UK Government Responds to Petition on Cat Collision Reporting Law
The UK government has stated there are no current plans to require motorists to report collisions with cats or take injured cats to a vet. This response follows an e-petition that gathered nearly 11,000 signatures calling for a law mandating the reporting and veterinary treatment of cats hit by cars. The Road Traffic Act 1988 currently requires drivers to stop and report accidents involving certain animals such as dogs, horses, cattle, mules, sheep, pigs, and goats; however, cats are excluded from this legislation.
The exclusion of cats from the law originates from its initial focus on working animals rather than domestic pets. Authorities have highlighted that prosecutions would be difficult to enforce if the law were changed, in part due to cats' smaller size and their activity mainly during dawn and dusk. The Cats Matter campaign group, which has pushed for a ban on leaving the scene after hitting a cat, expressed disappointment in the government's decision but noted progress made with the introduction of mandatory micro-chipping for cats starting June 2024.
Data from Cats Protection in 2021 shows that 4% of cat injuries result from road traffic accidents. The charity advises taking any injured cat to a vet and encourages local councils to scan found cats for microchips to help reunite them with their owners. Under parliamentary petition rules, 10,000 signatures are required to prompt a government response, while reaching 100,000 signatures would lead to a debate in Parliament.
