Question:
What course of action do you take when you hit a cat? My husband was driving in our residential neighborhood and a cat ran out in front of him. It was obviously dead. He felt horrible! It had a collar and looked like a beautiful, healthy cat. He was so shaken when he called me. He didn't pull over because, really, what can you do? Is there anything to do besides call animal control to pick it up?


Answer:
Oh no! How awful. I don't know. If it were me I would ask around and see if anyone knew who the cat belonged to. I know if that were to happen to one of mine, and they just went missing, I would be worried sick and want to know what happened. I know it would be terrible to break it to the owners, but I think its the right thing to do IMO.


Answer:
If there's a tag, you can call the number to let the owner know. If not, contact animal control to come and gather the cat. Personally I'd bring the cat with me so nothing happened to the body, but that's just me. I'd also though, want to check and make sure it was dead. Sometimes they could just be stunned.


Answer:
Originally Posted by Lixx
If there's a tag, you can call the number to let the owner know. If not, contact animal control to come and gather the cat. Personally I'd bring the cat with me so nothing happened to the body, but that's just me. I'd also though, want to check and make sure it was dead. Sometimes they could just be stunned.
I agree with Lixx.

Also, unless I was absolutely sure that the cat was dead, I would take the cat to the vet.


Answer:
I'd go back and bag the cat (gross as that seems to people.. wouldn't bother me) and take the cat to the local animal shelter.. they can scan the cat for a microchip and if the cat has a tag they will trace it and inform the owners. If the cat doesn't have any ID I'd post flyers in the area describing the cat and to call your # or the animal shelters # so when the owner sees it can have some closure.. it's never pleasant having to tell someone their pet is dead (worst part of my job) but I have also seen people come to the shelter every few days for YEARS looking for their lost pet.. better they know now.


Answer:
and there are always those personal ads in the paper, the ones announcing births and anniversaries and stuff, you could post something there, if the cat is really dead, no microchip or tag


Answer:
My mom told me that when she was younger, she was driving and a cat darted out in front of her and she hit it.(there was just no way to avoid it, it happened so fast) She felt horrible...we have always been cat people and she has 4 of her own now. Anyway, she stopped and since there were many houses around, she started to ask around and found someone who knew who's cat it was. The neighbor that knew who's cat it was, took the cat and was able to break it to the owners. My mom felt so bad about the situation, you could tell her telling me the story 20 years later, it still bothered her.


Answer:
i hit a cat once, driving home after helping some people with a bunch of rescued shih tzus that one needed an emergency vet visit, by the time we got done, it was like 3 am and i was driving home, in the middle of nowhere outside of jacksonville, florida...and it just committed suicide on my car...it was like it saw me coming and headed right for me, and since i was going 55 (the speed limit in that area) there was no stopping

i stopped as fast as possible, turned around, but couldn't find it..and there weren't really any houses nearby so i just don't know

i felt so terrible, still do


Answer:
This is not about a cat, but when me and my fiance were driving a few weeks ago a small bird hit our car antena, I think it was probably a Robin, anyways I was going to make him stop the car so I could see if it was ok, but all of a sudden a crow swooped down and took the bird away. I felt sad for a few days because it might have been alive but didn't have a chance with that crow being around.


Answer:
I ran over a cat once...but it was dead on the street already. I feel bad that I never stopped. I can't even touch my animals when they've passed...how could I touch a dead cat? eck. If there were houses around I'd knock on a couple of doors. If it were still alive i'd take it to a vet.