An Ipswich mum whose two cats died on the A14 has said that the distress her family feels is no different to the upset a dog owner would feel, had their pet been killed.

Kayleigh Garwood and her family were devastated to learn that their cats, Bella and her kitten, Trixie-Bell, had been hit on the main road on Tuesday last week.

The family home in Whitehouse is a short distance from the A14, and Mrs Garwood said they had always worried about their cats’ safety. Being unable to keep the cats permanently shut inside, they mitigated the risk as best they could with collars inlaid with tracking devices.

After letting the cats out at around 5am last Tuesday, they were concerned when Trixie’s tracker lost GPS signal, showing that she had last been seen on the carriageway.

Kayleigh Garwood and her husband, Russell Garwood.Kayleigh Garwood and her husband, Russell Garwood. (Image: Kayleigh Garwood) Kayleigh's daughter, Emilie, holding Bella. Kayleigh's daughter, Emilie, holding Bella. (Image: Kayleigh Garwood) Trixie-Bell sitting with pug Pablo, who was her best friend, said owner Kayleigh.Trixie-Bell sitting with pug Pablo, who was her best friend, said owner Kayleigh. (Image: Kayleigh Garwood) Bella was three years old, while her kitten Trixie-Bell was one.Bella was three years old, while her kitten Trixie-Bell was one. (Image: Kayleigh Garwood)

Later in the day, Mrs Garwood was contacted by a woman on Facebook, who said she believed she had seen the cats on the central reservation. She learned that Suffolk Highways had passed the case to the police and was advised to call 111.

However, she said she found the tone of the handler to be flippant and did not feel that they showed compassion to her distress.

After visiting Landmark House, she was advised that officers had moved the cats’ bodies to the side of the road.

But when she went to retrieve them, she said they appeared to have been “thrown”, with one cat hanging from a tree branch.

Bella, wearing a pink collar with her tracking device installed, which is how the family tried to keep their pets safe. Bella, wearing a pink collar with her tracking device installed, which is how the family tried to keep their pets safe. (Image: Kayleigh Garwood) Trixie-Bell, cuddled up with Pablo.Trixie-Bell, cuddled up with Pablo. (Image: Kayleigh Garwood)

Mrs Garwood said she understands that the police have other responsibilities and could not prioritise the case.

However, she is upset at how little compassion she said her family has been shown, and feels that the loss of their cats has not been respected – particularly since, had a motorist hit two dogs, they would have been legally obliged to stop and report the incident to police.

“We’ve got dogs and cats and they’re the same to us,” said Mrs Garwood. “If it was the dog that was hit, or the cat that was hit, we’d feel the same. It’s not the case that they’re cats so it doesn’t matter.”

A spokesperson for Suffolk police said: “Drivers are legally under no obligation to notify police should they hit a cat, and police wouldn't be obligated to respond.

“If a driver is involved with a collision with a cow, horse, ass, mule, pig, sheep, dog or goat then you are legally obliged to report to police.”

A spokesperson for the RSPCA said: “We are deeply sorry to hear about the loss of these two cats and our thoughts go out to their owner.

“We would always encourage people to stop, if it is safe to do, to see if they can help the cat by taking them to a vet for treatment and so they can check for a microchip.

“In 2016, the Highways Agency agreed to scan dogs found dead on roads for microchips so their owner could be traced, and we would like to see the same for cats to help give worried owners the closure they deserve.”