Worried About Cat Getting Runover

Jemima Mouse

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I've just been speaking to our neighbours who live opposite. They have noticed the same as me, that my little cat (he's just one) often will go out the front, and sit on the pavement. Now, the neighbour said he's worried he will dart into the road and get knocked over. I said to him that I have the same worry, but what can I do? Keep my fingers crossed?

I keep him in at night time. And we don't live on a busy road, however, the occasional car will drive down it at 30mph! It's a quiet road close to the school, so at 9am and 3pm during the week, it gets busy.

We have a large back garden surrounding many other gardens, so he doesn't need to go out the bloody front! Yet, of course he does!

He's such a little cat, too... But I don't believe in keeping cats inside. So I suppose this is a reality that I have to accept. :( MY other cat, who is eight years, is such a home girl. She sleeps the day away at home, and only pops out to. do her business. My younger boy cat is an adventurer, and if the weather is good - he goes out for the day!
 

lutece

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Any cat that goes outside is at risk of getting hit by a car, attacked by a predator, sickened by eating something it shouldn't eat, injured by an animal trap, etc. We had all of these things happen to our cats when I was a child and our cats used to go in and out freely.

No one here will judge you for letting your cats out (as long as they are spayed / neutered), it's your choice, and it's understandable to want your cats to be able to roam freely and enjoy the outdoors! But those are real risks that you do have to accept if you let the cats out.

If you want to lower the risk for your cats, you can construct a catio in your garden so that the cats are contained in a safe outdoor space. I've been thinking about doing that myself so that my indoor cats have safe access to the outdoors.
 
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Jemima Mouse

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Any cat that goes outside is at risk of getting hit by a car, attacked by a predator, sickened by eating something it shouldn't eat, injured by an animal trap, etc. We had all of these things happen to our cats when I was a child and our cats used to go in and out freely.

No one here will judge you for letting your cats out (as long as they are spayed / neutered), it's your choice, and it's understandable to want your cats to be able to roam freely and enjoy the outdoors! But those are real risks that you do have to accept if you let the cats out.

If you want to lower the risk for your cats, you can construct a catio in your garden so that the cats are contained in a safe outdoor space. I've been thinking about doing that myself so that my indoor cats have safe access to the outdoors.
It's a silly post by me, really. It was only my neighbour compounding my thoughts! Of course I cannot do anything! It's just a worry... but that's what you get to let your cats out. To his advantage, he is also scared by loud noises and strangers. So I hope he'll stick to the boundary mostly! I think he seems to be growing in confidence though. We rescued him at six months, so I don't know much about his history, apart from where he came from at his last home was by a very busy road.

Yes I have known people to build catios! It's a good idea, although I think I prefer the idea of them going in and out freely - apart from at night. Thanks for the reply to my daft post!
 

Mamanyt1953

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Not daft. No one concerned about their cats' safety is daft, not here. While we may or may not agree with cats roaming, we will wrack our brains to try to help you find solutions that suit your own lifestyle with your cats.

I will suggest micro chipping, though. Since they do go out at will, and could become frightened and run, that would give you a good method of recovery. It is relatively inexpensive, it only causes a momentary, small amount of pain when inserted (even my diva took it well), and increases your chance of finding a lost cat significantly!
 

Luc

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My cats have been going out for years. Yes it is dangerous and at times I stress and worry but it is a compromise. I do not believe in confining a cat within an apartment for the rest of his life. Not everyone has a garden but if outside access is available you are lucky and should take advantage of it. In the summer time one of the cats ( the male) started staying out nonstop for 24 hours! Then I realized that he is not really going anywhere he is actually sleeping outside because of the warm weather. They love to hunt, ambush each other, dig holes, hide, climb trees, eat grass and sunbath.

Often I let them out at night because there are less noises, people and animals ( at least where I live ) and their vision is better so in my case it is safer to let them out at night and they come back in the morning.

Just tell your neighbor to drive slowly so that your cat has more time to get out of the way.
 
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Caspers Human

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Just last week, on the way home from work, there was brown tabby sitting in the middle of my street, just hanging out.

I slowed down and honked my horn at it in an effort to teach it to be wary of cars and stay off the road. It just sat there and started grooming itself!

I drove up, next to it, and stopped. I opened my car door and hollered at it. Nope! No dice! It just sat there.

I drove around the cat and parked my car in my driveway. I looked down the block and the cat was STILL there!

That cat stayed there for a good five minutes before it decided to move out of the road!

I just hope I don't come home, one day, to find a cat pancake in the middle of the road!
 

Maria Bayote

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I just hope I don't come home, one day, to find a cat pancake in the middle of the road!
It is always a risk for cats that are allowed to come out on their free will. While we all have our own decisions to make for our pets, it really is not worth the risk. When I was a small kid we had a cat that was allowed to come and go as she pleased. One day I watched in horror when a car drove by and hit our cat. I saw her struggling to breath on that pavement, and died. Maybe it was that vision that stopped me from owning cats for such a long time, until I came here to this country. But I am now over-protective of my cats. Not one goes out without a leash.
 
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Jemima Mouse

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Not daft. No one concerned about their cats' safety is daft, not here. While we may or may not agree with cats roaming, we will wrack our brains to try to help you find solutions that suit your own lifestyle with your cats.

I will suggest micro chipping, though. Since they do go out at will, and could become frightened and run, that would give you a good method of recovery. It is relatively inexpensive, it only causes a momentary, small amount of pain when inserted (even my diva took it well), and increases your chance of finding a lost cat significantly!
Thank you, you made me feel better about posting this! I came here (rather than talking to my husband), because I knew that you would all understand, being fellow cat lovers! :)
 
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Jemima Mouse

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Just last week, on the way home from work, there was brown tabby sitting in the middle of my street, just hanging out.

I slowed down and honked my horn at it in an effort to teach it to be wary of cars and stay off the road. It just sat there and started grooming itself!

I drove up, next to it, and stopped. I opened my car door and hollered at it. Nope! No dice! It just sat there.

I drove around the cat and parked my car in my driveway. I looked down the block and the cat was STILL there!

That cat stayed there for a good five minutes before it decided to move out of the road!

I just hope I don't come home, one day, to find a cat pancake in the middle of the road!
That is mad! I have seen cats like that before... My cat - I hope - will not turn into that cat!
 
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Jemima Mouse

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Just out of curiosity, is your cat neutered? If you wish to give him outdoor access it would be in his best interest to be fixed.
You may be interested in reading this Article which discusses cat safety:
How To Keep Your Cat Safe Outdoors
Yes! He is neutered, vaccinated and chipped. :) As is my female.
 
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Jemima Mouse

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My cats have been going out for years. Yes it is dangerous and at times I stress and worry but it is a compromise. I do not believe in confining a cat within an apartment for the rest of his life. Not everyone has a garden but if outside access is available you are lucky and should take advantage of it. In the summer time one of the cats ( the male) started staying out nonstop for 24 hours! Then I realized that he is not really going anywhere he is actually sleeping outside because of the warm weather. They love to hunt, ambush each other, dig holes, hide, climb trees, eat grass and sunbath.

Often I let them out at night because there are less noises, people and animals ( at least where I live ) and their vision is better so in my case it is safer to let them out at night and they come back in the morning.

Just tell your neighbor to drive slowly so that your cat has more time to get out of the way.
I think you're right about this. That they are actually really close by asleep in a bush or something. I know he goes into my neighbours garden (her's is huge!), and climbs her apple trees - as well as sleeps in her hedges. She likes him - she feeds my cats when we go away, so it's good she's a fan. I don't think he strays much further than a few gardens away.
 
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Jemima Mouse

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Not daft. No one concerned about their cats' safety is daft, not here. While we may or may not agree with cats roaming, we will wrack our brains to try to help you find solutions that suit your own lifestyle with your cats.

I will suggest micro chipping, though. Since they do go out at will, and could become frightened and run, that would give you a good method of recovery. It is relatively inexpensive, it only causes a momentary, small amount of pain when inserted (even my diva took it well), and increases your chance of finding a lost cat significantly!
Oh and yes - he is neutered, vaccinated and chipped. :) As is my female.
 

5starcathotel

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One of my older neighbors has a small white dog. That stupid dog is *always* in the middle of the street during rush hours (4pm - 7pm), when the neighbor is just sitting out in front of his house (worth noting, it's Phoenix - 105F+, even at 6pm....wtf are they doing???)

Also, I honestly drive very, very fast 99% of the time. Still, I know to watch out for his stupid dog!!

My point? It is a bit of risk, but if kitty is sitting on the pavement, and becomes startled, does she run home, or across the street? (I've never seen any of the cats in my neighborhood dart randomly across the street). Also, cats tend to be very, very smart, and not hang out in the middle of the street during the day. Unlike my neighbor's very, VERY stupid dog.
 

PushPurrCatPaws

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If you don't want your kitty hit, please keep him inside. If he needs to go out, then purchase a harness and long lead and let him explore safely. Your heart will be broken if he gets hit.
I agree but even a harness and leash doesn't guarantee safety. Unfortunately, lots of cats can abruptly wiggle out of harnesses and dash away if they get excited or spooked.:(
 

neely

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That stupid dog is *always* in the middle of the street during rush hours (4pm - 7pm), when the neighbor is just sitting out in front of his house
Also, I honestly drive very, very fast 99% of the time. Still, I know to watch out for his stupid dog!!
Unlike my neighbor's very, VERY stupid dog.
The dog is NOT stupid but rather the owner is responsible for his pet's unsafe behavior and lack of training. Most towns have a leash law so this could safely be resolved if you or someone else contacted the appropriate authorities.
 

crispylettuce

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I agree but even a harness and leash doesn't guarantee safety. Unfortunately, lots of cats can abruptly wiggle out of harnesses and dash away if they get excited or spooked.:(
lol, Mine did that! We weren't outside, luckily. We were at the airport in a backroom waiting for the security people to run the carrier through the scanners, so we were all right. But now I know, I can NEVER trust my boy on a leash; he is far too high strung and skittish. Some cats do very well on a harness, but it soooo depends on their personality.
 
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