Why Cat Owners Want Drivers to Report Road Collisions After a 189,000 Signature Petition

A growing campaign is asking for one change that cat owners say could save lives after road collisions: make drivers stop and report when they hit a cat. The push has gathered more than 189,000 signatures and is set to be debated in Parliament, putting a long-running gap in the rules under fresh scrutiny.

What campaigners want changed

Under current rules, motorists are legally required to report hitting certain animals, including dogs and cattle, but not cats. Campaigners say that difference leaves injured cats without help and families without answers.

The petition at the centre of the campaign calls on ministers to update the law so cats receive the same protection. Supporters argue that a driver who stops, checks on the animal and gets help could make the difference between a cat surviving and dying.

People behind the campaign say this is not about treating cats as less important because they roam freely. Their view is that if the worst happens on the road, cats still deserve help, just as other animals do. One rescue worker in Somerset, Ginny Parratt of Cats in Distress, said cats are not simply animals on the roadside. She described them as cherished companions that bring comfort and affection to their owners, and said they should be given the same consideration.

Parratt also argued that stopping rather than leaving an animal at the roadside could give many more cats a chance to live.

One family’s loss helped sharpen the issue

For Finn Mackay, the issue is not abstract. He supports the petition after his rescue cat, Pixie, was killed by a car outside his home in Bristol.

Mackay said Pixie was in his prime when he was hit on what he described as a sunny, quiet afternoon. He was inside with his son, who was about three years old at the time. According to Mackay, a neighbour saw the driver pause at the end of the road and then continue driving away.

Mackay said he and his child then had to wrap Pixie up, and a neighbour drove them to a vet, where the cat’s death was confirmed. He described the experience as deeply traumatic.

His support for the petition is tied to a broader hope that a legal change could also change behaviour. In his view, a clearer duty in the law would send a message that cat welfare matters and that drivers should take care and watch for cats crossing the road. He also believes greater care on the road would benefit people as well as pets, and that when cats are hit accidentally, quicker action could either save them or at least ensure rapid veterinary care and notification for their families.

What happens next

The scale of the issue is one reason the campaign has gathered attention. Government statistics cited by supporters indicate that about 630 cats are hit by vehicles every day in the UK.

Despite the petition’s backing, the government has said it does not currently plan to require drivers to report collisions with cats. A spokesperson said its Road Safety Strategy would improve safety for all road users, including cats.

The petition will still receive parliamentary attention, but not in the form some supporters might hope for. MPs are not expected to vote directly on the petition’s request. Instead, they will debate the issue and may call on the government to respond.

For campaigners, that debate is a chance to press a simple point. They say cats are beloved pets, and when one is struck on the road, stopping to help should not be optional.