Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
The litter tray

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:
Original poster
something2say · 01/06/2022 12:41

I was hoping she would blame me for his death, and she has, and that is correct. My last cat was indoor and I got this one thinking he would be the same, but he was a different animale. He paced at the window, I felt guilty, he tried hard to slip between my feet out of the door. So I let him, wrongly, and now he is dead.

OP posts:
SierraSapphire · 01/06/2022 12:48

Really sorry you've lost your cat Flowers. Pretty sure I would have done the same thing though in the situation, don't blame yourself. Cats indoors when they want to be out can be stressed and miserable.

Fuzzyheid · 01/06/2022 13:01

I'm so sorry you've lost your furry friend. If he wanted out, he'd have been stressed and miserable kept as an indoor cat. Some cats are contented to watch from a window but some are unhappy without outdoor access. All these rules don't take each wee creature's preferences into account.

LemonPalmTree · 01/06/2022 13:03

I’m dso sorry op he sounds like an amazing boy and you gave him a great life. I think if a kitten is raised as a house cat and doesn’t know any different then fair enough to keep them inside but an older rescue cat would be cruel to keep him in.

GoodVibesHere · 01/06/2022 16:58

I'm so sorry about your darling cat. It's so sad. The thing is even if you turned back the clock right now I'm sure you'd have still let him out - it was what he wanted, he would've been unhappy otherwise. Even people get killed by cars, but we still go out. We can't live our lives in fear.

You are not a bad person. You loved him, he felt loved.

I'm sorry for your sadness. It's truly heartbreaking, whichever way they go.

Purpleavocado · 01/06/2022 17:04

Really sorry about your cat. I couldn't keep my cat inside, he'd go insane. I know that some cats are okay about being inside, but they are natural hunters and like to wonder around independently. Please don't blame yourself, it was just a very unfortunate thing to have happened.

Rubyroseyposey · 01/06/2022 18:08

I'm so sorry 😩💕

It is my biggest fear for my cats tbh. I live on a v secluded close, they were adults when I rehomed them and they would be miserable staying in. Not your fault at all.

Ninananna · 01/06/2022 18:17

Please don't blame yourself. He would have been miserable being kept indoors. It is a cat's nature to roam and explore. He was loved and cherished and knew it. 🌸

EL8888 · 01/06/2022 18:23

So sorry to hear this. He sounds adorable. He loved being outside and l am sure he got lots out of it. Would you like being inside all the time? My cats go outside but l know it’s a risk but my boy cat couldn’t tolerate not going out

cushioncovers · 01/06/2022 18:25

So sorry for your loss op. Flowers

AWOL66 · 01/06/2022 18:55

I really feel for you! 💔I'm on the camp of cats should be allowed to roam. Would you rather live a long life locked indoors or have the risk of having a shorter life but being allowed to do what's natural and be outside?! I know which I'd choose! My last beloved cat was meant to be an indoor cat but he was DESPERATE to go outside so I let him into the garden. He then was desperate to leave the garden performing amazing tricks to get over the stuff I'd put on the fence to keep him in. In the end I gave up and he loved it and became friends with a local cat who he'd contentedly sit with. He'd also bring in chips and bones as presents for me! 🥰I've never regretted my decision and even though yours had a sad ending you did the kindest thing for him!

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

Hello and thank you for your kind messages.

Some teenage girls have knocked! They said everyone knew him, he went and played with children in the park, went in the school, sat in people's gardens, went in the shop even. She said she walks a dog and he tried to play with the dog!

She saw him die. He was sitting in the road. A car came along and just drive straight into him, killing him instantly. She was straight over there so at least he didn't suffer. I arrived a minute later.

But to me, he didn't know to run from the car. Because he was an indoor cat up till that point. I feel more to blame hearing about his behaviour in the road. No road sense at all. But also very touched by the stories everyone has to tell about spending time with him. He did enjoy that I'm sure. I felt he blossomed here in many ways, his coat, his weight. We bonded.

Thank you for your kind messages xxx

OP posts:
TangoWhiskyAlphaTango · 01/06/2022 19:10

Oh OP I feel your pain this happened to me on Good Friday. I was at work and a local vet called me to say a cat had been brought in after hit by a car, she had sadly died. I managed to find out via FB that a young lad hit her and was very distraught so another woman took him and the cat to the vets. She was still alive but they wrapped her up in a blanket and he was talking to her and stroking her - she died very soon after arriving. I was so thankful to those people for showing her love at that moment. We had her cremated and have her ashes in a lovely engraved box. It was a horrible thing to experience, my heart goes out to you Flowers

TangoWhiskyAlphaTango · 01/06/2022 19:11

Also my cat was quite far from home - around 2 miles I knew she roamed but not that far. I have another cat who barely leaves the garden so feel less worried about him.

DontKeepTheFaith · 01/06/2022 19:11

I’m so sorry, that’s truly awful, you obviously thought you were doing right by your Dcat😞

Sallypally0 · 01/06/2022 19:15

Your cat went outside because they wanted to be there. This is not your fault.

RIP cat.

Original poster
something2say · 01/06/2022 19:50

Thanks. I'm so sorry to hear your story Tango. At least there were some heartwarming moments in the story. Its horrible though isn't it, little creatures hurt so badly.

I have been across the road to thank the kind lady who helped me. It seems he went in their house, up the stairs and into their children's rooms and stayed to play!! They used to leave the door open for him!!

And when I left, I saw their neighbours were out, and they're the people who cleaned up the road so I thanked them. They said he had been in their house too and he played with the cat toys in the box in the living room!!

I am astonished by this. How many relationships he had. It is comforting in a way. He really did have a good time with lots of people.

OP posts:
JugglingJanuary · 01/06/2022 19:50

I'm very sorry about your boy, it's heartbreaking. He sounds gorgeous.

Sadly if they've always been a house cat, (which he had) they have NO road sense & that's why the rescue would have said he's an indoor cat.

I don't think it's right to rehome an indoor cat if you're not prepared to keep an indoor cat (or secure your garden/a cat patio).

The Rescue don't say it for fun or to be awkward.

if you Rehome another, make sure it's an outdoor cat who has gained a bit of road sense, it's no guarantee, but it's a start.

Id love a cat, but unfortunately the road out here is NOT cat friendly at all, neighbours cats always get killed on it, despite it being a quiet residential road. And I don't want to have an indoor cat.

when I move....

it sounds like he'd made a lot of friends in a short time & had a happy time, so try to focus on how happy he was.

look after yourself, it hurts. A lot.

RunningFromInsanity · 01/06/2022 19:58

I think you were very cruel to tell the rescue tbh, there was no need to do that and upset them too. Unnecessary.

Original poster
something2say · 01/06/2022 20:01

I disagree. I could not live with a secret like that, kept deliberately from her to save her being angry with me. To knowingly let her think a thing that is not true.

I do not think I'll have another cat at all. My last boy at 16, and now this little scamp. That's it.

OP posts:
TempNameChangexx · 01/06/2022 21:17

I'm sure rescues don't specify indoor only just to ruin the cat's fun - they'll do it based on that specific cat and your surroundings.

RunningFromInsanity · 01/06/2022 21:26

something2say · 01/06/2022 20:01

I disagree. I could not live with a secret like that, kept deliberately from her to save her being angry with me. To knowingly let her think a thing that is not true.

I do not think I'll have another cat at all. My last boy at 16, and now this little scamp. That's it.

It’s not about her being angry at you. She is now devastated and probably blaming herself. You wanted to share the grief but there was no need to tell her.

RunningFromInsanity · 01/06/2022 21:27

You obviously love cats so just get one that’s use to going outside next time? Or one that’s used to being inside and keep it in?

AnnaBegins · 01/06/2022 21:28

I'm so sorry for your loss. I would have done the same - some cats are not there to be confined. My parents tried to do that with a cat who clearly wanted to be an outdoor cat - he's now a miserable indoor cat who hisses and snaps at anyone who comes into the house as he has no other territory and it's difficult to visit my parents. It sounds like he touched many people's lives in a short time.

GreySquirrrel · 01/06/2022 23:41

something2say · 01/06/2022 20:01

I disagree. I could not live with a secret like that, kept deliberately from her to save her being angry with me. To knowingly let her think a thing that is not true.

I do not think I'll have another cat at all. My last boy at 16, and now this little scamp. That's it.

Glad you got it ‘off your chest’ and burdened the poor woman who no doubt now deeply regrets the decision to allow you to adopt an ‘indoor’ cat.

Swipe left for the next trending thread