Letter: I have just read another letter from a motorist saying cats shouldn’t be on the road and that they should be kept indoors.
Well you can’t keep cats in, they do roam and unfortunately sometimes on to the roads.
I’ve been driving six years now and have only ever hit two things a squirrel and a bird. The bird flew off, but the squirrel was on a dual carriageway and there was not much I could do.
I’m not saying motorists should brake or swerve into traffic or cause an accident but if they slowed down in the first place, there would be fewer accidents and fewer animals would be hit.
I don’t drive around at 10mph but if I see a cat on a footpath looking like its going to come out or a child running ahead of mom I slow down just in case.
I don’t have cats but I respect people love their pets and don’t want them hurt.
I wouldn’t hit anything unless I had no choice and a lot of these animals being hit on the roads are just motorists driving like lunatics.
Lisa Bicknell
Ketley Bank
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52 Comments
My sister’s cat was run over and killed by the postman. Before that event it had been noted amongst neighbours that he drove far too quickly for the size of the lane anyway – perhaps trying to meet unrealistic targets set by his employers?
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I agree you cant keep cats/pets indoors, its unfair to them. Sadly our beautiful Burmese got hit by a car in Telford and he wasnt that far from home. Unfortunately, noone stopped and my boyfriend found him on the side of the road, there was nothing he could do. The road is a 30 but I know that cars go faster then that. I agree with you saying people shouldnt risk their lives to avoid animals crossing the road but just beaware of hazards.
You always have to be one step ahead on the roads these days as children etc could just step out.
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I don’t mind cats being at the side of the road as long as they wear their high Viz jackets and are taught the green cross code?
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Thought the highway code was clear on such things: dont swerve dont take any action if it places anyone, including yourself in danger.
Yes they are pets, but if owners wont keep them in then they have to accept they run the risk of getting flattened… thats life…
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O please most cats that get knocked down and squashed just come running out of no where and last time i looked they were a lot smaller than even the smallest of childrem not many children stand at around 17 inches, and most drivers if not all that hit them are abiding the highway code which is for all to read.
I have knocked a cat over on a country lane. I did stop it was dead and i am afraid flat so what am i supposed to do ? go looking for an owner? go and get a spade or somthing??. Get your lives in to perspective for goodness sake ALL sorts of wildlife is knocked over and killed thats life, realy I am sick to death of people moaning about it and yes the answer is keep the cat locked up and walk it on a lead if you cant sleep for worrying about decent law abiding drivers going about their business KNOCKING YOUR CAT OVER.
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You can keep cats in doors.
And drivers might like to do several things:
1) If a cat can dart out between parked car, so can a child. Watch out for hazards.
2) Don’t drive so fast.
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I agree with Jake and Sam – You cant keep cats indoors – its cruel – do you not think the cat deserves the right to freedom as much as we do? Most cats are not stupid animals and know to get out of the way of speeding cars which are obviously a danger. The problem here is when our four legged friend cant react in time because the driver of the vehical is going so fast that he doesnt even see the cat let alone have time to stop for it.
Most cats live in towns or urban areas, in which the speed limit is usually 30. If this is followed i see no excuse for people not seeing the cat in time and be able to stop – keep your eyes on the road!
If your in an area that has a lot of hazards – drive slower, its common sense, just because the sign says 30 you dont have to drive at 30, ease off the pedal a bit.
I think Andrew is being completely inconsiderate!! If you have knocked a cat over, do you not think you should be responsible? would you leave a child on the side opf a road if you knocked it over? No one is asking you to wrap it in a blanket and carry it home but most cats now have collars with contact names and numbers on. This isnt for fun, all you have to do is pick up a phone and let the owner know where the cat is so they can take it home. I cant believe you have been so nasty!!
Maybe you should get your life into perspective and see that not everything happens in a neat little world controlled by you. That cat you killed may have ment nothing to you but it was part of someone elses family and no doubt it will be missed greatly. Grow up and see the world for what it is, everything that happens effects something or someone else
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Andrew Finch i should knock you over and shovel you in a ditch, that might shut you up as we are sick of ALL your comments that you make to the Shropshire Star
Matt is correct, that ‘cat’ or animal might be a child so we must all slow down whilst going around about our business!! – Simple
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I love my cat and would be heartbroken if she were run over but I accept that as a roaming cat (Man can she cover some distance!) this is a possibility. As the same time I’ve watched a young cat being run over by someone who was driving down Trench Road far too fast. Cats are usually roaming in a 20-30 mile limit area so it should be easy enough to see them with their ‘cat’s eyes’(see what I did there!) and slow down and beep your horn at them at that speed without causing a problem to the driver behind (unless they’re following too close) Let’s face it, you don’t see many cats playing hooky on a dual carriageway where remedial action would be impossible. As for keeping cats indoors, try telling that to a lion in the Masai Mara – I think you’d lose that argument painfully!
Oh and Mr. Finch, make sure you wear a high viz jacket and cross that road a little faster in case you should find a cat lover coming toward you!
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I’m with Matt here, not only is it possible to own a cat and ensure it’s safety but all drivers should remain alert at all times in case a child or animal ran out into the road. That is responsible driving. A 30mph limit is a guide, not a target to reach as soon as possible regardless of consequnces.
My cats never leave my garden, but then I paid a few pounds out and netted my garden and made sure that my pets do not encroach on anyone else’s property, or stay out to get run over or lost. If I can do it, then so could anyone else that wanted to keep their pet safe.
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If I ran over a cat and found its owner I would then be in a position to sue the owner for any damage to my car or me if it knocked me off my motorcycle.
If you cannot keep your animals under control you should be banned from keeping them.
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1st a child would not be out on its own especially at night
2nd if my dog was out roaming the street without me the dog warden would probably pick him up and i would be the one in trouble
3rd cats are not pets they they roam the streets causing havoc to other wildlife (birds)
fouling in anyones garden apart from there own sitting on cars and window ledges no where near there owners if i was to allow my dog to use my neighbours garden as a toilet i am sure they would be round to complain and as for sitting on there cars- well !!! if a cat was a pet you would know where it was at all times and act accordingly cats on the road are a menace and should be dealt with as such you want a cat you look after it dont expect other people to do you duty IE: cleaning up after it and making sure it is safe on the road as a cat owner that is your responsability
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I for one would never swerve to avoid hitting a Cat. Oh and YES you can keep a Cat indoors its not cruel. I think the best place for Cats is flat on the road….
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The arrogance and blinkered thinking of these cat owners/lovers is breathtaking. But the best is this from Jo:- “I agree with Jake and Sam – You cant keep cats indoors – its cruel – do you not think the cat deserves the right to freedom as much as we do?”.
What stupid, idiotic, dumb and plain downright senselessness is that. I totally agree with Andrew Finch. Cats should be subjected to the same laws as dogs. If owners allow them to roam free, they themselves are responsible for the animal being killed. Perhaps Jo would allow a three year old child to roam free seeing that she holds cats to be equal to humans. Yes, that is the stupid logic of your comment.
When I drive, I observe the law, I keep within the speed limit and whilst I try not to hit any cats, if one get’s unavoidably in my way, then sorry there is either an injured or dead cat, and no, if it is plainly dead, again I do as the law requires me to do and drive on. If it is injured, I may stop, depending on the circumstances.
These cat people sicken me, they want all the consideration under the sun but are not prepared to give an inch when it comes to themselves acting responsibly and keeping their animals in or on a lead – the same as dogs.
Why do we get none of this continuing nonsense from dog owners/lovers, simple really, in the main they are responsible people, if not and their animals are killed or injured, they invariably accept responsibility for it, why don’t cat owners?, and please no more of that guff THEY CANT’T BE KEPT IN, they most certainly CAN. If not, don’t keep them.
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Lynne, Stuart, Mokey
Ignorance and arrogance are terrible things
How many points you got for speeding?
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Suellen Fowler,
(a) Pot calling the kettle black by the sound of things, do you know the meaning of arrogance and ignorance.
(b) I have no points for speeding, how many points have your cat/s got for disobeying the law. Just as daft don’t you think.
Do you think the world is going to come to a halt for the sake of a cat, you cat people want to grow up and face facts and commonsense. You are pathetic.
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To quote Lynne Boxall…cats are not pets they they roam the streets causing havoc to other wildlife (birds)
I think you will find that far far more wild birds are killed each and every day by birds of prey which are now protected, these birds kill and eat so many small birds that they themselves are now endangered species! (incidentally far more than are killed by domestic cats)
and Stuart… Why do we get none of this continuing nonsense from dog owners/lovers, simple really, in the main they are responsible people
Try walking about anywhere in Shropshire, and having stepped in several piles of steaming dog mess you may wish to change your mind about ” responsible dog owners” perhaps?
Fact is, any domesticated animal that we may class as ‘pet’ should be looked after by it’s owner, if looking after it means you should ensure it’s and other peoples safety (including stopping straying onto roads) then you should be prepared to take on that responsibility too, if not then don’t keep pets!
My pets are kept in our garden and cannot stray or cause damage or problems, I reiterate here, if I can do it, so can everyone else!
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Hmm, no children out at night, huh? Not on the estate I live – there are certainly youngish children wandering around at 6 or 7 pm (when it’s completely dark) and that includes them wandering out onto the road from between parked cars. Anyone doing more than 20 mph up the road is as likely to hit a child as one of my cats – some people think that because it’s a 30 limit that makes it safe to do 30 when it’s quite clearly not. There are children playing right by the road when it’s dark, as 6pm is hardly late for children to be out, any sensible, responsible driver should be going slowly and keeping a look out for /anything/ that might be dash out in front of them. It’s not difficult, unless perhaps you either need your eyes testing or you’re a sadistic individual.
Keith – you wouldn’t get anywhere trying to sue the owner as in the eyes of the law a cat is a wild animal. Next thing you’ll be trying to say you should have someone to sue if you hit a rabbit and it knocks you off your bike.
As for Mokey, let’s hope somebody doesn’t decide the best place for you is flat on the road – although that’s the best place for some of the posters on this site generally.
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Not all dog owners are responsible! What about the ones who leave their dogs outside in the garden all hours of the day barking their heads off and the ones that dont scoop the poop?!
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I have read all the comments and have decided that people are strange. I do have a cat, I keep him in at night to try and keep him safe but accept that one day there is a chance that he might get run over. I would not blame the driver but of course we would be very upset. However, although I would not swerve to avoid an animal I would HATE to run anything over, a bird, a frog, a squirrel! Anyone who is happy to kill an animal and believes they deserve it is sick! Accidents can happen but if people stick to the speed limits and remain alert (instead of texting and talking on their phones) it will be safer for people and animals alike!
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I only hope that reincarnation does exist and that it would be karma for these immature people who make immature comments on here to be reincarnated as a cat.
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Are you people mental? How can you compare cats to children? Children are not solely responsible for the mass slaughter of small wildlife in this country. Children, have not wiped out some of the song bird populations. Cats are a menace. They foul indiscriminatley, they kill anything they possibly can, they crawl all over your car after you have cleaned it, they fight right outside your house at night when you are trying to get to sleep. In short a cat is not a pet, it is a mass murderer that lives only to make my life a misery. The only positive is that you know to avoid someone who has numerous cats, as they are obviously nuts.
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Andrew Owen … You’re a big chicken not running my comment about aiming for cats as they crap in your garden
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At least I use my real name
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Most entertaining thread I’ve read in a while. Talk about pack animals!.
I’m a cat owner, and since owning my 2 have realised what cruel anti-social animals they are, and thouroughly detest them. Yes they kill birds, and dont eat them (Thats a big one for me – I wouldnt mind if they ate it), they are a complete nusiance and I wouldn’t give 2 hoots if mine got run over. People think that cats are ‘domesticated’ animals. There’s no such thing. They’re just small tigers roaming free round estates. Unfortunatly my 2 young children would not let me get rid of them!, and feel that a pet should be ‘for life’.
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Stuart,
Yes I do understand the meaning of ignorance and arrogance.
I also understand the meaning of compassion, civility and tolerance!
I’m pathetic? What, for not wanting to mow down a defenceless animal just to prove a point?
Where does the law say a cat cannot cross the road?
I’m not asking the world to come to a halt for a cat – but that’s no reason why an effort shouldn’t be made if it’s viable – or do you make a point of speeding up when a cat crosses the front of your car?
You’re coming out with some corkers now!
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And at least I can still afford you the respect to spell your name right!
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OH MY GOD! BIG BIRD’s comments! Hilarious! So, most people support fox hunting…but its evil for cats to hunt!? ok! These are the saddest posts I have read for a while. And DO ME A FAVOUR – sue the owner if your car is damaged!!!
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I have never had the misfortune to hit a cat while driving myself and would be devastated if I did so. However, I can’t see why a cat is any different to a pheasant or rabbit, both of which I have run over and every occasion it was completely unavoidable without potentially causing a serious accident either for myself or another road user.
Animals are not people, they don’t know how to cross the road and therefore there is a high chance if they are out roaming, they could be run over and killed.
However, I don’t believe that most cats killed on the roads die as a result of speeding drivers.
Cats roam, they wander into the road and, despite what some people on here seem to think, do not always react to a couple of tonnes of metal heading in their direction and you cannot always seen them at night, even with their glowing eyes.
They also have a habit of darting out from under or beneath parked cars right into your path, which has happened to me more than once while driving down my own street. Fortunately, my street is so narrow you can only do about 15mph down it safely so I have managed to brake each time and avoid a flattened kitty, but it has been close.
Cat owners shouldn’t blame the motorist, there is every chance they were doing a perfectly legal 30mph down your residential road and hit your cat. A small animal weighing the same as a bag of sugar is never going to win, no matter how slowly you are driving.
It is not cruel to keep cats indoors, I have a friend who has two that live indoors as her house is right beside a busy road AND a railway line. They are perfectly happy not venturing into the great outdoors.
I agree that every driver should stick to the legal speed limit and be aware of his or her surroundings and potential hazards but I do not think it fair to blame every cat killed on the roads on a ’speeding motorist’.
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Amanda mason if you are sick of All my comments to the shropshire star sorry it is called freedom of speach flower ? also i have not got a clue who you are. As for the other cat owner who has threatened that some cat owner may wish to run me over well if you can give me their details i will pass them on to our friends in blue as clearly they may be a danger to the public. As for people who compare cats to children i will gladly assist you to the local nhs mental health team.Plus i have a clean licence and have had for 23 years.
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Another day, another bout of unpleasant diatribe from the poisoned keyboards of the Meldrew duo, a.k.a. Stuart and Andrew Finch. I bet you’re both a riot at parties.
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hi Suellan, you said that you saw a cat get ran over on Trench road, how long ago was it?
and for those of you who say dog owners are responsible owners, when was the last time you stood in cat mess walking down the street???? and also are you all forgeting cats dont only kill birds they also keep the mouse/rat population down which is good for us, you all have to agree!!!!
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There’s a good deal of nonsense being talked on both sides of the pro/anti cat divide here.
Firstly, cats don’t always have a great deal of road sense, and it’s sadly inevitable that they will get run over. It’s usually not the driver’s fault – they just dash out and there’s little to be done.
Secondly, the advice from vets, RSPCA etc. is that cats should be let out. Some do have so-called ‘house’ cats that are never let out, but cats do need exercise – they need to run and jump and do all the things that cats do – difficult to achieve indoors, unless you live in a mansion, and an unnatural existence for a healthy cat.
The recommendation is certainly not to let your cat out at night – it is at night when most cats are run over – so please – keep your cat in the house during the hours of darkness.
There is no legal obligation to report running over a cat – unlike a dog, and essentially cats, when outside, are regarded in the same way as wild animals, such as birds.
As for those that attempt to place human emotions such as cruelty, on cats or other animals, this is quite ridiculous. Animals do things based upon instinct, not emotion. Cats chase and kill birds because that it what they’ve done for thousands of years. They will often bring the carcasses back to their owners, as a sign of deference.
Their not eating them is nothing to do with cruelty – owners just feed them too well to need to eat their prey – but that doesn’t suppress their natural hunting instinct.
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At the end of the day we simply have a lot of very immature people in Shropshire mentioning no names Stuart!!!
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Stefan,
I saw a cat get run over on Trench Road around 8 months ago – it was awful. Car doing around 50 miles per hour (after 9pm Trench Road apparently becomes Donington Park) hit cat, heard skull pop, then watched as it jumped 2 feet off the floor in it’s death throes.
Descriptive enough?
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MARK where were my unpleasant comments ???, clearly cat owners or some at least are a little odd and compare cats to children . The cat i ran over had no name coller, i did actually tell the plice who said put it on the side of the grass verge if possible and added if i wished to i could call the council out to clear it up. The cat had no coller, also i was told cat collers were not the thing by one rspca chap??. So next time if people who moaned what i did could post their contact details i will ring them if i see a cat on the road that needs moving also if i god forbid knock one down again i will put it on the side of the road with a sign saying cat dead killed in accident with car, no coller, describe colouring and put a bunch of flowers out also .
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Suellan! Stefan was only asking as I know that his cat was run over 3 weeks ago on Trench Road. Did you really have to be so heartless in what you just put!
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Sam,
How am I supposed to know why Stefan was asking if he doesn’t say? – I am sorry if I’ve caused him any upset but maybe those persons on here who seem to believe cats should be mown down may now realise how awful it is. Unfortunately the cat I saw didn’t have a collar on so we were unable to inform the owners.
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From Y Mab Darogan, the great apostle speaks and we all have to bow to his superior, “mature” intellect. It appears that the odd silly comment re “karma” – whatever that is and “reincarnation” gives one a good idea where he/she is coming from.
I regard cats “on the loose” as a thorough menace both in terms of what they do to my garden and also on the road. A woman three doors from me has seven of them – this should not be allowed unless they are controlled, but there again Darogan, if I assume rightly that you are a cat lover, anything goes as far as you and these pestilential animals are concerned. I am always wary of those who loose all sense of reason over cats and judging from some comments here, in some cases sanity must be questioned.
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Suellan
sorry Suellan i was only asking as like what Sam said, mine was hit and killed there 3 weeks ago, he had a collar and tag and was on the path where i found him well in view yet no one called me. i am a cat lover to Suellan
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S fowler please please behave yourself, jumped 2ft in the air in its death throes?, you do not know the car was doung 50mph you have guessed it, you did not here the skull pop, stop being so silly grow up and accept accidents happen get a life realy.
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Jesus!
And I thought PistonHeads had poisonous pro / anti cat discussions!
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Can we stop trolling the forums please.
Don’t feed the trolls.
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Stefan,
I am very sorry to hear no-one called you – I thought more of people than that. I can assure you if I or my neighbours find a pet in this manner we try to get contact details. We also try to take notice of each other’s pets so we know whose animal if whose even if there is no collar. It’s such a shame there doesn’t seem to be much tolerance or consideration for others flying around anymore. I’d like to think in these days people will pull together to make each others lot a little easier if you can.
And Mr. Finch.
I and the other 4 people standing outside not 3 feet away from the cat who witnessed the event will clarify my version of events so shut your face!
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My cats seem to be perfectly happy to live in the house most of their time – they have everything they need and often dont go out (and rarely after dark!) When they do, they just stay in their garden. I’ve made their territory clear to them. But I’m quite lucky that I dont live on a busy road any longer. If I did, I probably wouldn’t take the risk to own a cat.
I know that my cats are at risk when they leave the house, thats why I mitigate that risk as far as I can. If my cats ventured too far, and were killed by a car, I’d be devastated. They mean so much to me – but thats why I make sure they’re happy, healthy, neutured, chipped and insured. (And have hi-viz collars!) They’re also better behaved than most of the neighbourhood children.
Drivers need to take responsibility to be aware of cats, and cat owners need to take responsiblity to be aware of dangerous roads.
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Good god.
Everyone is Spartacus on this one! hehehe!
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I live on a narrow road with pavement only one side where speeds are less than 20 mph.
Having lived in this road for 14 years I can reacall about 6 cat deaths.
Several people have more than one cat as a pet.
We have a large garden and over the years I have seen many birds nests emptied, a squirrel despatched by a cat though that was no loss squirrels being so destructive and have put up with cats yowling many a night and morning.
We have a constant problem with cat poo in the garden as we keep hens and their dust baths are targets for cat poo as is my veggie plot. I can understand why people like cats but in my view they are a no responsibility pet compared to good dog ownership and both dogs and cats are not eco – friendly pets like hens unless we eat them!
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Sfowler you need to be educated, first if the cat as you say jumped 2ft in the air it was not ran over, it was either clipped by the wheel or the underside of the car hence why it jumped, also there is a very easy way to check if you find your cat check the claws and the claws will be broken as when it is clipped it digs in to the tarmac this how we no for sure the cat has been in an accident with a car ,The pop you heard was probably the cat hitting the underside of the car ,if as you say you heard the cats head pop then it would have been ran over(head would not make the noise you say it did)and if it had it would not have jumped in the air as you state.
Also living in the country we have a lot of farm cats that actualy belong to know one they roam free etc and as with other wildlife get cought up in accidents be it with cars farm machines, keeper etc etc. And as for “shut your face” I suggest you learn to debate and act your age.
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Finchy,
I find the ‘act your age’ comment quite funny from someone who’s used the Kevin & Perry line ‘get a life’!
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Address the issue, also i have not got a clue who or what you are on about as clearly you watch far more tv than I, “get a life” meens exactly as it implies.
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I give up, you win since the last word is more important than the issue to you
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Not really, just do not embelish the truth to your own aims, be honest.
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