Thanks to the asshole who hit my cat on Windmill Road yesterday. You ALMOST managed to kill him. We had to take him to the vet to put the poor guy out of his obvious suffering. At least many other fine folks were nice enough to stop and try to help my poor Rocky when he was injured, you were the only one who sped on through. My wife and kids were pretty upset. Thanks a lot, dickhead. —Cat Lover
This article appears in Jun 2-8, 2011.
I hate people! So so sorry!
I’m sure that they didn’t intentionally kill your cat. Maybe you should re-consider whether or not you let Rocky 2 be an outdoor cat on a busy street such as Windmill Road.
Oh, and sorry for your loss.
So sorry for your loss OP. I’ve had outdoor and indoor cats and for me, at least, indoor is the way to go. It brings it’s own unique set of headaches but it removes a lot of safety concerns.
Assuming the driver was either deliberate or indifferent, I’m glad there were people there to help. It sort of balances things a little.
If a cat or dog or adult human runs out onto the street, I will apply the brakes ASAP…I will not swerve, or try any other way to avoid them.
I only swerve for children…because they are still learning & the younger ones don’t realise what danger they’ve put themselves into. So OB, unless the driver was driving in your yard, through your living room etc. I have no sympathy for you & there’s no sense feeling sorry for the dead cat. You let it run the roads, what happened is to be expected.
seriously people – be a little kind here. it was a family pet that died through no fault of it’s own other than a jerk couldn’t be bothered to even brake to avoid
Who said he couldn’t be bothered to brake the avoid the cat? I’ve had cats jump out in front of me and there is no time to stop, and thankfully the cats always have passed me before I cross their path.
The driver probably would have caused an accident if he had just slammed on the brakes… or maybe he didn’t see the cat. They do move fast, you know.
The only person to blame is the stupid and careless owner for letting allowing the cat to be an outdoor cat on such a busy street. These things are bound to happen.
I witnessed the accident actually from the other side of the street – with unfortunately a perfect view. The cat did run into the street but there were no cars behind or in front of him but yes, one parked on the side of the road so swerving was out of the question. Braking was the only chance…or at least stopping afterwards would have been nice. Cause trust me, we were the first on scene – the driver of the car did not stop.
OP – I am sorry for the loss of Rocky. He’s in our thoughts today. I wish we could have done more for him but I am grateful someone knew who you were so you could say goodbye and take him to the vet and might not ever known what happened if Animal Services had gotten there first and taken him.
Again – thanks to all the kind people who stopped to help.
the girl with the phone
I’m sorry for your loss.
BUT you brought it on yourself. Anyone who allow their cat to be an outdoor cat clearly does not love their animal. Would you let your child run outside wild all day (and night for some) and expect them to never get hurt.
PLEASE people… keep your animals inside or outside in a way that they cannot wander into streets.
Poor kitty 🙁
Sorry to hear about your poor kitty – consider the idea of an indoor cat next time – there are some seriously fucked up drivers out there who won’t stop for anything, included cops.
This is exactly why my little guy is an indoor kitty! I know he would love to go outside but it’s too dangerous. Not to mention all those whore strays with the FIV. One of his favourite pass times is to sit in the window and watch the birdies :). He recently just started to make this very quiet squeak when staring at the birds. He wants one sooo bad but I could never let him outside. I see so many cats around here on Windsor street that have owners and are just allowed to roam outside. I don’t understand how anyone could do that!
sorry o.p., but someone beat you to the bitch earlier today. although it sucks, it could have been a child, maybe even yours. yeah, there are shitty people in this world, and you have just had the mispleasure, of seeing one in action.
If you love your pets, then either keep them indoors or on a leash. I am not going to cause an accident because of a furball. Be a RESPONSIBLE owner. As for the driver not stopping, he or she may not have realized they hit it, depending on size of animal/vehicle, or what part of the vehicle hit it.
…and one ❤ sukulous. my see key is broken
it’s you that hates your own cat by letting it roam on a busy street…blaming others for your lack of humanity is nasty and very shollow in deed…
Highfield Park pussy. I wonder if the OP cares enough to watch their kids as well as they watch their cat.
i hope u and family will grieve ok mate, some people just are not worth your energy for haterered or they win, put your energy into something productive and well it will really surprise u.
So what exactly would you have said to the driver had he stopped anyway? Would you have gone off like a raging lunatic? Maybe? That’s why I wouldn’t have stopped either, what am I gonna say to you besides sorry. Your cat, your fault it was running around loose. Sucks, but that’s the reality.
personally, i have had outdoor cats my whole life, they should be that way, it’s more natural for them, and overall, they’re a lot healthier and happier that way. i’ve had one cat run away, and one was sadly, hit by a car, one of mine lived to be sixteen years old, and later died of leukemia. which was no fault of ours, or the outdoors (we got him long before there were blood tests for it for our kittes) and the kitten at my parents’ home hasnt gone out yet, but likely will.
OP i feel for your loss, i know what it’s like to find out your kitty has been injured, or lost to a machine. but it is so not your fault.
You’re and idiot, shesawfullysweet, if you think a cat is “healthier and happier” being outdoors.
You realize your cat probably got feline leukemia because it was let outside, right? The cat got it from another cat, plain and simple. Who knows what type of cats they were exposed to outside? Cats can’t live 16 years with FeLV (so it’s unlikely the cat got it from its mother or siblings), they have to acquire it (it’s transmitted from cat-to-cat through saliva and nasal secretions) and it’ll usually kill them far sooner than 16 years. If you had’ve kept your cat inside, there’s a good chance he/she wouldn’t’ve gotten it (I’d probably go as far as to say that there’s a 99.9% change they wouldn’t’ve).
You are a wholly irresponsible pet owner if you think letting your cat outside is a grand idea. Cats are healthier when they stay indoors. As long as you feed them a good diet (I’m talking decent food such as food you get at the vet) they’re fine. And if they start to gain a bit of weight, play with them, get them some toys and put them on weight control food.
I’d NEVER EVER let my cats outside. Ever. Even one cat hit by a car is one cat too many. Only way they’re going to get mowed down from being inside is if a car drives through your house/apt and how often does THAT happen?
Do the feline world a favour and stop getting cats if you can’t take care of them any better than that.
UGHHH exactly PK! Ask any vet Shesawtoolongofaname and they will tell you that letting a cat outside insanely increases their risk for horrible diseases and infection. Cats who are indoor cats live longer because they’re HEALTHIER and protected. You need to get more frequent shots and tests if they are allowed outdoors, but I’m sure you do that right? If they were sooo unhappy and unhealthy indoors they wouldn’t live longer but they do, simple as that! All of your cats died because of preventable things, good job! It may have been more natural for cats to be outside back in the day, like before cars and all the disgusting things/poisons that can be found in outside garbage cans but that’s not how it is anymore. My friend used to let her cats outside but one of them got hit by a car so she stopped. That’s what you should have done.
There is a difference between urban and rural situations with respect to indoor vs outdoor cat. In the city, it is basic safety, just keep the cat safe. (lots of nice backyard or balcony kitty run options)
In the country, it is almost cruel to keep a cat indoors. A cat needs to be a cat. It is kind of selfish to keep them confined in urban situations.
I love cats and dogs and animals of all kinds, but I would never keep one in the city. I just could not bring myself to do it. It isn’t fair to the animal.
Declawing? Here let me chop all your fingers off at the first knuckle behind the fingernail, then tell me how you feel about it.
All the cats I’ve had have been outdoor cats but my parents live out in the country so it’s a bit different.
Well, I just get the feeling that shesawtoolongofaname thinks feline leukemia is the same as human leukemia and just something the cat spontaneously acquired. And from the sounds of it, if the cat acquired the virus, then it’s likely OP doesn’t get the cat other
FeLV is the feline version of HIV/AIDS. Fyi.
I wonder if she gives her outdoor cats flea treatment too. Fleas are a bugger for poor kittehs!
I live on Windmill and on May 31st a guy hit a cat and didn’t even slow down, the poor little fella was staggering around on the street so I ran out and scooped him up. I could tell he was pretty broken up inside so I just held him until he stopped breathing. Broke my heart. This little guy was a stray so that was probably the first time that he was ever held by a human. Windmill Rd is horrible for people speeding, and seems to be the main thoroughfare for assholes.