PDSA reminds cat owners of microchip deadline
Dragon's microchip meant that PDSA could contact his owner immediately.
PDSA has issued a reminder for cat owners to get their cat microchipped, ahead of the 10 June 2024 deadline.
From 10 June, all pet cats which are over the age of 20 weeks must be microchipped. Owners who fail to microchip their cat will have 21 days to get one implanted, or they risk a £500 fine.
PDSA says that, as well as soon becoming a legal requirement, microchipping cats can also be important if the cat becomes lost.
In one case, a microchip proved vital to reuniting a one-year-old cat with his owner, after three months away.
Dragon first went missing in March 2022. His owner, Elizabeth Vasilopoulou, tried many techniques to guide him home, including calling for him, shaking his treats, and leaving his carrier out for him.
Three months later Ms Vasilopoulou received a phone call from New Cross PDSA Pet Hospital, who said they had Dragon.
The pet hospital said that Dragon was found by a group of girls, who had been feeding him in their garden for a month. Unsure if he was local or not, they took him to the PDSA pet hospital.
As Dragon had an up-to-date microchip, PDSA were able to contact her immediately to reunite her with her cat.
When he returned home Dragon slept for three days, only waking up for food. He was soon back to his original self, and has recently celebrated his third birthday.
Lynne James, a veterinary surgeon with PDSA, said: “Just as much as we don’t want to end up with a lost or stray cat, our much-loved pets definitely won’t want to lose us either! Having a microchip, that’s kept up to date and registered on a compliant database, is the best precautionary method all cat owners should take.”
She added: “This is also a good time for owners to check their chips, for all cats already with a microchip, make sure you’ve checked your details are all correct, and check the chip is successfully registered, as an unregistered chip is no use to a lost cat.”
Image © PDSA
Two independent vets have launched a podcast to help owners strengthen their bond with pets. Dr Maggie Roberts and Dr Vanessa Howie, who have worked in both veterinary practice and major charities, are keen to use their experience to enable people to give pets a better life.
