Few things are more rewarding than having a cat companion in our life. Their cute antics brighten our day, and if we’re feeling low they are there to lift our spirits with purrs, cuddles and a superabundance of beauty.
That’s why working or volunteering for The Sheffield Cats Shelter is so rewarding – we help find kittens and cats in need a great new home. A cat is an ideal addition to any home, but of course it’s then essential that we take care of their needs and provide them with an environment that’s secure, happy and safe.
Our cat care guidelines here on our website are a great place to look if you have any concerns about cat health, or are looking for help on issues such as cat diet and how to ensure a stress-free life for your kitty. There’s one issue, however, which can cause real heartache for cat owners: road safety.
It’s important to assess your road situation before buying or adopting a cat (and of course we always encourage adoptions where possible). If you live near a busy road then you should really be looking at an indoor cat; these are cats that have never been outdoors and are quite happy with the indoor life – cats can be perfectly healthy and happy as indoor cats, as long as they have plenty of space indoors and activities and toys to keep them occupied.
Our ‘available cats‘ page specifies whether the cats currently in our shelter are indoor or outdoor cats, so living near a busy road doesn’t necessarily prevent you from becoming one of our adopters. Most cats, however, spend some time outdoors, which is why road safety is essential. We hear far too many tales of cats being struck by vehicles, sometimes with tragic consequences. Major reasons for this are drivers not looking out for cats on the road, not concentrating on the road, or speeding so please think of the cats the next time you get behind a wheel.
Hopefully you’ll never have a collision with a cat, but if you do here’s what you should do next:
- Pull over safely and stop
- Be prepared to provide first aid to the cat – you can get some great tips here
- Contact the nearest vet and take the cat to them
- If the cat is sadly deceased you should still take them to a vet as they will be able to check for a microchip and then contact the owner
Statistics show that around 3 in 4 cats survive a road traffic collision, so stopping and following the advice above can be a real life saver! We believe that it should be compulsory for drivers who collide with a cat to stop and report the collision. At the moment this only applies to dogs, which is grossly unfair to our beloved felines. A petition is underway to ask Parliament to debate this issue; the good news is that it already has over a hundred thousand signatures, which shows just how much we love and value our cats in this country. Every signature still helps, so please consider signing the following online petition before it closes on 2nd August: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/607317
Let’s do all we can to keep our cats safe on the roads, and to help and protect them if an accident happens.
