Drivers in the United Kingdom whose cars collide with a dog are required to file a report with the police. If they hit a cat, no one seems to care. The law does not require any notification of a cat/car calamity.

Lest you think that those in the UK do not value feline life, the rationale behind the law reveals a different mindset. Since the law requires dogs to be kept on a leash near a highway, police need to be notified of a car/dog accident so they can investigate to see if the owner has broken the law. Cats, on the other hand, are permitted to roam freely. If a cat meets its demise on the road, it is unlikely the owner broke the law.

Other animal accidents on the roadway also require a report to law enforcement. Collisions with horses, cattle, pigs, goats, sheep, donkeys, and mules must be brought to an officer’s attention.