Cats, insurance and approved repairers

[Gaity]

Late last night, whilst returning home after providing taxi duties to my daughter's friends following her 13th birthday party, I was presented with an unavoidable obstacle in the form of a black cat, which just sprang from the hedgerow in front of the car (993C4S). I didn't even have time to lift off the throttle, let alone brake. The impact was solid and I knew there was no way it could have survived. I carried on home, surprisingly shaken - I didn't see the point in stopping since I was on an unlit country lane in the middle of nowhere and what would I do with the dead cat if I found it?. On inspection at home, I still had to answer that question because the arse end of a very large dead cat was poking out of my front splitter. Aside from feeling guilty for bringing about the demise of someone's cat, I couldn't believe the amount of damage the beast had managed to inflict on the car. The splitter and grill were broken as I may have expected but beyond that the front of the well by the spare wheel was crushed right up to the spare wheel itself, with various seams and joints below rent apart.

I'm guessing the amount of damage is probably more than I would want to shell out for to save my insurance record (28 years claim-free but protected, for what that's worth) but my insurance policy with the RAC talks only of using their 'network of garages' for repairs. There are no 'local' Porsche specialists in my area so should I be concerned that I could not take it to someone I know and trust (9M) to have the work done? I haven't spoken to the insurers yet so I may be worrying out of turn. Any advice?




And what should I do with the cat?