A pressure group is pushing for tougher legal safeguards for felines hurt or killed in traffic accidents.

CatsMatter, a British campaign organisation, is calling on ministers to amend the Road Traffic Act 1988 to make it mandatory for motorists to stop and report incidents involving cats.

At present, legislation only obliges drivers to report collisions with dogs, horses, and livestock.

The organisation contends that cats warrant the same protections as beloved family members.

Representatives Carlie, Tiya, and Mandy from CatsMatter expressed that it is unjust for people to spend weeks or months searching streets for their missing cat without success, and that it is wholly unreasonable for regulations to permit these animals to be left in pain at the roadside.

They stated that as treasured household members, cats should receive identical legal status and safeguards in road incidents as dogs, and they are calling on the government to examine potential legislation regarding feline protections.

Their petition has been accumulating approximately 400 signatures daily and has surpassed 20,000 names. CatsMatter hopes to secure 100,000 signatures by June to compel a parliamentary discussion.

Among the approximately 12.5 million pet cats nationwide, roughly 230,000 are struck by vehicles annually, with data from PetPlan indicating that a quarter of such incidents result in death.

Advocates maintain that three-quarters of cats could pull through if they received prompt assistance.

They also highlight that the majority of cat guardians simply desire confirmation that their animal received aid and had an opportunity to survive.

The organisation suggests that legislative reform would minimise preventable pain and give owners the opportunity to bid farewell.

They noted that Britain is a nation of animal enthusiasts and that cats must now be microchipped by law, and that extending this system would involve veterinarians scanning chips to assist cats involved in traffic collisions.