covidcloser · 26/06/2021 21:54

Did you post about it already? I'm sure I read this only during the week

FixTheBone · 26/06/2021 21:55

no chance.

same as for any other dead animal in the road.

Myusername33 · 26/06/2021 21:56

@Miyiam

Nobody 'lets' their cat run onto the road Hmm and yes YABU, it's common decency to stop if you hit somebody's cat and to to try and make contact to see if you can help give the owner some closure
Would you really stop your car somewhere dangerous, potentially putting yourself or your kids at risk to pick up a dead cat though?

I don’t have a cat by the way because I live near a busy road, but did have one which got run over when I still lived at home and I was devastated when she died.

OP posts:
Sweetandawfulsour · 26/06/2021 21:56

If I were able to move it to the pavement/verge/whatever safely to spare it’s dignity then yes. It’s the decent thing to do.
Taking it to the local vet is above and beyond.

Twinkie01 · 26/06/2021 21:56

A dead person maybe. A dead animal not a cat in hells chance!

Sparklingbrook · 26/06/2021 21:56

I would have stopped if at all possible. I have done it quite a lot.

I think this thread is a bit goady TBH.

Lastnightidreamtofmanderley · 26/06/2021 21:57

I once hit a cat. It was awful, it ran out into the road and I couldn’t swerve as there was a car coming the other way. I pulled over but it ran off. It was winter about 7pm and dark I had DD in the car who was only about 18m I had a quick look but couldn’t stay to look for it. I felt shit but did have to put mine and DD safety first.

Myusername33 · 26/06/2021 21:57

@covidcloser

Did you post about it already? I'm sure I read this only during the week
No, not me but I’m sure it’s probably come up before!
OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 26/06/2021 21:58

If you absolutely can't stop it would be a nice thing to do to go onto the local FB group and post that the cat is there to alert the owners to go and retrieve it.

SupermanInk · 26/06/2021 21:58

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Rob87 · 26/06/2021 22:01

If you actually HIT the cat (I know that the OP didn’t in this case ) then you’re totally out of order not stopping. If you didn’t then I don’t see why it’s your responsibility, if you can/want to then great, but you may not have the time/heart/it might not be safe.

HTH1 · 26/06/2021 22:01

YWNBU for not picking up an already dead cat which was not yours but, if you had been the one to run it over, then YVBVVVVU. You don’t get to kill someone’s pet and just decide that it’s too inconvenient for you to deal with.

womaninatightspot · 26/06/2021 22:02

I wouldn't stop. Its awful I know but cats are wild. Its why they roam and poo in someone elses garden and the owners shrug and say well they're just being a cat.

The flipside of that is you cant expect people stop for a wild animal. I'd be concerned in case the owners were nutters and tried to hold me liable for vet bills.

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