Cat Hit & Run

There_Goes_Trouble

Please don't hate the driver, I hit a cat once. It was on a country lane and it came out of the bushes straight under my wheel, there was nothing I could do. I spent half an hour in the dark and rain searching the bushes for it (in floods of tears I might add), and I went back the next day in daylight to search again, but I didn't find it. I have no idea if it lived or not.

With regards to payment though, I don't think you can ask a driver for payment if you allow your cat outside, and I say that as an owner of two cats which I allow outside. If I had found the cat I hit I would have got it straight to a vet, but I would not have paid the bill. It wasn't my fault, I didn't even have time to swerve or brake as it just came out of the bushes straight under my wheel. Why should that have cost me hundreds of pounds?

badmumof1

Sorry to say but I too have run a cat over in the next road to where i lived
Not intentionally as i am a cat owner myself and recently lost my old lady of 23 years !!
It broke my heart as this cat just ran across the road and there was nothing i could do.
I got out of the car searching all around and a lady who was in her garden came over to me. we looked everywhere for this cat. I had to go after baout 15mins as i had to pick up my child from playgroup.
Later in the evening i got a call from my mum saying my uncle had passed away and then there was a knock at the door from a rather annoyed cat owner shouting, screaming and demanding money at me sayng it was going to cost thousands. I rang my insurance company and was advised not to give him any money as i was not responsible. I rang the vets about the cat and the total cost of the cats injuries were £125 !!
I had another visit from the owner who again tried to get money from me. I suggested i ring the vets and he just said oh forget it .

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

I had a cat that got hit by a car when I was 6. When I found her, she looked like - well, the mutant vampires from Underworld, notwithstanding the left eye resting on her cheek.

The vet popped it back in, (slightly bosseyed, but still working), wired her jaw back together (he said 'like weaving a basket'), attached the fragments of lower jaw to the upper jaw, having connected both halves of the upper jaw back together, made sure the crack in the orbit was secure and sent her home 2 days later. The lower teeth stuck out a bit (well, quite a lot - the lower teeth formed a W shape), but it didn't stop her scarfing her food, my food, the dog's food and anyone else's unattended food (including salt & vinegar crisps).

She was still bringing in stroppy pigeons by the wing, climbing and falling out of trees 17 years later.

But we never knew who hit her - they may not have even noticed as she appeared to have taken a glancing blow with potentially catastrophic results.

I hope you and your cat have a similar outcome.

delain

I hope your cat feels better soon

My cat was hit by a car a couple of weeks ago and she is making a good recovery, albeit a long one because she broke her pelvis in two places. This was a hit and run too, and very close to my house, in a residential road, anyone could have knocked on a door and asked who's cat she was, and any of the neighbours would have known. If a dog walker hadn't found her under a bush and called the RSPCA she probably would have died under a hedge just yards from home

Now she needs to be in a small cage for 8 ish weeks, bless her, she is such a outdoor cat, it must be torture for her

Unfortunately my pet insurance had been cancelled because of bank issues and I had to take her to the PDSA (after the private vets for one day cost £150) because I could not afford to keep her at the private animal hospital.

I hope your cat is ok soon!

Mankysteve

hEven if you traced the car driver, you won't be able to get anything them. Hope your cat recovers quickly.

ellieo

our little cat scooter who was only a year old met, an early death this way last year, and she was just left in the middle of the road, i was more upset that the driver didnt move her to the side of the road , or at least phoned us as our number and address could be clearly seen on her collar we only lived 100 yards away from the place she was hit

Claire_Bear

Aw this thread makes me so sad So sorry to hear of all your furbabes who've come to harm on the road. It's such a tough situation as some cats will never be happy until they're allowed outside but of course accidents can happen when they are allowed out.

Buffyslay, hope kitty recovers well

welshmoneylover

Got nothing to add except that I wish your cat a speedy recovery x

Scarlet_Fever

thanks again guys..... bringing a tear to my eye...

Wikkit is now home, and looking really annoyed as i wont let him out (or eat the others dried food!!). The first part of the bill was £427(i think)..... hoping theres not too much more...

i was hoping on maybe the car drivers insurance, maybe, or even a little 'we felt bad, cant afford much... heres a bit towards...' but, hey, we love the cat so much in our house, and we're not going to be homeless by it....

he can jump up on the sofa with no obvious problems ,and looks like we're going to ok....

Kitties

Sorry to hear about your cat. My cat was hit by a car TWICE but as they are so many cars on the road these days and so many mad drivers it's no wonder! My cat is now a house cat! He had pelvic injuries and the vet bills ran into thousands. All I can say is thank god for my credit card! Do you have an understanding Vet who will let you pay by monthly instalments?

It really annoys me the amount the Vets charge - saying that I feel so blessed to still have my cat so I feel he's worth every penny.

Good luck! x