Petition · past parliament · Department for Transport

Make it a legal requirement for drivers to stop& report accidents involving cats

Closed 505 signatures

What the petition asks

I want the government to amend the law.

The law currently is that you don’t have to stop & report incidents involving cats on the road, yet you have to if it’s a dog.

Both are loved family pets & both have the same effect emotionally if they’re involved in an accident.

It needs to change.
Cats are an extremely common household pet in the UK.

They are loved the same as any other animal in the home & are mourned for the exact same amount as you would a dog.

They do not deserve to be classed as rodents.
If the law was changed, a LOT more people would know what’s happened to their pet rather than wondering forever where their family member has gone.

No driver should be allowed to kill a family member and legally drive off, even if it’s an accident. It needs to be law to stop.

Timeline

30 Aug 2022 Petition opened for signatures
14 Mar 2023 Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 505
Status Closed
Department Department for Transport
Opened 30 Aug 2022
Closed 14 Mar 2023

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.