# Saw a kitten get run over **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 1, 2008, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saw-a-kitten-get-run-over/458543 "2008-08-01T21:32:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2008, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saw-a-kitten-get-run-over/458543/1 "2008-08-01T21:32:14Z")
I was waiting in a line of cars at a long signal, and what looked like a black squirrel came bounding out of a parking lot to my right. It ran through the stopped traffic and into an open lane, where it was promptly run over by a car. I then realized it wasn’t a squirrel, but a black kitten. I and several other horrified drivers got to witness the poor thing’s death throes, as the light was still red. It kicked and thrashed for a good thirty seconds before it died. Terrible thing to see on your homeward commute. This is the second time I’ve seen a cat crushed by a car and it’s going to haunt me for a long time. If I ever own a kitty, you had better believe it’s going to be an indoor cat. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2008, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saw-a-kitten-get-run-over/458543/2 "2008-08-01T21:38:50Z")
Poor cat. I’m sorry, **teela** - that’s a hell of a thing to have to see. Sounds like there was nothing anyone could have done, though. ---
**Author:** ![phall0106](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phall0106/32/5934_2.png) [@phall0106](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phall0106)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2008, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saw-a-kitten-get-run-over/458543/3 "2008-08-01T21:52:13Z")
We had lived in the city for several years and had indoor/outdoor kitties. One morning, Hallboy and I went out to get into the car to go to work/daycare and my most favorite kitty, Katie, was laying on the side of the road, having been struck by a car. That was about six years ago and I still feel guilty as hell for letting her out. You can bet that from that second on, all the remaining kitties were indoor only. I never, ever want to go through that again. And the guilt…the guilt just about kills me, even today. ---
**Author:** ![Ruffian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71e660/32.png) [@Ruffian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruffian)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2008, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/saw-a-kitten-get-run-over/458543/4 "2008-08-01T22:03:56Z")
☹ Poor little thing. I’m so, so sorry you had to witness that. Years ago, I saw a badly injured, but not dead, kitten as I was exiting a parking lot. Poor thing was right in the center of where traffic comes and goes and had obviously been struck. It wasn’t moving, but was mewing. I saw a young woman at the nearest sidewalk looking and smiling at him, and as I drove away I saw her go to him. I hoped she would do something about it, but I fear it seemed more like, “Aw, look how cute! Oh, it’s almost dead. Gross!” :::flee::: Our kitties are both strictly indoor, though they bolt for an open door given a chance.