On December 12, 2025, the UK government reaffirmed its position: there are no current plans to force drivers who run over cats to report the collision or to take the animal to a vet. This announcement came in response to a growing public campaign and a petition signed by nearly 11,000 people, calling for legal changes to protect cats on Britain’s roads. The petition, submitted to Parliament, specifically urged lawmakers to "make it law that if you hit a cat you must legally report it and take it to the nearest vets."
Under current UK law, as outlined in the Road Traffic Act 1988, drivers are required to stop and report accidents involving certain specified animals—namely dogs, horses, cattle, mules, sheep, pigs, or goats. Cats, along with wild animals, are notably absent from this list. The government’s reasoning for this exclusion traces back to the original intent of the law, which was designed to protect working animals rather than domestic pets. As a spokesperson from the Department for Transport explained, "Under section 170 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, a driver is required to stop and report an accident involving specified animals including horses, cattle, ass, mules, sheep, pigs, goats or dogs, but not cats or wild animals. This requirement arises from their status as working animals rather than as domestic pets. To introduce such a measure within the provision of section 170, would require primary legislation."
The government’s response to the petition emphasized the practical challenges of enforcing such a law. Cats are smaller than the animals currently covered by the Act and are often most active at dawn or dusk—times when visibility is limited. As the Department for Transport spokesperson noted, "Because cats are much smaller than other specified animals, and often most active at dawn or dusk, in many cases drivers may not be aware they’ve hit them – particularly with larger vehicles. Because of that, it would be difficult to prosecute drivers if the law was changed."
Despite the government’s stance, campaigners and animal welfare groups remain vocal in their calls for change. The campaign group Cats Matter, which has lobbied successive governments on this issue, expressed deep disappointment with the official response. Mandy Hobbis, co-founder of Cats Matter, said, "We struggle to understand how we can call ourselves a compassionate country when our laws allow drivers to hit cats when driving and legally leave them on the road suffering. Cats are much loved family members, just like dogs are, and they deserve the right to be helped if struck by a car, just like dogs are."
Cats Matter has been actively campaigning for years to close what it sees as a loophole in the law. While the group acknowledges progress—such as the introduction of mandatory microchipping for cats in June 2024—it argues that more needs to be done. The microchipping law requires all cats in England over 20 weeks of age to be microchipped and registered on a compliant database, unless exempt or free-living. The aim is to improve pet welfare by increasing the likelihood of reuniting lost or stray cats with their owners. As the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) notes, "Defra works closely with stakeholders to communicate pet microchipping requirements to the public."
In parallel with these legislative developments, Defra has also commissioned a research project to better understand the operational challenges that prevent some cats from being reunited with their keepers after a road traffic collision. The goal is to provide an evidence base that can inform best practices for local authorities, potentially improving outcomes for both cats and their owners in the aftermath of road accidents.
Animal welfare charities have also weighed in on the issue. According to Cats Protection, a leading charity in the sector, road traffic accidents account for injuries in 4% of cats, based on a 2021 report. The charity takes a practical approach, encouraging any driver who injures a cat to take the animal to a vet for emergency treatment. Madison Rogers, Cats Protection’s associate director of advocacy, campaigns and external affairs, said, "This gives the cat their best chance of survival and means owners can be contacted and informed quickly." Rogers also urges drivers involved in a road traffic collision in which a cat dies to contact their local council. "We'd also encourage local councils to scan any cats they collect so their owners can be informed, as it's heartbreaking for owners to not know the fate of a lost or missing cat," she added.
Despite the government’s insistence that the UK is "a compassionate country," critics argue that compassion should be reflected in the law. The government’s statement did acknowledge the emotional toll these incidents can take, stating, "This Government understands how upsetting it is when a much-loved pet is killed on our roads and thank you for raising this issue. This is a compassionate country and although there is no obligation to report all animal deaths on roads, drivers should, if possible, make enquiries to ascertain the owner of domestic animals, such as cats, and advise them of the situation." Still, for campaigners like Cats Matter, this falls short of meaningful change.
For now, the government’s position remains firm: changing the law would require primary legislation, and there are no current plans to pursue this route. The official response points to practical enforcement challenges and the historical context of the Road Traffic Act, but campaigners are undeterred. They continue to push for a legal obligation that would place cats on equal footing with dogs and other animals when it comes to reporting road accidents.
Petitions like the one that sparked this latest debate play an important role in the democratic process. Parliamentary e-petitions that reach 10,000 signatures receive a formal government response, while those that reach 100,000 signatures are considered for debate in Parliament. This mechanism ensures that public concern over issues like animal welfare is at least acknowledged by lawmakers, even if it doesn’t always result in immediate legislative action.
In the meantime, animal welfare organizations encourage drivers to act responsibly and compassionately, regardless of legal obligations. Taking a cat to the vet after a collision, reporting the incident to local councils, and ensuring that pets are microchipped all contribute to better outcomes for pets and their owners. As the debate continues, one thing is clear: for many in the UK, the welfare of cats on the nation’s roads is an issue that’s not going away any time soon.
With the government holding its ground and campaigners refusing to give up, the question of whether the law should change remains unresolved. But the conversation—driven by passionate advocates and concerned citizens alike—shows no sign of slowing down.
