An Aylesford taxi company is facing an angry backlash after one of its drivers allegedly left a pet cat to die in a hit and run accident.

Molly, a boisterous one-year-old, had to be put down after nearly every bone in her body was broken when she was struck by a car outside her owner’s home in the village’s Teapot Lane.

The family have demanded an apology and want the firm to make a donation to an animal welfare charity.

They are also seeking to introduce a code of practice among taxi companies so they will stop and help injured cats.

Molly’s owner, 20-year-old Taylor Davies, said: “It’s absolutely disgusting that someone would leave an animal to die that way, let alone someone’s pet.”

The taxi, said to be from Place 2 Place, based in the High Street, was dropping off a friend of Taylor’s brother, Connor, at 10.30pm on Monday, July 7.

Another friend who was driving to the house at the same time found Molly and alerted the driver, who reportedly drove off.

After a friend confronted the firm on Facebook, Taylor says the comment was deleted, and when her mother Kerry called the firm she said they were unapologetic and, on one occasion, hung up on her.

An online post calling for the company to apologise has been shared more than 100 times.

It is an offence not to report an accident involving animals including dogs, horses and cattle, but there is no obligation for drivers to report hitting a cat.

Miss Davies, a Canterbury Christ Church University student, said the family’s Jack Russell Tyke, who doted on Molly, sits where she was buried in the garden, howling.

She said: “It has had a terrible effect on the family, my mum has dealt with it very badly and I have never seen my dad cry before.

“It was the state she was left in which has taken such a toll.

“She’s not just a cat, she’s part of the family. Nothing will bring her back but an apology may help us to move on and grieve.”

A Place 2 Place spokesman said the firm had dealt with the matter privately.