On the 8th of January, 2024, my beloved male cat was hit by a vehicle and left to die alone in the cold on the streets. This tragic incident is not just personal to me and my family, but also resonates with all cat owners who believe that their pets' lives hold as much value as any other.

Currently, there exists a disparity in our laws where drivers are required to stop and report if they hit a dog, but not if they hit a cat. This suggests an unfair valuation of life where dogs are considered more important than cats. As someone who has experienced the pain of losing a pet due to this law's negligence, I am calling for change.

Every year in the UK alone, it is estimated that over 230,000 cats are run over - that's nearly one every two and half minutes (Source: Cats Protection). Yet these incidents often go unreported because drivers aren't legally obliged to do so.

We need legislation that mandates drivers to stop and report when they have been involved in an accident with any domestic animal - including cats. By doing so we can ensure timely medical attention for injured animals and closure for families whose pets may be missing.

This isn't just about making our roads safer for our feline friends; it's about acknowledging their worthiness of care and respect. It's time we give cats equal consideration under law as dogs receive now.

Please sign this petition if you agree that all pet lives matter equally – let us make sure no more families have to suffer like mine did because their loss was deemed less important by law.