Unfortunately on Friday night I lost my sweet little boy Fred. Someone hit him with their car and even with a bystander waving him down to stop - he still drove away. I will never know who it was that took my boy from me and there’s no way to find out because it’s NOT a legal requirement to stop for a cat.

Under section 170 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, a driver is required to stop and report an accident involving specified animals including horses, cattle, asses, mules, sheep, pigs, goats or dogs, but not cats or wild animals. This requirement arises from their status as working animals rather than as domestic pets. 

A cat is someone’s PET. They live in their homes with their owners, for a lot of people it could be the only company they have. This is a heartbreaking tragic thing to happen to so many cat owners and yet many never have closure due to this not having to be reported. Times have changed and this is simply not good enough. It needs to be a legal requirement to stop and report this.

If I can do anything positive out of this horrific situation it is to try and make a difference.