Protect Our Cats: Law Reform to Prosecute Drivers Who Kill Pets

Rejected 13 signatures

What the petition asks

am calling on the Government and Parliament to introduce legislation that makes it a criminal offence to intentionally or negligently strike a domestic cat with a vehicle and fail to stop, report, or seek veterinary assistance.

“Cats are legally recognised as sentient beings and family pets, yet there is currently little accountability when they are injured or killed on the road. This lack of protection allows avoidable suffering, emotional trauma to owners, and irresponsible driving to go unpunished. A clear law would create a duty of care, require drivers to stop and report incidents, and ensure that reckless or deliberate harm is properly investigated and prosecuted. Such legislation would improve animal welfare and road safety, and recognise that cats deserve the same legal respect and protection as other companion animals.

Why it was rejected

There was already a petition about this issue. Duplicates are rejected so signatures collect in one place.

You may wish to sign the following petitions, which call for similar action:

Legislate to require drivers to report collisions with cats
Legislate to require drivers to report collisions with cats

Legally require drivers who hit a cat to take them to a vet
Legally require drivers who hit a cat to take them to a vet

Timeline

22 Jan 2026	Petition opened for signatures
18 Feb 2026	Rejected by the Petitions Committee

Key facts

Signatures 13

Status Rejected

Rejected 18 Feb 2026

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