52,000 people back petition to force drivers to report running over cats on UK roads

More than 52,000 people have backed a petition to force drivers to report when they have run down a cat on UK roads.

It is currently legal in the UK to not stop and report when a cat has been hit - with some drivers leaving injured pets scared, alone, and in pain. But Cats Matter hope to change that by urging the Government to make it mandatory to report.

The petition, which was launched on December 17, 2025, was inspired by a cat named Henry, who was struck by a car and left to die alone in the early hours of April 29, 2017.

As of May 25, it has gained 52,040 signatures from supporters - making it more than half way towards the 100,000 requirement for getting brought before Parliament.

It is the fourth highest trending petition in the country at the moment, according to UK Petition Tracker. However, their is only a month left to reach the goal as it closes June 17, 2026.

Now, Cats Matter are urging more people to support the petition to have drivers held accountable if they don’t report these incidents.

A spokesperson for Cats Matter said: “We began the petition as a result of our campaign which started because our cats were hit by cars and left on the road for dead. We, as I'm sure all cat owners will agree, can appreciate some level of danger having free roaming animals, as we can all reasonably expect some level of danger every time we leave the house and cross roads.

“Accidents will sadly always happen and what we don't want to do is penalise good drivers and decent people who, through no fault of their own, find themselves in the unfortunate position of having hit a cat when driving.

“What we can not accept and do not understand is the drivers that drive off and leave the cats scared, alone, in pain, or worse, roadside. Not stopping to help a cat, or any animal, is unforgivable in our view and we want the law to stand with us on that.

“We do not want drivers to have criminal records or pay our vet bills, we simply want drivers to help our cats should the worst happen. If they fail to do so, we want them to, by law, be accountable and face justice.

“We've been here a long time, and we refuse to go away until the Government acknowledge cats matter just as much as dogs do, and they deserve the law to reflect this. We're aiming to reach 100k and get this petition to go to debate in Parliament.

“There we will challenge the Governments outdated view that cats are not working animals, or are too small for drivers to realise they have hit them - even though the current law requires drivers to stop, help and report it if you hit 23 dog breeds that are smaller than a cat.”

To sign the petition, visit the Government Petitions website.