AT approximately 3pm on Friday,  January 17, our eight-month old ginger kitten was hit and killed outside our home in the Oakdean/Hollydean area in Cinderford.

A witness to the incident believes the vehicle involved was a Landrover and was white/silver with a middle aged male driver and a teenage male passenger.

We believe the driver was aware that he had hit our cat as he slowed down but after the witness tried to speak to them about what had happened, the car sped off.

We believe our kitten was killed instantly as the impact had broken his neck. Thankfully the witness very kindly picked him up and put him on the grass to save him from further trauma.

Returning from the school run, we were distraught to be notified of his death in front of our two young daughters and on Saturday had to take him for cremation.

We are appealing for any information about the vehicle and driver involved in this incident. While it is not a criminal legality to inform the police about hitting a cat, the people involved acted cowardly by driving off leaving him there.

He had a collar with an ID tag and was microchipped so we, the owners, were easily traceable.

We are devastated at the loss of him as he was a very well loved pet and we have had to try to explain to two children under six why their beloved kitten is dead.

If the driver of the vehicle involved is reading this, we would like to understand why you left him there.

He did not deserve to be hit and certainly didn't deserve to be left. If it was an accident, we would (as would every other cat owner) prefer you to tell us than leave us with the anger we now have for you being so cruel and driving off.

We would like to thank the witness who picked him up off the roadside – we are eternally grateful we got to say goodbye to him.

If you have any information, please contact us on 07843224988.

– J Davies, Cinderford.