Aston Villa and England footballer Lucy Parker is campaigning to change UK law after her cat, Wilma, was tragically hit by a car and dumped in a bin without her being informed promptly. Currently, the Road Traffic Act requires drivers to stop and report accidents involving dogs, horses, and livestock, but not cats. Lucy only discovered Wilma’s fate days after the incident, highlighting a legal gap that leaves many cat owners without closure when their pets are involved in road accidents. She has partnered with the RSPCA to push for mandatory reporting of collisions involving cats and for injured cats to be scanned for microchips so owners can be notified.

The RSPCA supports this call, emphasizing that while there is no legal obligation to report hitting a cat, motorists should stop and seek veterinary help to potentially save the animal and inform owners. The current law excludes cats because they are allowed to roam freely, unlike dogs and livestock which must be controlled by their owners. Lucy Parker hopes her campaign will raise awareness and lead to legal reforms that better protect cats and provide peace of mind to their owners.