Animal welfare campaigners are calling for a change in the law so that drivers who hit and kill a cat are legally required to report the incident, in the same way motorists must already report collisions involving dogs. Unlike dogs, cats are not currently covered by the Road Traffic Act's reporting requirements, meaning drivers who run over a cat face no legal obligation to stop or notify anyone, leaving many owners never knowing what happened to a missing pet.

Campaigners argue this legal gap causes unnecessary distress for cat owners, who are often left searching for animals that have in fact died in road accidents, and say bringing cats into line with dogs and other listed animals would improve accountability and animal welfare. The article does not provide further detail on which organisations are leading the campaign or on any government response.