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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

My cat was killed on the road tonight

55 replies

something2say · 31/05/2022 23:26

I'm.so upset. I rehomed a gorgeous 3 yr old Persian cross in March. I kept him in for a month, but he was desperate to go outside and I gave in and let him. He settled in well, I sorted his coat out,he put in weight, he was insured and flead and all that. I worried at first about him being out but he was happy. The rehoming people told me to keep him as an indoor cat but I felt he was desperate to go out. I did tell them and they were not happy.

Well tonight he has been killed by a car. I came home from work, fed him and let him out, then went out and returned an hour later to find a crowd in the road and him on the ground. I'm so gutted. He was a slip of a thing, so silky, used to scram about, loved his food, very inquisitive, but really interested in cuddling, more interested in what was going in out the window.

I feel so horrible. If I hadn't let him out he would still be alive. I took their rescue cat and promised to take care of him and I did not and he is dead.

OP posts:
confusedlots · 31/05/2022 23:37

Aw I'm so sorry to hear this, but please don't blame yourself. I have a friend who had an outdoor cat who had lived outdoors and indoors for years, then they moved house, kept him inside for a couple of weeks before letting him out and then he unfortunately got killed on the road very shortly after that. I think it's not unusual to happen with the change of environment, even with cats that are used to being outside.

Original poster
something2say · 31/05/2022 23:43

Thank you. I have just emailed the people I got him from. I feel so guilty, they said he was to be indoor and I went against that, believing he would be happier.

OP posts:
longcoffeebreak · 31/05/2022 23:48

Aw no! You had such good intentions letting your cat out and I think that counts for a lot.

I'm so sorry this has happened it really is tragic.

Original poster
something2say · 01/06/2022 00:00

I just can't believe it! He was lying on the pillow next to my head this morning, as he did every morning, waiting for me to wake up. I'll never get to know him over years. He was so different from my last cat, who was 9 when I got him, till 16. This one was 3. Silky, babyish, running about, playing with everything, getting in the drawers and the wardrobe. Open the door and its ears forward, cared about nothing else. Wanted mummy if he got stuck, but then running off sideways. I'm gutted. Poor little baby covered in blood. The lady hit his face and mouth. I cant bear to think of it.

OP posts:
floppybit · 01/06/2022 00:01

If you had kept him in he would have been miserable and it would have been stressful for you to see him desperate to get out all the time. As already said, it was the change of location, please try not to beat yourself up as you've done nothing wrong

WhoIsCarolWright · 01/06/2022 00:04

Oh love I’m so sorry but please don’t beat yourself up with guilt. For me it’s the risk cat parents take vs having a kitty who’s miserable and frustrated stuck indoors; I wish it wasn’t so. He knows you loved and looked after him well for the time you were together. God bless sweet boy x

MidnightMeltdown · 01/06/2022 00:10

So sorry to hear this Sad

If it's any consolation, most vets say that cats should be allowed to roam, for their mental well-being, and so that they can engage in natural cat behaviours.

You wouldn't keep a dog locked in the house 24/7, so I don't know why people think that it's ok to do this to a cat. I'm sure that the cat would rather have a short life, with freedom to roam, than a long life, bored in the house, unable to be a cat.

It wouldn't have been right to keep him in when he was so desperate to go out.

Cattenberg · 01/06/2022 00:16

I’m so sorry. A close relative had a similar experience. When she moved to a ground floor flat, she started letting her house cats out. One wasn’t interested in going outdoors, but the other loved roaming free. Sadly, a few weeks later, he was killed by a train.

It’s horrible, but at least he got to be a cat. Also, it’s some comfort to know that he wouldn’t have suffered.

Original poster
something2say · 01/06/2022 00:19

Thank you all. I looked it up, it said on average 5yrs for an outdoor cat versus 15 for an indoor cat. I thought, as you say, a life well lived is better than a half life.

I'm just so shocked! To come home and see him in the road like that. Such a little flame of life, running about the house, so silky and young. Such beautiful fur.

I'm so upset, my little baby.

OP posts:
ChazzaGirl · 01/06/2022 00:21

Sorry to hear this, it’s horrible to lose a pet, they become little furry family members, don’t they?

Your cat probably would have been very unhappy stuck in doors all day, so you did what you considered to be the right thing for him. 💐

Original poster
something2say · 01/06/2022 00:24

I just think if I hadn't let him out, he would still be alive. I literally came home from work tonight to feed him and let him out. He LOVED going out. I used to check on him, and if he wasnt ready, he'd just not be there, but if he was, he'd be hiding somewhere nearby and when I called, come haring across the grass right in the front door, up the hall into the kitchen in one long scrabble. It was hilarious. Now I know the neighbours children used to like watching him do it. Apparently he went in people's houses, into the shop, even into the school. He had so many friends.

I hope that brings comfort to come, as right now I just feel I let him down. I didn't keep him safe.

OP posts:
Divebar2021 · 01/06/2022 00:32

I know that opinion is divided about keeping them in versus letting them out but for my cat 15 years inside the house would be 15 years in prison. Other cats may be perfectly happy but mines a hunter and loves being out. Sounds like yours was to. I’m really sorry it must be so upsetting.

Original poster
something2say · 01/06/2022 00:36

Thank you.

I think he was just a young male animale who had spirit. The first few times I let him out, I was so anxious and wringing my hands, but I came to see that he had amazing instincts. I once tried to clean his paws. Pointless. But within half an hour he'd cleaned himself better than I ever could. I came to see that his way was best for him. I'm angry with the lady who killed him. She drove on.

OP posts:
LoudingVoice · 01/06/2022 00:39

Oh I’m so sorry this is so sad :(

I do think some cats are just much happier being out & about, you were letting him out with his best intentions at heart, he clearly had a very well loved life with you.

Sending lots of love x

Zpoa · 01/06/2022 00:43

It's the luck of the draw with cats, unfortunately. You can't be cross.with anyone who runs them over.. cats run so fast. My last was in a fight, he died. My other has already been hit my a car (2 years old - and I live in a Cresent). My other is 15, never been hurt.

It sucks and it hurts.

coffeecupsandfairylights · 01/06/2022 06:29

I'm so sorry you lost your lovely cat Flowers

The indoor/outdoor debate is really just personal choice and I also find it's very cultural. In many places, outdoor cats are almost seen as being neglected whereas in the UK it's almost the opposite sometimes.

Gatekeeper · 01/06/2022 06:33

I am so sorry about your darling boy , what a horrible shock for you..

JudyGemstone · 01/06/2022 06:41

I’m so sorry OP, it’s clear that you loved him and wanted him to be happy and it sounds like he had the best months of his life with you ❤️

I also have a pedigree cat that I rehomed as as an adult, she was kept for breeding and used to live in one room on her own but now she loves going out and even though the breeder told me she didn’t want me to let her roam I do because I want her to be happy and be a cat.

FAQs · 01/06/2022 06:41

So sorry to hear about your cat, I have 3 and they are 11, always been indoor/outdoor cats, one disappears for days at a time, she is very much an outdoor cat and would go mad made to stay in.

The woman may not have known she had hit the cat.

Rosehugger · 01/06/2022 06:44

I'm so sorry for your loss 💐

puddlesofmothers · 01/06/2022 06:50

Very very sad for you but he was leading his best life. I think you did the right thing letting him out. I lost one on the road and my OH convinced me our other cat most then be an indoor cat, it was a mistake. She was safe but her quality of life was nothing like it was and I had a constant guilt about if she was happy etc.

Pennyhill22 · 01/06/2022 07:08

So sorry for you loss 💐

Original poster
something2say · 01/06/2022 07:10

Good morning, thank you for the messages. I feel horrible still. His little food bowl. Two boxes of uneaten food. Just waiting for the rescue people to read my email and roast me.

OP posts:
Original poster
something2say · 01/06/2022 10:23

The rescuer said, she honestly doesn't know what to say to me, but this is why they stipulate indoor only, no matter what the cat tries to do, and it's not negotiable.

OP posts:
GreySquirrrel · 01/06/2022 12:05

How very sad.
What were you expecting the rescuer to say, you went against their advice despite it being a non-negotiable part of the adoption agreement?