Advice from vet experts on how to reduce your cat’s risk of being involved in a road traffic accident
Cats love to explore outdoors. Sometimes that means they can encounter dangerous situations, like crossing busy roads.
According to a University of Bristol study, the risk of cats being involved in road traffic accidents is actually quite low. This is especially the case in urban and suburban areas. In the Cats Protection CATS Report 2021, road traffic accidents were stated as a cause of injury for just 4% of cats.
But for those cats that are involved in road traffic accidents, it’s common for them to sustain life-changing or fatal injuries. Many owners are concerned about their cat’s safety around roads.
To help you keep your cat safe, here’s our vet-approved advice for reducing your cat’s risk of being injured on the road.
1. Neuter your cat
Getting your cat neutered will mean they’re less likely to stray far from home in search of a mate. With less desire to roam, they should hopefully stay nearby and avoid crossing busy roads. Find out more about neutering.
2. Keep your cat indoors at night
There is an increased risk of your cat being involved in road traffic accidents at night. This is because it is more difficult for motorists to see them on the roads. Keeping them indoors when it gets dark will help to keep them safe. It will also reduce the chance of them crossing roads in search of wildlife to hunt. They are more likely to do this at dawn and dusk. Find out more about keeping your cat safe at night.
3. Put a reflective collar on your cat
To help drivers see your cat better on the roads at night, you could fit your cat with a reflective collar. This will shine in the beam of headlights. Make sure the collar is a ‘quick release’ or snap opening collar. This means your cat won’t get hurt if their collar becomes caught on something. Find out more about choosing a cat collar.
4. Create the perfect home for your cat
Your cat may be less likely to stray onto busy roads if they have everything they need close to home. Make sure they have:
- food and fresh water
- a private litter tray
- a scratching post
- plenty of comfy beds and hiding places
If you have more than one cat, they’ll need at least one of each, plus one extra. Find out more about creating the perfect home for your cat.
5. Get pet insurance
If your cat is involved in a road traffic accident, they could be injured and need urgent veterinary treatment. Taking out pet insurance will help you cover the cost of the treatment they need to recover. It will give you peace of mind that you won’t need to worry about expensive vet bills. Find out more about pet insurance.
6. Get your cat microchipped
If your cat is injured on the road, having them microchipped will mean you can be contacted quickly when they are found and scanned. Remember to keep your contact details on the microchip up to date. If your cat is killed on the road, then microchipping increases your chances of being informed of their death. This will help you get some closure. Find out more about microchipping.
Should I keep my cat indoors?
If you live near a busy road, you might be wondering if it’s safer to keep your cat indoors all the time. Some cats will be happy to stay inside, providing they have everything they need at home. But others may get frustrated and stressed by not being able to go out exploring. This can lead to other health issues and problem behaviours. You’ll need to assess your own cat’s needs. Weigh up the welfare risks of keeping them indoors vs the risk of them getting injured on the road.
If you do decide to keep your cat indoors, make sure they have lots to keep them entertained. Puzzle feeders and regular interactive play sessions using fishing rod toys are ideal.
You could also consider providing them with an enclosed garden, or ‘catio’. This will allow them to get some fresh air outdoors while staying safe. Fill the garden with lots of interesting cat-safe plants. These will provide great places to hide and watch the world go by. You could even put up a cat-proof bird feeder to create some interest for your cat.
Find out more about caring for indoor cats.
What to do if you find a cat on the road
If you accidently hit a cat with your car, or if you find a cat on the road, then stop if it safe to do so.
Whether the cat is injured or dead, take them to the nearest veterinary surgery if you can. Or report it to the local council. If the cat needs treatment, you will not be asked to pay. Vets are able to provide free emergency care to stray cats in need. They will also be able to scan the cat for a microchip. The owner can then hopefully be contacted to let them know where their cat is.
Cats Protection also encourages all local authorities to scan cats they find on the road for a microchip and inform the owner. We have provided some local councils with microchip scanners to help them do this.
