Cat

More than 95,000 people have signed a petition that calls on the UK Government to make it a legal requirement to stop and report a road accident involving a cat.

The petition was initiated by Christina Rezik Mount of London, after her feline was run down by a vehicle on a small road, which people often drive down at speed.

The petition organiser also claimed that her sister’s dog was killed this way and a few children are said to have been hit over time.

Under the Road Traffic Act 1988, section 170, a driver must report any road accident that causes damage to any animal, which is not on or in the vehicle involved, to the police within 24-hours, or stop and give their details to the pet’s owner.

The definition of ‘animal’ currently includes dogs, horses, sheep, cattle, pigs, goats, ass and mules, but cats are excluded.

"It’s not a matter of making it an offence but it could give closure to the family, or time for emergency care."

The petition says: "Cat’s on roadsides are becoming a sight more often, they are just as much a man’s best friend as dog’s are.

"It’s not a matter of making it an offence but it could give closure to the family, or time for emergency care should the cat need it."

Mount needs to reach 100,000 signatures to take the petition to the Parliament.

In 2012, Gloucestershire based cat re-homing charity, New Start Cat Rescue, submitted a petition to the Parliament, which urged the government to amend the Road Traffic Act to include cats.

Image: Cats are said to be increasongly spotted on the UK’s roadsides. Photo: ©2015, Change.org, Inc.