Woman finds cat hit by a car covered in flowers and seashells — and the note beneath it restored her faith in humanity

In the bustling city of Brooklyn, an act of kindness toward a deceased cat left people in tears and sparked a conversation about compassion and responsibility. Chloe Rein, president of the Brooklyn Kitty Committee, was called by a neighbor on her way to work about a black cat found on the sidewalk. The cat, which had sadly been hit by a car, was surrounded by flowers and seashells, creating a small memorial. As Rein arrived at the scene, the sadness was obvious, but discovering a note beneath it made the situation more emotional, and also made her believe in humanity again.

As reported by Newsweek, Rein noticed a note beneath the cat, which seemed to be written by someone who had witnessed the tragic event. The note described how the hit-and-run occurred at 8 a.m. on September 15, 2025, on a quiet street where, unfortunately, people often drive too fast. "Although I didn’t know of you personally, I hope it brings comfort to know that their passing did not go unrecognized," the note read. "I send my love and prayers to you and this angel." The gesture was both heartbreaking and touching, leaving Rein to reflect on the kindness of strangers amidst such a tragic situation.

Rein, determined to give the cat closure, took him to a local animal clinic to be scanned for a microchip, hoping to identify an owner. She shared with the news channel that one of the hardest experiences for a pet parent is searching for an animal, unaware that they won't be coming back. Unfortunately, the scan revealed that the cat was not microchipped, and Rein suspected he was likely a community cat. “I had never seen him before," she said, "I'm not quite sure who he was or where he had come from. It's just sad." Rein was grateful for the kindness shown by the animal clinic, which offered to cremate the cat for free, an unusually compassionate gesture, especially considering the cat’s uncertain background.

In the wake of the emotional experience, Rein shared her story on Instagram, not to upset people, but as a public service announcement. "If you ever find a deceased animal, please bring them to a vet to be scanned so that the owners (if any) can be notified," she urged. She also encouraged people to reach out to rescues or small organizations for help in such situations. “These are people's children in a way, and they deserve the respect that any living being gets when passing,” Rein stated.

Rein's Instagram post, which included images of the cat and the note, was met with heartfelt reactions. Many users came to the comment section to praise both the person who memorialized the cat and Rein for giving it closure. @ch__catsalon wrote, "This note made tear up. I’m thankful for good people like you both who took notice and honored this sweet creature’s life." @elsierescuescats exclaimed, "Thank you for caring and giving him some dignity." @paulina_kepczynska shared, "So sad, but it brings me some comfort that someone stopped and recognized his life." 

For more rescue cat content, follow @brooklynkittycommittee on their official Instagram account.