Calls Grow for Mandatory Reporting When Cats Are Hit by Drivers

A tragic loss prompts a national outcry

When 11-month-old kitten Martha was run over multiple times and left in the road, her owner Kellie Watson was devastated. The North Tyneside woman has since launched a petition to change the law and require drivers to report when they hit a cat — a legal obligation that currently exists only for some animals like dogs, horses, and livestock.

Martha’s story

Martha was a black and white kitten who had quickly become a beloved member of the Watson family. “She was our baby,” said Kellie. Every day after work, Martha would wait at the door. But earlier this month, when she wasn’t there, Kellie knew something was wrong.

The kitten had been struck by a car and left in the road where other vehicles also hit her, until a stranger finally brought her to a vet. The injuries were so severe that Kellie wasn’t allowed to see Martha one last time.

A campaign for justice and accountability

The emotional trauma pushed Kellie to act. Her petition, which has now gathered over 40,000 signatures, calls for a change in UK traffic law to include cats among the animals drivers are legally required to report if hit.

“You wouldn’t leave a dog in the middle of the road. Why is it acceptable to leave a cat?” she asks.

Her campaign has received backing from North East animal charity Pawz for Thought, based in Sunderland.

Emotional toll on pets left behind

Kellie also shared that her 18-year-old cat has been mourning the loss of Martha. “She’s not eating, she’s being sick. She mothered her,” she said, adding to the argument that cats are not “just pets” but deeply bonded members of the family.

Government response and microchipping laws

Currently, the law in the UK only requires drivers to report accidents involving dogs, horses, cattle, pigs, goats, sheep, mules, and donkeys. Cats are not included.

While the Department for Transport said there are "no plans" to change the law, they cited recent legislation requiring all cats over 20 weeks old in England to be microchipped and registered by June 2024. This, they argue, will help local authorities and National Highways reunite cats with their families.

But campaigners like Kellie believe that’s not enough.

Animal charities support the move

Lorraine Thornton, operations manager at Pawz for Thought, highlighted the emotional strain on families searching for missing pets.

"We constantly receive calls from heartbroken owners. A rule change would give them a chance to get answers — not spend months searching in vain," she said. "For many, pets are the only family they have."