I still feel bad

[Acappella]

I was driving home last night in a heavy fog, so I only had my low beams on. Just coming over a small hill an orange cat ran out in front of me. I swerved and tried to miss it but I couldn't. I pulled over and went back and picked the cat up from the middle of the road and it was still barely alive and bleeding from it's ears. I sat with it and pet it until it died and then went to the closest house to see if the cat was theirs (no collar or tag) but it wasn't. There was a feed supply store and another farm close by but no lights on. I phoned the feed supply today and they said they'd talk to the farm and see if the cat belonged to them. My dad's girlfriend's cat was hit by a car and killed and no one came to her home, and I didn't want to do that to someone.

 

I guess I just needed to vent to animal lovers who would understand because I still feel bad. I know we're in the country, and that barn cats roam, but I wish there was a way to contain them the way we do dogs. That awful thud keeps repeating in my mind. I just want to say an 'I'm sorry' to the universe for causing the death of an animal, ya'know?

Edited May 2, 2012 by Acappella

[TWIX]

Acappella, i know how you feel. The exact same thing happened to me. and i did what you did. I removed the cat off the road and sat with her until she died. I was heartbroken for a long time. I know i tried my best to avoid the cat, but it happened. It's not your fault or mine, cats are wonderful animals and we all love them, and i am so sorry that you have to face such an indecent.

[judygram]

Margurite I think we all have been thru a similar situation at least once in our lives and it does make you feel so bad but there was nothing you could have done to prevent it, that cat must have already used up 8 of its lives so it was his time but at least you were there with it when it died so it wasn't alone in its demise, you did more than a lot of people would have done.

[katana600]

Aww, I am so so sorry for this to be part of your day. It is a tough one to get past and being sorry is an indication of your capacity to love and have empathy. I had a similar thing happen in our neighborhood long ago and I was crying and trying to go door to door to find the owners. My husband came and helped me to bury the cat and keep the collar when we couldn't find the rightful owner. Then I posted a "found" ad in the newspaper and they didn't want to publish the details so they just put found and two poor ladies called and thought it was their cat and my husband answered the phone so we didn't get a phone number and it has been one of those things I never quite got over. I have always hoped one lady had a miracle when her cat came home. It has been more than twenty years now. I am sorry you had the experience but count my blessings to have you and the rest of our forum in my life to remind us of our human capacity to care so deeply.

[Acappella]

Thanks guys. I knew I was right to post here because I wouldn't hear 'it's just a cat'. I hold all life precious and I know the members of this forum do as well. Nice to know I'm among kindred spirits.

[vlmuke]

Acappella, I really admire the fact you did what you did, most people could have cared less, I am kinda callous to killing of animals as I work for the railroad and I hit wild animals daily at first it bothered me but there is nothing I can do, I on occasion hit a dog or a cat and that still bothers me, as that was someones pet and it will be missed, I can't stop the train just hafta keep on goin. Don't let it get you down you did more than most people would, and you did your best to do what's right, that's what counts.

[kittykittykitty]

Thank you for all the love you show the creatures that share this planet. I, too, have experienced the pain.

[Guest XxExoticPsychExX]

Same thing kind of happened to me last week. I was driving down the road late at night and a cat came running right out of nowhere and the last thing I saw was the cat looking right at the car suspended in mid air. I don't know if I hit it or not. The road was bumpy and when I finally realized what happened it was nowhere in sight. For all I know it could have still had strength or wasn't hit as bad to be able to leave the scene. But thinking about it being injured and dying somewhere really bothered me. I have 2 cats that always try to run out of the house every chance they get and to think that it could have been one of them with some other driver saddens me even more. Shoot, every time I drive home at night I'm afraid I might hit one of my own on accident.

 

Kudos to you for being so loving to an animal that wasn't even yours. Definitely more than what many others would do.

[JeffNOK]

God bless you for your compassion. It's good to be in this forum in the company of people with hearts that extend to all living things. I was teaching in Romania for a year, and I was in a car with some local teachers driving down the highway when a dog ran into the road. The teacher made no attempt to slow down or miss the dog and struck and killed it. The other teachers in the car just sort of chuckled and said "rest in peace" as the car continued to speed down the road without any attempt to stop. I sat there in shock fighting back tears of sadness and rage at the insensitivity. I'm still angry with myself for not saying or doing anything, but with the language and cultural barriers I took the cowards way out. That image is seared on my conscience forever.

[katana600]

Jeff, I am so sorry you have that memory seared into your brain. It had to have been traumatic. Considering the circumstances, you were not cowardly, you just were shocked and didn't know what to do after the fact. It isn't like you continued to go riding around looking for dogs with that group on subsequent rides. Other cultures do things differently and you were a guest in their country. I saw things when we were abroad that I didn't think was right, but you just can't change everyone and you didn't have foreknowlege to save the poor thing. I was with a friend once and she went out of her way trying to hit a squirrel. I told her it was awful and she said they are rats and vermin. I never rode with her again and she is no longer my friend. I have seen cars on the road swerve to hit a snake or a turtle and it is horrifying to know that some people are too shallow to have empathy for other creatures. I so agree that it is good to be on a forum where other people love all creatures, not just our exquisite African Grey companions. I appreciate knowing all of you have such deep feelings.