Cat killed on the road: a tragic accident

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Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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Hello,

I don’t usually post in this section as I’m not really a cat person. However, I’ve occasionally read accounts in the cat section from people whose four-legged friends have been victims of road accidents... They were criticising drivers' behaviour, venting their anger over the loss of their cats, and wishing the absolute worst on the "murderous" driver...

This morning, on my way to work just as I was leaving the village, a cat darted under the wheels of my car. I didn’t have time to brake or swerve. A ginger blur, a thud, then nothing. I turned around and, in the glow of the headlights, I saw the body and another cat, very much alive, wondering what was happening... Perhaps they were chasing each other?

I stayed with the cat as it took its last breath and then laid it on the grass verge. It was wearing a collar and a tag, but there was no identification... I tried to find the owners this lunchtime by going door-to-door, but with no luck... The owners had probably already left for work and will have had the heartbreak of finding their pet dead later on... I hope the people I spoke to and explained the situation to will forgive me for this tragic, irreversible accident.

Cat owners, if you value your friend’s life, please protect them from the dangers of the road. Keep them as indoor cats, or in an enclosed garden or a catio; please believe me, bonding with you and your family and interacting even indoors is better than the tragedy this cat suffered this morning. It might seem cruel to keep a cat in a confined space, but surely that’s better than a life cut short by such an accident? Is it really better to let an "independent" cat risk its life every day just for the sake of freedom?

I also want to assure you that while there are scumbags out there who would intentionally hit any cat in their path, many drivers feel real remorse and sadness for causing such grief to people who loved their pets and thought that freedom was safe and right. My thoughts are with the people who found their cat's body; losing a companion like that is unbearable.

I hope you’ll take this post to heart. My aim is to get a reaction, to make people understand that cats shouldn’t have to pay the price for the freedom their owners give them. As a driver, I couldn’t avoid this accident, just like many others who have been criticised here for similar tragedies. In conclusion, this accident has one main victim, but there are others too—the owners, who are surely distraught, and myself, as I’m struggling to get the scene out of my head...

Translated from French
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    • M
    Milo-can3800 Icon representing the flag French
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    Hi everyone, can you tell me if my cat would have died instantly or if he would have suffered for a while before passing away? It was a total shock this morning; I found my cat dead in front of my gate. He was hit by a car at 3 am (I’ve seen the CCTV footage) and the vehicle was speeding. I’ve been in tears since this morning and I feel so guilty—my cat was meowing during the night because he wanted to go out into the garden, so I let him out. I found him at 7:30 am; he was by the gate, not moving, and had lost a lot of blood from his mouth and nose. I took him to the vet but he was already dead from internal bleeding. The question I keep asking myself is: did he suffer before he died, or was it instant?
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    ?
    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    @Syouban, cats roaming the streets is actually just as much of an offence as it is for dogs, as the law is the same for both. It’s just that the general public either doesn't realise it or is more lenient towards cats, as they are less adaptable when it comes to their territory and, above all, much harder to control than a dog... It really is a nightmare to hit an animal with your car, whether it’s a cat, a dog, or wildlife...

    The only thing that has brought me even the slightest bit of peace is that the poor cat passed away very quickly after the impact; otherwise, it would have been the absolute height of horror. If you put yourself in his shoes for even a second, the shock, the pain, and the whole situation must have caused unimaginable suffering. It’s that feeling of empathy for what he went through that has shaken me more than his death itself. I wish he’d died instantly to spare him those few seconds of fear or pain he felt. I gave him one last stroke after laying him on the grass, but he was already gone...

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    S
    Syouban Icon representing the flag French
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    Hello there, I’m so sorry to hear about what happened. Personally, running over an animal is my absolute worst nightmare. That’s why I’ve had my garden fenced off; my cat doesn’t go outside it. She has 100 square metres of outdoor space. Sometimes I feel guilty, but I think modern life just isn't suited to them. Living in total freedom alongside humans isn't possible anymore; it’s incompatible with a long and safe life. We need to teach cats to adapt and restrict their territory, and that will take several generations. Cats haven’t been domesticated for as long as dogs, which explains their wilder side. Plus, with so many of them around, cats are becoming a threat to wildlife and the environment. In my opinion, letting pets roam free will eventually be banned one day.
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    Tania28
    Tania28 Icon representing the flag French
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    Good on you for having the courage to post this; it’s not really your fault. It was bound to happen and that’s that, but it really could have been much worse for you 😔

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    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    @Norpenna ... sadly yes, wildlife also falls victim to our roads. What made me feel even worse was that, even though I have huge respect for wildlife, the cat in question was a pet; he carried clear signs of how much his owners cared for him. It's always heartbreaking to see an animal on the verge, but no one has spent years pampering or waiting for a wild animal to come home, unlike this cat whose owners are now grieving. It’s just awful...

    Regarding letting them roam, for years I dealt with a bit of a "cat colony" at home thanks to a family member. We lived in a cul-de-sac with fields as far as the eye could see... cats everywhere. Surprisingly, the sheer number of them didn't make them run away, and we never had any road accidents with cats wandering off. Those kinds of setups are rare, though. Cats have territories divided into different zones (resting, hunting, exploring...) that they need to patrol regularly—it’s just territorial instinct. I understand the temptation and the well-meaning idea that a cat should be free, but unfortunately, modern urban living means there are very few "safe" spaces left.

    @Kikaah ... I haven't mentioned any injuries to myself or damage to the car because, as shocking as it might sound, it felt completely inappropriate to bring up given that this cat died... Of course, if I’d had a few more seconds, my reflex would have been to swerve to avoid the impact, even at the risk of totalling the car. It would have been reckless, honestly—just that split-second instinct to avoid an obstacle that most drivers have, even when it puts them at risk. I just didn't have the time. It was probably for the best as far as I'm concerned, but it certainly didn't help the cat.

    Thank you for your replies. It won’t take away the guilt or the heartbreak those people are feeling, but I’m hoping to hear about everyone’s experiences here. As cat lovers, we're all potentially facing a situation like this...

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    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    Hi there,

    What you did was truly admirable, and I completely understand your anger and sadness. If everyone had your determination and quick thinking, it would definitely help ease the grief for the owners of these cats, if only for the principle of it. That being said, this cat, who was clearly pampered by its owners, also cherished its freedom...

    So many animals are run over every day; I’ve lost count of the number of hedgehogs, rabbits, badgers, and occasionally cats, dogs or foxes that I see dead by the side of the road. It always fills me with such sadness and some very distressing images. They don’t deserve it any more than the others. At the end of the day, you can’t deprive them of their freedom. My cats go outdoors (thankfully not near the road, but still...), but if something like this were to happen to them, I’d have nothing but respect for a driver who, through no fault of their own, showed them such decency.

    Kind regards.

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    Julie-Cocker
    Julie-cocker Icon representing the flag French
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    As a cat and dog owner myself, I’ve been through the same thing as you. I was on a country lane, doing about 10 mph because a cat had just crossed the road. Thinking it was heading into the field, I started to move off again, but then, without any warning, it doubled back and went right under my wheels. I pulled over a few yards further on, and when I realised it was dead, I just burst into tears. It had no collar or tattoo and was in a poor state overall; it was a stray cat. I decided to buy a box, went back to the spot, and buried it so it could have a dignified end. My own cats don't go outside and they have everything they need at home—cat trees, toys, and all sorts. Thanks for sharing your story.
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    Kikaah
    Kikaah Icon representing the flag French
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    And imagine if you’d ended up in a ditch trying to avoid it? I agree, some people say that freedom is everything for their cat, but their life has to come first (and the safety of drivers too!). I remember once on a road in the middle of the night, a little cat ran out and started cleaning himself right in the middle of the road; we managed to miss the little rascal, thank goodness (I do love cats really! ^^)
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    ?
    Anonymous user Icon representing the flag French
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    I completely agree with your post and I’m sending you lots of strength to help you get those horrific images out of your head. You absolutely did the right thing by tracking down the cat’s family and not just leaving them in the middle of the road like some people would have done. I’m also with you 100% on everything else you mentioned.
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