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The litter tray

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

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Original poster

If you lost a cat to an RTA would you get another cat eventually??

15 replies

Rainyrunway · 12/05/2023 18:32

We very sadly lost boy cat last weekend. He got hit by a car. It was awful he's only young.
We live in a super quiet road, it's unmade like a farm track and probably about quarter of a mile or so in one direction is the same. Cars drive about 5mph or they'd lose a wheel. But boy cat had decided to venture over the fence in our back garden, through the garden that is back to back with ours and managed to get onto the road behind ours. Which is not an especially busy road but it is a regular residential road, and I guess he wasn't used to that because ours is SO quiet. We can't keep a future cat indoors really because girl cat is used to going out and it wouldn't be fair on her. But we like having 2 cats and she definitely misses him.
Would you get another? I don't want to get a cat for the same thing to happen obviously but is it likely to? I spoke to a rescue centre for advice (we're not ready yet at all but just thinking things through) and they said it sounds more like a freak accident and they would home to us based on our set up and boy cat is the 4th cat we've had while living here. The last pair lived till 18.5 and 19 respectively and girl cat is around 3 or 4. But I don't know. I feel if we actually lived on the busier road maybe it would be better because a cat there would be used to cars whereas if they're used to the cars on our road maybe they don't seem a threat? We honestly thought that where we lived was perfect for cats but seems it maybe isn't 🙁. Can I have others thoughts please?

OP posts:

minipie · 12/05/2023 18:36

I think I would yes.

It’s awful to lose a cat to an RTA but it’s a small risk (given where you live) compared with the lovely home you would give a cat and the freedom for them of going out. If you lived on a busy road where an RTA was much more likely I might say no but it seems you were very unlucky.

If possible I would get an adult rescue who has been around the block a bit, maybe from an urban area, so is likely to be able to handle roads.

Pashazade · 12/05/2023 18:41

Yup we did, lost one young which was unfortunate and one which was idiotic because instead exploring the acres of field out back had to climb fences to get to the busy road! But we have stuck to older cats much of the time.

Original poster

Rainyrunway · 12/05/2023 18:41

Thank you. I just feel so awful and guilty. Can't stop thinking it's our fault. Bastard van driver didn't even stop. It wouldn't have actually made a difference, given his injuries there wouldn't have been anything a vet could do, but how could you not even stop to see if you could help. Is it bad I hope the guy has nightmares about it?

OP posts:

minipie · 12/05/2023 18:54

It’s not your fault. And really shitty of the driver to drive off (unless perhaps he didn’t notice). So sorry.

Ozzyskye · 12/05/2023 18:58

Oh you poor thing, I know the pain all too well. We lost our boy cat aged 11 on the (admittedly fairly busy) road at the front of our house a year and a half ago. He also would not have survived his injuries and it would have been instant but that driver didn't stop either and that hurt. We have a girl cat who was always more fond him him than vice versa.

We finally got 2 kittens in January and they are great absolute bloody chaos fun. We didn't want to get a new cat too soon as I didn't want Ds(3.5 at the time) to think animals or people can just be replaced. However, girl cat hates them and I think we might have ruined her formerly very cushy life 🤦‍♀️ so I would say don't leave it too long before you get another if you do decide to.

MrsCatE · 13/05/2023 02:55

Obviously, you've discussed it with the rescue and they're happy to place a cat with free outdoor access. I personally haven't lost a cat to a RTA but a work colleague told me of her cat being mown down by a transit van - on purpose. A neighbour had witnessed and noted the company signage. Despite the driver initially denying it he then shrugged shoulders and said 'what are you going do about it - it's just a cat?'. Drivers don't have to stop / report killing cats and can drive off - unlike dogs or livestock. Hopefully, the law will be rectified soon. If it had been my cat, I would obviously reported to the company (neighbour said driver revved up) and if no recompense e.g driver sacked, additional training to staff ,donation to local cat rescue organisation etc. first impulse would have been to beat up bloke / van - and id be the one with criminal record.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 13/05/2023 09:19

You have to balance the benefit of allowing your cat out to roam with the risks of them getting hit by a car.

It's also perfectly legal for drivers not to stop if they hit a cat - I'm obviously not saying that's okay, though.

Personally I would get another cat, especially if you already have one at home.

90stalgia · 13/05/2023 09:25

I think it sounds like a one-off, but if you are worried, you could look at rehoming a cat that was indoor-only. An FIV cat, for example - my parents have one. He leads a perfectly normal life, no medications needed, and he's the most skilled mouser I've ever seen.

Original poster

Rainyrunway · 13/05/2023 09:33

I don't think indoor only would work because we have another cat who goes out (which also means we can't re-home FIV+)
I know you don't legally have to stop. I just can't imagine how anyone with a conscience wouldnt. God I'd stop even if it was a pigeon and I really don't like pigeons. I just can't imagine how you could leave an animal in the road, potentially suffering. I don't believe boy cat did suffer. It genuinely looked like he would have been killed instantly but the point is the driver wouldn't know that since he didn't stop.
Most seem to think getting another cat would be reasonable. I'm glad because we really would like to. I just REALLY don't want it to happen again

OP posts:

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 13/05/2023 10:10

I just REALLY don't want it to happen again

Unfortunately the only way to guarantee your cat won't be killed on the road is to keep them on your property - either as an indoor cat or by building a catio or cat-proof fencing - neither of which are particularly cheap.

It's one of the risks of outdoor cats - but lots of people find it an acceptable risk - I suppose you just have to decide if you're one of those people!

romdowa · 13/05/2023 10:14

I found an abandoned kitten 6 months after my previous kitty got knocked down. Current kitty is strictly In doors only

Original poster

Rainyrunway · 13/05/2023 10:30

God it's so hard to know what to do isn't it? I can't keep current cat indoors it wouldn't be fair after 4 years of coming and going as she pleases. But should we keep them a "safe prisoner" or have "freedom with risks"? I think I'm a freedom with risks person but I just can't judge how much of a risk it is here. Like I said I always thought it was super safe. And yet he still got killed 🙁

OP posts:

AnnaMagnani · 13/05/2023 10:45

I got another cat within a week

It's a quiet road with cats all over it. Idiot cat died instantly on possibly her first time crossing it. New cat not only crosses multiple times a day but goes up to the main road and crosses that we wish we didn't know this

Cats would rather be happy than prisoners and it's hard to provide all the stimulation to some cats indoors.

coffeecupsandwaxmelts · 13/05/2023 13:10

Rainyrunway · 13/05/2023 10:30

It is hard and tbh there's no right answer. There are pros and cons to both.

Cailin66 · 19/05/2023 05:55

We got a kitten a week ago, 2 months after our 12 year old had a RTA. Someone kindly left him in our front garden for us, he’s buried at the end of our garden as we couldn’t bear to send him where they dispose of cars and I don’t even know what that entails. Kitten is having a really good effect on all of us as we missed our cat so much. Kitten is adorable, we got a different colour and sex so there would be no comparisons.

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