Criminalise not reporting when a cat is ran over! Cats are just as important as our other feathered and furry friends, and like most cat owners in the UK; we all want the best for our furry friends. And so it’s common in the UK to let cats roam free outside as they are not happy inside, the law not only acknowledges this but uses it as a reason against cats being equal to dogs. It is currently illegal to not report to the police if you hit a dog or a farm animal, and you can get fined up to £5000, but you do not have to report if you hit a cat at all.

I had a cat, called Ossy. He was a very pretty cat, blonde with a pink nose and brown eyes. Ossy was 8 months old, and was sadly run over on the evening of the 21st of February 2023. I’m only 15, and I raised Ossy since the day he was born as he was my older cats kitten. He was not reported until the next morning- but he was not dead on impact, he had ran into a bush and then died. If he was reported on impact, maybe me and my family could have been able to comfort him when he needed it. Me and my family were utterly heartbroken when we were told, but angry at the fact there was nothing we could do.

I am not the only one, so many of my friends and family members have not been able to save there own cats; and while to so many people they are “just pets”, to so many others they’re so much more… a friend, a replacement for a child, something people can look forward to, they’re a part of the family.

The aim of this petition is to change the law so that cats are included in the 1988 road traffic act- meaning they will also have to be reported and recovered by the person who hits them. I cannot bring back Ossy no matter how much I want to, but hopefully, if we work together- we can help future cats either get re-united with there families or even saved.

Please report if you hit a cat even if it’s not legally required yet, remember- it’s a five minute phone call to you, life or death to them!