Cat owners across the UK are being urged to buy a reflective collar for their pet before October 1, when the sun will begin setting by 7pm across the vast majority of the country, making nights darker earlier.
With darkness falling sooner during autumn and the clocks set to go back an hour in a few weeks, animal welfare experts are advising cat owners to take extra precautions to protect their pets from roadside hazards.
Expert advice on keeping cats safe
Dr Sarah Jones (BVSc MBA CertSAS PhD MRCVS), head veterinary surgeon at Pet Drugs Online, is urging pet owners to take extra safety measures for both cats and dogs. She said: "Every pet owner wants to provide the very best care for their furry friends, but owning an animal means being responsible for their safety and protecting them from threats, with roadside dangers among the most serious. No matter how well-behaved your pet is, drivers can be unpredictable, so it’s crucial to pay attention and stay alert."
To keep outdoor cats safe as nights grow darker, owners are advised to keep them indoors during the evening when visibility is low and traffic is heavy. Ensuring cats are legally microchipped also makes it easier to locate them in the event of an accident.
Road accident statistics and prevention
According to Blue Cross, roads can be dangerous for pets, with approximately 80,000 dogs and 200,000 cats killed by vehicles each year. If a cat does go outside at night, fitting it with a reflective collar improves its visibility to drivers. Cats with dark or patterned coats blend easily into pavement and shadows; a reflective strip helps break up that camouflage.
Dr Jones said: "As the days grow darker in the winter months, outdoor cats can be a particular concern for owners, especially those who may roam near busy roads. Ideally, avoid letting your cat out in the evening and instead allow them to roam outside during daylight hours when visibility is better, and traffic is lighter. If your cat does go out at night, a reflective collar can help make them more visible to drivers."
She added: "While you can’t control their movements once they’re outside, microchipping your cat ensures you can locate them more easily if they go missing or are involved in an accident. In the UK, it’s a legal requirement to microchip your cat once they are over 20 weeks old, so owners should ensure they are correctly following these guidelines."
Petition on cat collision reporting
The advice comes as a petition calling for legislation to require drivers to report collisions with cats has closed after gaining nearly 190,000 signatures. The petition calls for an amendment to Section 170 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 so that drivers are legally forced to stop and report running over a cat, giving them the same legal protections as dogs.
Because it passed the 100,000-signature threshold, Parliament has scheduled a debate on the petition for Monday, October 26, 2026, at 6pm.
