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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Cats and roads

8 replies

Ormiriathomimus · 30/05/2012 11:32

My cat has just been knocked down and killed Sad. Instantly thank goodness. Oldest 2 kids witnessed it just as they were setting off for school so they are in a bit of a mess obviously. Dh rang me to tell me and I have been sobbing at my desk too.

Question is, what do you do with regards to roads? We have lived near busier roads than this one and never lost a cat before. We still have one but thankfully she is much more of an indoor cat. I know the DC will want another kitten at some point but I don't know what to do. Do you keep them in? How do any other cat owners deal with this?

I feel completely bereft. She was so beautiful.

OP posts:
issey6cats · 30/05/2012 11:49

so sorry RIP pretty girl sometimes theres nothing you can do, two years ago i moved from right near a busy main road to a quieter cul de sac away from main roads and my georgous british short hair garfield went up to the main road and got run over broke my heart, but the four cats i have left never go near the road some do some dont, probably look at having an indoor from the start kitten next time and then you wont be so anxious but allow yourself time to grieve for the girl you have just lost, big hugs to you it took me four months till a beautiful half siamese 7 month old boy came into the rescue where i work and captured my heart and yes he goes out cant keep him in

Catsmamma · 30/05/2012 11:53

very sad :( ...some cats just have better road sense than others. My first two boys were good,...inner city cats and they kept that even when we moved to a very quiet village up a track.

Current cats are really not that streetwise, Reuben in particular likes to sit in the road and check vehicles in and out like a border guard.

hugs for you and the children xxx

AdventuresWithVoles · 30/05/2012 12:11

So sorry :(. Thanks

One of our cats flops down on road when cars approach. Could he possibly be any more of an idiot?

I keep them in at night to try to keep them safer. Obviously that wouldn't have helped in OP's situation, though :(. I couldn't keep them in 24/7. I couldn't do it physically (keep the house all shut up) & I wouldn't want to try. I know some cats are very happy entirely indoors, but I just couldn't do it. Not after seeing how much they enjoy being out in the fields & doing catty things.

putthehamsterbackinitscage · 30/05/2012 18:11

Sorry about your cat Sad I lost one on the road years ago - he used to cross the main road behind our street to get to the woods n play with the squirrels.... Was only young and had no road sense

Agree with the suggestion of indoor kitten / or maybe 2 so they play together and stay indoors

New kittens would certainly help DC's get over their loss if mine are anything to go by too....Wink

Original poster
Ormiriathomimus · 31/05/2012 10:46

Thanks all

She was nearly 4 and had been quite near busy roads in both houses she's lived in. This is an odd one though - quiet residential street with lots of parked cars - but twice a day it's like a racetrack with parents taking kids to school. I guess it's the inconsistency that causes the problem. Next door lost their cat a year ago.

OP posts:
Marne · 31/05/2012 12:05

So sorry for your loss, our cat was injured 2 weeks ago (we are not 100% sure if he was hit by a car), we live near a main road which has a 40mph speed limit, all out neighbours have cats and most of them go in the fields rather than across the road.

I am worried about letting our cat back out (he has to stay in at the moment as he had his tail amputated yesterday but he is fine) but he loves being outside (is getting fed up being in). I don't think i would get another cat though, we decided last week that is our cat didn't make it we would not replace him due to the fact we are near a busy road.

Could you replace the cat with another pet? (rabbit, dog, hamster)?

I think some cats just stay away from roads but others dont have the sense too so its a bit hit and miss what kind of cat you have (some have road sense and some don't).

Original poster
Ormiriathomimus · 31/05/2012 12:23

Sorry to hear about your cat marne. Poor thing Sad

We have a dog already and another cat so we're not really short of animals! But I guess I really want Lola back. Loved having a black cat.

OP posts:
fridakahlo · 31/05/2012 12:30

Is there any way you could encourage any future cats to stay around the back of the house, like not letting them out the front door?
This worked very well with our old ladies but obviously they were not mad adventurous young things and getting to the tops of fences was hard work for them.

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