Mayor of London Sadiq Khan is being urged to push for mandatory scans on dead cats that are collected from the roadside.

The London Assembly unanimously agreed to the motion on June 7 amid legislation which covers other animals – including dogs – but not felines.

Camden Assembly member Sian Berry initiated the proposal before it was seconded by Croydon and Sutton’s member Steve O’Connell.

She said: “The problem highlighted in this motion is something I wasn’t aware of until I was told about the CatsMatter campaign.

“When I had the exact experience of my cat going missing and just not knowing where he was, I assumed the microchip would mean I would found out.

“But no. Luckily my cat came back soaking wet after three nights – who knows where – but there are so many pet owners who never know.

“The problem is cats are not equal to dogs in the way the Government and local authorities treat them.”

Section 170 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 states that motorists are required to stop and report an accident which involves animals.

These animals include horses, cattle, mules, sheep, pigs, goats, and dogs – but not cats.

The CatsMatter campaign group started when its founder, Hollie Ivy, discovered her cat Henry was fatally struck by a car last April.

Now she is using the tragic incident to encourage change, not only in how people drive around cats but what they do when people hit one with their vehicle.

Mr O'Connell said: “I am pleased to support this motion.

“It’s a heart-breaking experience to not know what happened to a pet.

“This motion will help pet owners across London find out exactly what happened to their loved ones.”

To read the London Assembly's motion, click here.

To read the current legislation in full, click here.