Cat who boarded same bus every day for four years killed in 'hit and run'

dailymail.co.uk ^ | Jan. 18, 2010 | Daily Mail Reporter

[Free ThinkerNY]

A cat which became famous for catching the same bus every day for four years has been run over and killed - while crossing the road to catch its daily lift.

Crafty Casper died in a hit and run accident as he tried to board the No3 service.

He hopped on the bus around 10am every morning and sat on the back seat throughout its entire 11 mile route.

The freeloading Feline would travel around his home city of Plymouth, Devon, for up to an hour before arriving back at the same stop.

But after an estimated 20,000 miles on the bus Casper was killed crossing the road to catch his daily ride.

Devastated owner Susan Finden, 65, said whoever ran over her cat failed to stop and help him.

She said: 'Many people knew Casper, who loved everyone.

'He enjoyed the bus journeys. Sadly a motorist hit him and did not stop.

'Casper died from his injuries. He will be greatly missed - he was a much loved pet who had so much character.

'Thank you to all those who befriended him.'

During his regular trips the 12-year-old cat passed an historic dockyard and naval base, a city centre, several suburbs and a red light district.

[Daffynition]

Sadness.

[ottbmare]

Very sad. After losing one family cat to a car when I was a child, I’d never let a cat out on a busy street unattended. Poor Caspar was just an animal, not a human, and if he had to cross a busy street each day this was bound to happen sooner or later (later, in this case). I wonder why his owner didn’t think to accompany him if she cared about him as she said.

[martin_fierro]

[CORedneck]

Kind of reminds me when I was in New Zealand three years ago. I stayed at a couple of NZ YHA Hostels - one in Wellington and the other in Queenstown and they both had cats. I called the hostels a couple years later, both cats are gone. The Wellington Hostel's cat went with its owner and the Queenstown one the cat didn't come back one day. Kind of adds character to the places.

[xone]

Crafty Casper died in a hit and run accident

Please.

[VeniVidiVici]

You gotta wonder why the cat had this daily ritual. Well, at least *I* wonder why he did :-)

[Hetty_Fauxvert]

Poor Casper. RIP, little traveler. But I have to point out, that charming as his bus-riding behavior was, it greatly increased his chances of being killed. The HSUS says that cats who live strictly indoors live about 12 yrs, on average, whereas cats who go outside *at all* live about 3 yrs, on average.

I adore my cats, and for *cats*, they are pretty smart — but a cat is only about as smart as a 2 year old. (If the cat is several years old, that may be a 2 year old with experience in the world — but still not that bright.) Would you let a human 2 year old roam around unattended? You can make that choice if you want to, but don’t be surprised when the inevitable happens.

[mowowie]

I remember reading about this cool cat a while back.
poor guy.

[Daffynition]

SA& posted the story in July about Casper

[Jet Jaguar]

Thanks. I thought it was familiar.

[jocon307]

“I suppose now he is a friendly ghost.”

awwww, that’s sweet and sad and cute!

[crazydad]

Also to my Duke. Cats are smart.

[Slings and Arrows]

RIP Casper.

[Allegra]

Awwww...farewell to one very cool cat.

RIP Casper and my condolences to Ms. Finden.

[MissDairyGoodnessVT]

:(((((((

[Slings and Arrows]

OK, that makes two of us.

[Slings and Arrows]

While I’m dubious about HSUS as a source, I have no doubt that the statement is correct in principle. All my kitties are indoor kitties.

[Slings and Arrows]

Agreed.

[MissDairyGoodnessVT]

Casper is in kitty heavan

[Biggirl]

So very sad to hear. RIP Casper. :(=^..^=