Cat Microchipping Will Be Mandatory in the UK

The UK government has recently announced that cat microchipping will be mandatory in the UK.

This is a huge win for animal welfare organizations and pet owners who have been pushing for this change to happen.

Advantages of cat microchipping

Under new pet microchipping laws recently announced by the Government, lost or stray pet cats are more likely to be returned home safely.

The new plans claim that all cat owners must ensure their pet is microchipped before they reach the age of 20 weeks.

Their contact details will then be stored and updated in a pet microchipping database.

Owners who fail to have their cat microchipped will have 21 days to get the procedure done, or they may face a fine of up to £500.

The new microchipping rules result from a Government call for evidence and consultation, in which 99% of respondents supported the proposal.

The introduction of compulsory cat microchipping was an essential manifesto commitment in the UK government’s support to the Action Plan for Animal Welfare, which committed to putting it into effect.

Cat population increase in the UK

There are over 10.8 million pet cats in the UK, with as many as 2.8 million unchipped, making it next to impossible to reunite them with their owner if they go missing or are stolen.

Eight out of 10 stray cats coming into cat shelters are also not microchipped.

The procedure involves placing a tiny chip with a specific serial number beneath the cat’s skin.

“Every day, we see how important microchipping is for cats and for the people who love them – whether it’s reuniting a lost cat with their owner, identifying an injured cat, or helping to ensure an owner can be informed in the sad event that their cat has been hit and killed by a car.”
Cats Protection’s Head of Advocacy & Government Relations Jacqui Cuff

This number may be read by a scanner and verified in the microchip database to assist and reunite lost pets with their original owners.

Plans made in microchipping pets

The UK Government has also collaborated with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons to create new rules, which require veterinarians to scan healthy dogs’ microchips to help prevent being put down in error.

The Government is also conducting a study on the dog microchipping rules and related microchipping database systems to determine whether changes can be made.

This is also after pet microchipping scams happened around the UK with fake registrations.

When the new cat microchipping regulations are implemented after a review, the government ensures that any adjustments to the microchipping regime are introduced along with the new cat microchipping laws.

The government’s policy of microchipping pets is part of a broader plan to raise the country’s world-leading standards in animal companion welfare. It follows several recent announcements designed to improve pet care.