Microchipping Cats Made Compulsory
Back in October 2020, Preloved was proud to announce new site policy that meant any cats being rehomed through us must be microchipped. Now, over 2 years later, we're delighted to learn that new legislation to introduce compulsory cat microchipping has today been laid out in Parliament (March 13th 2023).
New Legal Requirement For Microchipping Cats
Cat owners now have until June 2024 to microchip their cat, or face a £500 fine!
The UK currently has over 9 million pet cats, with 2.3 million not currently microchipped. This means it's very difficult to trace them back to owners in the event they become lost, injured, or worse. The decision for microchipping cats to be compulsory will help reunite thousands of lost pets with their owners every year.
This new rule requires all cat owners to have their feline friends microchipped before they're 20 weeks old, and that all contact details be kept up-to-date in a microchip database.
Cats Protection
Head of Advocacy, Campaigns & Government Relations, Madison Rogers, said “Cats Protection is delighted that pet cats in England will be given the same protection as dogs when it comes to microchipping. The charity regularly reunites owners with their much-loved cats, and in most cases this is only possible thanks to microchips.
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 that a lost cat will be swiftly returned home.”
Chief Veterinary Officer
Christine Middlemiss commented "I am pleased that we are progressing with our requirement for all cats to be microchipped.
“Microchipping is by far the most effective and quickest way of identifying lost pets. As we’ve seen with dog microchipping, those who are microchipped are more than twice as likely to be reunited with their owner".
