I wish people who owned cats would keep them inside

[Vela]

This is the second cat I have run over in a few months, and another I had to deal with the death of in my yard. Then I get to feel like crap because THEIR cats are running in the road, and I either have to get in an accident to try to avoid it or end up running over the cat when it darts right out in front of my car. I'm sorry for any cat people on here with free roaming cats who don't agree, but it's not nice for the rest of us to have to kill the animal because it's not contained in a safe environment. Then I have to hear it and see it dying, because I had to run over it. I have to tell you that makes me feel horrible, but there is not a darn thing I can do about it. I have to cry and feel guilt over killing it.

The cat who died in my yard was killed by my dogs, they have a high prey drive, thus I don't have cats. They have never done anything before or since like it, but it was still horrifying for ME to have to see and deal with a dead cat in MY yard, because someone else didn't keep their pet contained. I have a high 6 foot privacy fence to keep my animals safe and contained, I just wish cat owners would keep theirs contained as well. I don't enjoy death of any animals, especially not because I ran over it or it came into my yard.

Ranting done. I just feel like crap because it's dead now and I feel it's the owner's fault that I have to feel this way and cry over it.

[Cataholic]

This is the second cat I have run over in a few months, and another I had to deal with the death of in my yard. Then I get to feel like crap because THEIR cats are running in the road, and I either have to get in an accident to try to avoid it or end up running over the cat when it darts right out in front of my car. I'm sorry for any cat people on here with free roaming cats who don't agree, but it's not nice for the rest of us to have to kill the animal because it's not contained in a safe environment. Then I have to hear it and see it dying, because I had to run over it. I have to tell you that makes me feel horrible, but there is not a darn thing I can do about it. I have to cry and feel guilt over killing it.

The cat who died in my yard was killed by my dogs, they have a high prey drive, thus I don't have cats. They have never done anything before or since like it, but it was still horrifying for ME to have to see and deal with a dead cat in MY yard, because someone else didn't keep their pet contained. I have a high 6 foot privacy fence to keep my animals safe and contained, I just wish cat owners would keep theirs contained as well. I don't enjoy death of any animals, especially not because I ran over it or it came into my yard.

Ranting done. I just feel like crap because it's dead now and I feel it's the owner's fault that I have to feel this way and cry over it.

It is the owner's fault. Not that that spares your sensitive heart a moments grief. I am sorry. RIP, sweet kitty, and special thoughts to you.

[borzoimom]

Cats that go out have half the life expectancy... Cars, dogs, other cats, getting lost etc or disease if not vaccinated..
I am sorry you went through this- its hard.. And you took the precautions- ..

[Lobodeb]

I've never had to run over an animal, thank God (knocks on wood). Have you hit the 2 cats in the same area? Maybe you could slow down because you know they're there? I'm not trying to blame you for hitting them, please understand. I know it's equally dangerous to avoid hitting them. But my reason for asking is that since you can't change other's irresponsible behavior, maybe you can adapt to it and a) not beat yourself up for their ignorance and b) not have to hit any more cats?

Just my thoughts.

ETA:

I'm sorry you're going through this.

[Kalei]

I completely agree with you Vela. I have never run over a cat thank god, but I hate seeing them running free and dying. My cats have always been indoors and they are so safe and sound. I wish that other cat owners could try and keep their cats off the roads too.

[Vela]

The two cats I hit weren't anywhere near each other, very different areas. I was only going 35 mph, taking my kids to school. But even that is fast when they just dart out right under you. I tried to stop but I couldn't, it was all at once. I do drive slowly though, especially around here and the neighborhoods, we actually often have deer running through here and sometimes coyote and fox, ducks and geese, as we aren't that far from the mountains, few miles. I just feel so bad that I killed it.

[Argranade]

Do the owners of this cat know what happened?

[Lobodeb]

I just feel so bad that I killed it.

Sometimes, it's unavoidable, so try not to beat yourself up. And you certainly don't want to hurt yourself or your kids or another car by trying to miss the cat.

[borzoimom]

I've never had to run over an animal, thank God (knocks on wood). Have you hit the 2 cats in the same area? Maybe you could slow down because you know they're there? I'm not trying to blame you for hitting them, please understand. I know it's equally dangerous to avoid hitting them. But my reason for asking is that since you can't change other's irresponsible behavior, maybe you can adapt to it and a) not beat yourself up for their ignorance and b) not have to hit any more cats?

Just my thoughts.

ETA:

I'm sorry you're going through this.

One morning years ago, I went out to start my car, heard a scream, then silence. Someones cat had crawled inside my engine. I felt just awful... My younger brother one day almost totalled his car, and injured himself avoiding hitting someones car ( still see the marks in the tree he hit..)

[Vela]

I have no idea, I don't know whose cat it was, it ran out of a hay field. I pulled over but there wasn't anyone around and it was already dead so there was no point in trying to take it to a vet. I have no way of knowing whose cat it is and I'm not going to go door to door carrying a dead cat, I can't pick it up, it's horrifying enough to see what happened to it!

[Lobodeb]

One morning years ago, I went out to start my car, heard a scream, then silence. Someones cat had crawled inside my engine. I felt just awful... My younger brother one day almost totalled his car, and injured himself avoiding hitting someones car ( still see the marks in the tree he hit..)

You know, I've heard of cats/animals doing this. I used to make it a point to honk my horn and wait a minute before I started my car to give the creature time to get out and I somehow got out of the habit. Maybe I should start again.

[borzoimom]

good point... I do up here on this mountain, close my vents to keep a snake from getting in the car.. ( shivers.......)

[pitc9]

I'm so sorry you've had to go through this.
How sad all the way around.

I wish my neighbor would keep their cat inside so it would stop peeing on my firewood that I burn IN MY HOUSE!!!!!
My dogs have almost caught it twice, and like yours, my dogs have a Veeeery high prey drive and are not wanting to play with the kitty.
It will kill me to see that, but I'm quite sure it will happen one day.

[K9soul]

I'm so sorry this happened to you. I know how excruciatingly upset you were when the cat was killed in your yard too. People risk lives, both their pets' and other people's, when they let their pets run and roam. I have been fortunate enough not to have hit anything myself to this point, but I have witnessed both cats and dogs hit and the images are seared into my heart forever. Sometimes, an animal is out by accident, but all too often it's just people who don't care or don't try to contain them. Where I grew up in Missouri, roaming cats and ferals were practically in epidemic proportions it seemed. Here in MN, I have not seen nearly as many.

The one you hit may have been a feral if it darted out of a field but there's no way to know. Irresponsible pet ownership hurts so many, first and foremost the pet of course, but your case is a perfect example of how much it can hurt others too.

[TFTpwnsYou]

I know how you feel on this one. We have a lady right across the street had like 20 cats I swear. At least once a week there would be one in the road. Although now I only see a couple running around compared to the who knows how many adults, and then there were like 2-3 litters of kittens. I'm wondering if one of the other complaining neighbors had a shelter or something come get them. You can't help but feel bad, but then again it's not your fault somebody's cats(s) are running loose.