What to do when you find a dead kitty

[Greedyfly]

I found a dead kitty today on the way to work by the main road. Obviously been hit by a car. I checked if it were alive etc... sadly not. Just a few yards away from the cat is a missing sign for what looks just like the cat I have found. I took down the number to ring the owners but they must be at work. What should I do?

I had to leave the cat by the road this morning as I had nothing to pick him/her up with etc... What do I say to the owners when I finally get through?

It's horrible, really started my day badly =(

[Mamyalynne]

You can only be honest and say you saw their poster and sadly nearby a dead cat, they will have half prepared themselves and there is no other way to do it.

[B00]

Try ringing them again this evening?

If it is their cat, im sure they'd rather know ,than be worrying it's lost and frightened somewhere, I know I would anyway.

[squarebear]

I agree. At least they can put their minds to rest instead of worrying that it might be trapped somewhere.

[TheOtherHalf]

Oh greedfly. I would hate to be in your shoes finding a dead cat is bad enough but being brave enough to let the oweners know. Its very good of you. I am a cat lover and dont know how I would have felt if that happened to ours when it went missing twice.

[carmalee]

what else can you say G/fly except that you are sorry to have to tell them that found a cat answering the descrition of their lost one and have got in touch. They will be so grateful because although losing an animal is awful, not knowing what happened is much, much worse. Of course there is a chance it may not belong to them.

[Greedyfly]

I shall defo ring, I just don't know what to say to them. I would be heart broken if it were my cat. Also I didn't know what to do with regards to the body?

[B00]

Nothing greedyfly, leave it where it is.

[TheOtherHalf]

If you let them know where it is, surely they will come and pick it up themselves if they loved it enough

[LoftyLottie]

I must admit I would have knocked at another door of a neighbour and had a word with them about the kitty. They may have removed it from the road side. I can't bear the thought of the cat just lying there! That cat will probably have been removed by now though.

You will just have to phone them and tell them the truth and say how sorry you are to have to phone them with this news. It may not even be their cat.

Sad though.

[Barmaid]

Chances are the cat will be gone because the Council roads dept will pick it up. All you can do is phone them and say that you saw a cat matching that description at such and such a place. As someone has already said, I think they will be upset but grateful. When I lost one of mine, someone did phone and say a cat matching his description had been knocked down but was in a terrible state so I couldn't identify him. I was distraught but pleased that I knew what had happened to him and really grateful that someone cared enough to let me know.

Little sod rocked up right as ninepence 10 days later. :)

[boxtops]

GF I am so sorry. If it's still there when you go by after work, could you lift it and put it into a bin liner? That at least gives it a bit of dignity. I must admit that when my Hetty was run over and killed outright, a kind lady picked her body up and took her to the nearest vet - and they could identify her and contact me because she was microchipped. However they take the news, they will want to know - I know I would.

[Greedyfly]

Thanks for all your answers. I finally got through to the kitties owner and told her. She said he was a bit of a wanderer and often wandered off for a few days away from her house. So sad he was killed, but at least she knows now. I would want to be told if it were my kitty cat.

[Prudie]

Well done greedy for doing that, I had to ring a stranger with that news once and I was dreading it. Much better that they know the truth though.

[Greedyfly]

Thanks Prudie. I couldn't just leave him there and let them think he may come home. I would have been heartbroken if my kitty was missing and it turned out he was dead somewhere. I am glad I got through to the lady and that she knows. Just wish the kitty was still there when I went back, that way I could have buried him or the lady could have. Sad.

[237SJ]

Greedyfly - strange you should mention a dead cat and a missing cat notice in the same thread. I`m sure where I live cats are being `bumped off` maybe by sad people who dislike them because they catch birds or because they mess in peoples` gardens. I`m wondering if it`s just a matter of time before it happens to my mum`s cat. In answer to your question, I think you should tell the owners as gently and sensitively as you can. Better they hear it from you rather than they see their cat, dead, at the side of the road

[wolf63]

We lost a young cat when I was a kid - I remember wandering the streets looking for it and hated the feeling of not knowing what had happened to him. He probably found another home - but you never know.

You at least thought of the owner - and at least they know what happened to the poor wee thing. Friday the 13th !

[Prudie]

As a teenager I searched for our lost cat for nearly 2 weeks before my mother admitted she knew it had been run over right at the start. Would have been much better to have known all along.

[Greedyfly]

It really ruined my day seeing him there at the side of the road. I hate that drivers have no obligation to report them being hit. I cannot understand why someone wouldn't report hitting any animal, or at least bury said animals if they have died on impact. It makes me sad to think he may have been laying there in pain for hours.

Poor kitty. At least he isn't in pain now and hopefully died on impact rather than suffering.

[237SJ]

Prudie I agree. I had a tortoise when I was about 8 and it disappeard one day. Months later, it turned up in the field behind our house when my neighbour`s son found it. He found the shell in a hedge. I could never understand how the tortoise managed to get over our back wall. A straight answer would have been appreciated