Should drivers be legally required to report collisions with cats?
At Cats in Distress, we sadly see the devastating impact road traffic accidents can have on cats and the people who love them. We’ve supported injured cats found at the roadside, searched for missing cats who never came home, and spoken to heartbroken owners left without answers.
That’s why we’re supporting the incredible work of CatsMatter, whose campaign calling for drivers to report collisions with cats has now become the largest cat-related petition ever presented to the UK Parliament, with more than 189,000 signatures. The petition has now been formally handed to 10 Downing Street and will be debated in Parliament.
Currently, drivers are legally required to report collisions involving dogs, but not cats. This means an injured cat may be left suffering without receiving urgent veterinary treatment, while owners can be left desperately searching for a beloved pet, never knowing what happened.
A change in the law could help ensure:
🐾 Injured cats receive veterinary care as quickly as possible.
🐾 Microchips are checked so owners can be contacted.
🐾 Families receive answers and closure instead of uncertainty.
🐾 Cats are given the same recognition and protection as other much-loved companion animals.
Although the petition has now closed, the campaign is far from over. The Government must now respond through the parliamentary process, with MPs set to debate the issue. Campaigners are encouraging supporters to keep the conversation going by contacting their local MP and asking them to support this long-overdue change in the law. CatsMatter also points to previous welfare campaigns, including compulsory cat microchipping, as examples of how meaningful change can take time but begins with public support.
This is about compassion, accountability and giving injured cats the best possible chance of survival.
To learn more about the campaign and what happens next, read CatsMatter’s update here:
https://www.catsmatter.org/single-post/catsmatter-hand-petition-to-10-downing-street
