Cat owners have been given a three-month warning to microchip their pets or they could face a hefty £500 fine.
The charity Cats Matter has announced that from June 10, 2024, it will be against the law for cat owners not to have their pets microchipped. In England alone, there are about three million cats that haven’t been chipped.
The charity estimates that around a quarter of all cats haven’t been microchipped – which is roughly three million. A spokesperson told Gloustershire Live: “Once the new law comes into force, owners found without their cat microchipped will have just 21 days to have one implanted.
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“After the 21 days, owners may then face a fine of up to £500. We have done the hard part by getting the law changed. Now it is down to cat owners to make sure this is the success we know it can and will be.
“The process of microchipping involves the quick, simply and painless insertion of a chip, generally around the size of a grain of rice, under the skin. The microchip has a unique serial number that the keeper needs to register on a database.
“When a cat is found, the microchip can be read with a scanner and the registered keeper identified on a database so the pet can quickly be reunited with them.
Cats Matter is backing the new rule because, according to them, microchipping pets is the right thing to do for their well-being. They said: “When a cat is not microchipped, they can be picked up as a stray and end up clogging the rescue system, which is already on it’s knees due to the current cost of living crisis, some shelters with waiting lists full of cats to enter care into the hundreds.
“Microchipping ensures that people are notified should an accident happen, and we are fully aware how important it is for people to be notified of incidents concerning their cats, and how vital it is to have that closure should the worst happen. Even cats that are house cats or have catios and enclosed gardens can still escape through windows, doors, or of course carriers on the way to the vets.”
Cats Matter has called on the government department DEFRA to enforce the chips being scanned so that cats can find their homes. It said: “We are so pleased the Government have brought in this law after years of campaigning, but we remain concerned about the scanning system that compliments it. We have remained clear to DEFRA that, for microchipping to work in practice, chips must be scanned. We continue to push the Government on introducing effective scanning measures so as many cats as possible can go home to their families where they belong.”
“We urge all cat owners who have not yet microchipped their cat to make an appointment at their local vets or with their nearest registered implanter. It’s vital people book through a trained and registered implanter to prevent injury or potential complications to their beloved cat.” Cats Matter suggests people use this resource to find one – click here.
The government has said: “From 10 June 2024, cats in England will need to be microchipped and registered on a database by the time they’re 20 weeks old. You can be fined up to £500 if your dog or cat is not microchipped when they need to be.”
“Your pet’s microchip must be fitted by a trained professional. You can ask your vet, local council or local rescue and rehoming centre if they can microchip your dog or cat. They might charge a fee.”