I could just cry....I hit and killed a cat...

**suebeehoney** · 08-01-2008, 06:53 AM

OMGosh.....I'm SO upset. Everyone has hit a small animal, and on occasion, a large one. (I've hit a deer myself in the past.) Recently, my van seems to be a magnet for small animals. I've taken out two birds in the space of two days (last week) one of which got lodged deep in my grill and I didn't find it until a few days later. (That was NOT pleasant.)

Every morning, on my way to take DS16 to his job, we either see deer standing right at the edge of the road, or we have them cross in front of us. We've come very close to hitting a couple of them. This morning was no exception - there was one standing on the side of the road, and later, one crossed in front of me.

This morning, on my way back from taking DS16 to his job at 6:00 a.m., I hit a cat. A beautiful calico & white cat. From the looks of it, she may have been pregnant as well. (She had a BIG tummy.) I couldn't avoid it - she ran out under my van just as I was passing her - she ran right under it. All I saw was a blur as she ran out, and had time to say "OH NO!" before I heard and felt the van hit her. I circled back to check and see if she was still alive....but she wasn't. I can only hope it was quick, and that I didn't cause her much pain. I took her body off the road and laid it on the grass, but didn't stop at any area houses to see if she belonged to anyone due to the early morning hour - there were no lights on at any of the houses. To be realistic, she is probably a barn cat, as we live out in the country. I still feel bad, though. The thought that I may have killed someone's pet is really bothering me.

I'm just sick to my stomach - I just fed my breakfast to my dog, because I just can't eat right now. My stomach is in a knot.

I'm so sorry kitty!

**Michelle** · 08-01-2008, 06:59 AM

Awww, I'm sorry suebee. I know you feel awful, and that's understandable, but it truly was unavoidable.

**cmdarlin** · 08-01-2008, 07:07 AM

Sometimes these things just can't be avoided.

I hope you feel better.

Debbie

**Momto2Boyz** · 08-01-2008, 07:14 AM

I know exactly how you feel. I hit a cat when I was 17 (that was a "few" years ago...we won't specify how many), and I have never forgotten about it. It was someone's big orange fluffy cat. But he came out of the brush on the side of the road (in the country) and I never even had a chance to hit the brakes.

You just have to remind yourself that these things happen and sometimes you just can't avoid them.

I hit a squirrel a few weeks ago (somehow, I don't feel quite so bad about that), but I swear I had bad karma after that. For three days, I had nothing but accidents with anything & everything I touched. I don't know what was going on, but I think I had upset the universe a bit!

Keep your chin up!

**prftstrngr** · 08-01-2008, 07:27 AM

My DH had a deer come up out of a ditch and run into the side of him a year ago. $7000 worth of repairs to the car!! Now....I felt so bad about the deer....but I have to admit I was pretty upset about my car too! I hate when I even see a kitty on the road someone else has hit....so I feel your pain. Sorry that had to happen to you.

**YankeeMom** · 08-01-2008, 07:42 AM

It's not your fault. Don't beat yourself up. The kitty is in a better place now.

I am of the mindset that cats (like dogs) should not be allowed to run loose for just this reason.

Btw, my van is a bird magnet too. I don't know what it is!

**COUNTRYBUMPKIN** · 08-01-2008, 07:48 AM

I have done this too and I felt terrible too. it could not have been avoided though. Time will help you heal. HUGS.

**FrugalMomof3** · 08-01-2008, 07:52 AM

It isn't your fault, BIG HUGS to you, there was nothing you could do to avoid this

**Holly** · 08-01-2008, 08:07 AM

I am sorry you feel bad about hitting the cat. I'm sure it was unavoidable.
I have a lot of barn cats and they take their chances at our four lane highway. Some make it some don't ( those I bury behind the barn )
You can't always dodge them so please don't beat yourself up over it.

**yankeegal** · 08-01-2008, 08:13 AM

This wasn't your fault...try not to feel so bad.

**annymoll** · 08-01-2008, 08:26 AM

I have felt the same way. I once hit a cat in a blinding rainstorm on the way to work at night. I stopped, got out, wrapped it in my jacket and took it to the closest house. It belonged to them, and I was given the royal treatment... kids wailing and screaming and crying over the death of their pet. Never again.I will move it off the road if it is expired and call the animal control to come pick it up. But I will not notify the family myself. I get angry at irresponsible pet owners who cause this kind of pain, to the animals, and to people involved. I am sorry.

**Ceashels** · 08-01-2008, 08:46 AM

Hugs to you. Lots of hugs.

**IntlMom** · 08-01-2008, 08:47 AM

BTDT (been there, done that)

About 15 years ago we had a cat that had kittens in our garage. One day I came home from work for lunch. When I left to go back to work, I went into the garage like always, and pet all of the kitties (about 2 weeks old at this point) and got in my car. As I am backing out of my garage.......yup, you guessed it, I squashed one of the tiny kitties (makes me sick sitting here thinking about it again). JUST A WARNING....YOU MAY NOT WANT TO READ THIS NEXT PART, BUT HERE GOES..... Of course I start screaming and crying, but I am totally freaked out as to what to do (I don't deal well with this kind of thing).....all I can do is look to see which kitty I have hit and is it dead....well..........(my heart is pounding even before I type the words).....it is not dead (yet), but it is flopping around VERY squashed. I SCREAMED and took off as fast as I could (I do NOT handle this kind of stuff well!!). When I got back to work I called dh (before cell phones!), I told him what happened and told him that he needed to go home and take care of it before I got home from work.
He went right home and said that the poor kitty was dead and that the mamma kitty was cleaning it.

(I think I'm gonna be sick)

**IamBlessed** · 08-01-2008, 09:25 AM

I'm sorry that you had such a unpleasant start to your morning. It upsets me every time I run over something while I'm driving. (I live in the country, too.) Intellectually, you know that you cannot avoid some critters; emotionally???? Whoaa...

Hugs and hope your day looks up.

**Sundae** · 08-01-2008, 09:53 AM

It is a bad feeling when you know you just caused an accident relating to an animal. Like IntlMom I too had a miss hap in the garage, have you ever heard the saying "killed 3 flys with one swat" picture kittens, not a pretty site, ya I know I am a little morbid, but when you live on a farm you almost see it all relating to death and animals.