Cat owners urged to ensure their cat is microchipped
“Microchipping is by far the most effective and quickest way of identifying lost pets” – Christine Middlemiss.
Saturday, 2 March will mark 100 days until it becomes compulsory in England for pet cats more than 20 weeks old to be microchipped.
With the 100-day countdown set to begin, the government has joined forces with animal and veterinary charities to remind cat owners that they will need to follow the new law from 10 June 2024. After that date, if a cat is found not to have a microchip the owner will have 21 days to get one or risk facing a fine of £500.
The most recent data from the CATS (Cats And Their Stats Report), produced by Cats Protection, suggests that about 2.2 million pet cats in England are not microchipped. A further 300,000 cats are owned by people who are unsure if their cat has a microchip.
As well as having their cat microchipped, owners will have to ensure that their contact details are kept up to date on the microchip database.
The organisations working alongside the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to raise awareness of the forthcoming law are Cats Protection, Battersea, the British Veterinary Association, the British Small Animal Veterinary Association, International Cat Care, PDSA, and the RSPCA.
Madison Rogers, head of advocacy, campaigns and government relations at Cats Protection, said: “As we enter the 100-day countdown, we’d urge owners to use the time to make sure their cat is chipped and the details are up to date.
“It’s important to remember that all pet cats over 20 weeks need to be microchipped, even if they are indoor cats or ones which stay close to home. Cats are agile, curious and can be masters of escape, and it’s easy for family members or visitors to accidentally leave a window or door open. If this does happen, indoor cats are equally at risk of getting lost as other cats – perhaps even more so if they’re unfamiliar with the surroundings – so it’s vital they are microchipped.
“No matter how far from home they are found, or how long they have been missing, if a cat has a microchip there is a good chance they can be swiftly returned home.”
Christine Middlemiss, the UK's chief veterinary officer, added: “Microchipping is by far the most effective and quickest way of identifying lost pets. As we’ve seen with dog microchipping, animals that are microchipped are more than twice as likely to be reunited with their owner.”
Image © Cats Protection
Veterinary practices are being urged to help owners safely dispose of any unused and expired pet medicines - not just antibiotics - during November's Animal Medicines Amnesty. 
