Cats killed by cars could get right to be reported

Under current laws it is an offence to be involved in a collision with animals such as dogs and horses and drive away without reporting it. But it is not illegal to drive away if the animal is a cat.

In its latest transport report, Environment & Infrastructure gives a commitment to tackle the issue.

The report states that there are numerous incidents involving motor vehicles and domestic cats on island roads.

‘Cats are frequently seriously injured and too often die because of these collisions, but their owners are oblivious to the fact often until it is too late to help.

‘Current legislation does not require anyone to report an incident involving a domestic cat as, unlike horses and dogs, cats are not recognised as animals for the purpose of the relevant traffic laws.

‘The committee has resolved to improve on the current situation.’

Amelia Smitheram started a petition in March last year after her cat, Tom, was hit by a car and left in a driveway on Rectory Hill.

She also contacted all the island’s deputies in her campaign to get something done.

Sixteen-year-old Tom was very much part of the family and it made the loss all the harder for Ms Smitheram that he had been abandoned to die alone and the driver had made no effort to call someone to try to save him.

Initially she thought that just friends and family would sign the petition out of sympathy, but it snowballed and she was overwhelmed at all the kind messages and support she received from people she did not know.

‘I was so upset, because he was such a loyal and loving cat.

‘He would follow me round everywhere and he was always waiting for me when I got home, so I knew immediately that night that something was wrong.

‘I think once you start talking about these things other people open up as well. I’ve spoken to lots of people who’ve had a similar experience and they were heartbroken by it.

‘But I’m so happy that my beautiful Tom has made a difference. He started off as a humble feral cat from the vinery and now he’s going to improve the life of lots of other cats, so that’s a lovely legacy.

‘I’m so grateful to all the people who signed the petition and everyone who helped. It’s not just me, there are a lot of cat lovers out there.’

Ms Smitheram recognises that cats are by nature more free-roaming than dogs, but she wants equal rights for cats so that fewer are left on the roads to die.

One of the worst things that can happen to cat lovers is when their pet goes missing and they are left in limbo between hope and bereavement and never find out what happened, she said.

The petition calls for a legal requirement for motorists who hit a cat to report it to the police, the GSPCA or Animal Aid.

• Guernsey is thought to have one of the highest domestic cat populations per capita in Europe and about 200 are injured or killed on local roads every year.