From next week it will become mandatory for all cat owners in England to have their feline friends microchipped.
Owners who fail to comply with this new law will be given a 21-day grace period to get their cats microchipped. If they still fail to do so after this period, they could face a hefty fine of up to £500. This new legislation has been long-awaited by animal welfare authorities and campaigners, who believe it will help keep our furry friends safer across the UK. It comes into force from June 10, reports Bristol Live.
Westley Pearson, CEO at Animal Friends Pet Insurance, expressed his delight at the new law: "We are delighted that our feline friends are finally going to be offered the same level of protection as our canine companions, who have been protected under microchipping law since 2016. This essential change will make it easier to reunite any cats with their families should the heart-breaking situation of being lost or stolen arise."
He added: "It will also mean that should a cat be sadly killed in a road traffic accident, their owners can be notified and given the chance to say goodbye properly. A consultation held from Dec 2020-Feb 2021 received over 33,000 replies in which 99% of people agreed the new law should go ahead. When we surveyed our cat customers in 2021, 92% told us their cat was already microchipped indicating that this safety measure is seen as important to responsible cat owners."
Pearson concluded with a plea to cat owners: "If your cat hasn't yet had this done, we urge you to get them microchipped as soon as possible to make it easier to be reunited should they wander or get lost in the meantime."
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Catrin George, an animal wellbeing specialist at Animal Friends Pet Insurance, explained: "Put simply, a microchip is a tiny device with a unique number that is inserted under a dog or cat's skin to help make them easier to identify. If your pet is microchipped and goes missing, vets, local authorities, and rescue centres are able to scan your pet and find your details, helping you become reunited with your beloved furry family member.
"Microchips are very small - around the size of a grain of rice. They are implanted under their skin (usually between their shoulder blades) using a needle. The procedure is very similar to a vaccination so whilst it can cause some slight discomfort, this passes very quickly."
She highlighted the durability of the chips saying: "The great thing about microchips is that they are hardwearing and are designed to last your pet's lifetime, so once it is inserted all you need to do is ensure you keep your details up-to-date over the course of their life. Whether you rescued your pet or bought them from a breeder, you should hopefully have been given some documents to confirm their microchip number. If not (or you can't remember), your vet will be able to scan them to confirm if they are microchipped or not.
"At Animal Friends, we also offer our customers the ability to store their pet's microchip number on their online account, so they have it ready should they ever need it. Unfortunately, some dog and cat owners may at some point experience a missing pet. Having your pet go missing is devastating but having a microchip (with up-to-date details) can help make them much easier to identify and bring back home.
"However, it's worth knowing that there are many microchip websites out there, some of which are not government-approved. When it comes to trustworthy sites to use, you can find the approved list of pet microchipping databases on the Government website. If you can't find or remember which database your pet's microchip is registered with to update your address or contact details, you can also use check-a-chip.co.uk."
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