Hit a cat - feel awful

Dollardog

Well, I didn't actually hit the cat, the cat hit me.

I went to visit some friends this evening, when I left, I had got nearly to the other end of their road when a cat dashed out from beneath a hedge on the other side of the road, I was only probably going 20miles an hour but by the time I saw it, it was practically under my wheels. I heard a thud and stopped, thinking I was going to find it on the road, but as I stopped, I looked in the door mirror and saw it run into a garden/drive/alley on the opposite side of the road from where it came out, obviously where it had been heading.
I parked up and went to knock on the door of the house where I thought it had gone. They said it wasn't their cat but sounded like one which now was a stray, it had been abandoned when its family moved out a few months ago. They were going to phone the RSPCA but one of the neighbours had been feeding it and it seemed to be doing ok.
The man fetched a torch and we searched his garden, the drive next door and down the alley way, which is where the house was where it used to live. There was no sign of it and couldn't hear it crying or anything - don't know if that was a good sign or not!!
Couldn't really do anymore, it was too dark. The man said he would go and have another look later and again in the morning and also tell the neighbours who had been feeding it.
He said he usually saw it in his garden sometime during the morning, he took my phone number and said he would ring if he saw it and if it was injured, he would get the RSPCA or CPL out to it.
I feel awul, I'm worried sick that its lying injured somewhere and has no one to care for it.
I know it wasn't my fault and there was really nothing I could have done, it shot out so fast. I just hate not being able to find it and get it some help, although it did run off fast so hoping it wasn't too badly injured.

spookylukey

You did ten times more than most people would have so please don't beat yourself up about it, accidents like that are totally unavoidable and many would not have even stopped let alone stopped and knocked on doors and looked for him/her.

I really hope that it was just a glancing blow and that he/she will be OK. As for the people that purposefully left him/her behind, pure scum.

Dee123_2

A big hug from me - you did everything you could. So many people would not have stopped.

The cat has either fled to its makeshift home or its instincts took it to somewhere it wouldn't be found by predators if it was in the wild and injured.

I know it's impossible to stop your brain from fretting but nothing more now can be done until daylight.

It really wasn;t your fault and you've done your best to make sure it's ok.

Dollardog

Thanks, I know I couldn't have done more but just hate to think that it could be out there injured - hadn't even thought about predators!!
Half of me thinks that at least it wasn't someone's pet and they are wondering what happened to it and the other half is thinking it is worse that its not someone's pet, because there is no one to take care of it if it was injured. Hopefully if it was just a glancing blow, it can make it to whoever feeds it tomorrow. If they care enough to feed it, perhaps they will try to get it help if it needs it.
It certainly made a thud as it hit the car but I don't think for a minute it went under the wheels and it certainly ran off quick enough.
Hope you are alright little kitty.

rising_from_the_ashes

Ohhhh Dollar how awful and I know how bad you'll be feeling.

You did everything you could ...... and hopefully the person who's been feeding it will find it today & fingers crossed it's OK.

POPPYOSCAR

He/she probably just used up one of its nine lives.;)

You did what you could, it is not your fault, it will be fine.

Dollardog

Thanks Rising and Poppyoscar. I hope the man whose door I knocked on keeps his word and looks for it....and tells the people who feed it.
Hoping to hear good news from him but fearing he doesn't find it.

walwin

Oh Dollardog, I know how terrible you'll be feeling even though it wasn't your fault.

Hopefully you'll hear from the man that puss cat has been found and is okay.

You really couldn't have done any more than you did but I know that won't be making you feel any better xx

moggymutt

I ran over a cat years ago (right over), nothing I could have done to avoid it, but felt sick to the core, so I know how bad you must be feeling, even though it isn't your fault at all.

What I'd be tempted to do, if it isnt too far away is take a box of choccies as a thank you for helping you look for the cat, pointing out that it really means a lot to you to know how the cat is. Although he already sounds really helpful, that would be a polite way of reminding him to keep looking and asking, plus I'd want to thank him for being so helpful.

So sorry, just wish cats could wise up to cars.

Dollardog

Well, I didn't hear anything unfortunately. It has been pouring with rain though all day here, so perhaps the cat was taking shelter and they could have missed it if it did appear briefly. I don't suppose the man went out to look for it in this weather either.
Its about 20 odd miles away from where I live otherwise I would have gone to have another look but if the cat was sheltering, it would probably have been a wasted journey.
I wish I could speak to the people feeding it as its more likely to go there if it is around and hopefully they would noyice if something was wrong with it. They obviously care about cats to feed it.
Next time I'm in the area, I will do what moggynutt suggested and take a box of chocs or something and ask again if he had seen anything of it.
Hope it is alright.