As of the 10th of June 2024, all cats in England must be microchipped. New rules mean that cats must be microchipped by the age of 20 weeks, except for unowned cats like feral cats and community cats. Indoor cats must also be chipped.
The cost of having your cat microchipped is between £20 and £30. If you adopt a cat from a shelter, this may be included in the adoption fee.
Why have my cat microchipped?
Firstly, as the new law goes into force, a fine will be attached to all cat owners who have failed to have their cat microchipped. The fine of £500 can be avoided if you make that call to your vet and book your beloved cat in for their microchip to be fitted.
You might think that your cat will never disappear, but cats are curious, active and independent animals and even indoor cats can accidently leave the house.
Indeed, indoor cats are more vulnerable because, having often spent their entire lives indoors, the unfamiliar surroundings of the outside world are more likely to make them panic, hide or become lost.
Having your cat microchipped is a simple, quick and pain free procedure. There are many reasons to have your cat microchipped. Here are what we believe to be the three most important benefits....
Statistics show that 74% of lost cats fitted with a chip are safely returned to their owners. Cats are curious by nature and often stray out of their territory and in doing so sometimes get lost and are unable to make their way safely home. While being lost they may even come to harm and find their way to a shelter or a veterinary surgery. The simple process of scanning your wayward moggie will allow a vet to find your details and contact you to reunite you with your cat.
Not all cats wear a collar with ID and if they do, a collar can easily come off. Therefore, a microchip is the only way to ensure that they are identified and returned home safely. From personal experience, we bought ID discs for our three cats' collars, and within a short time, they had all fallen off! Fortunately, they are all chipped too.
If you have a cat flap at home you can have your cat's chip programmed to allow only your cat to use it and so other cats can't access your home. This not only prevents confrontations, but it enables your cat to feel more secure in their home.
Don't forget to update your details!
It is worth mentioning that if you move house, you will need to update your cat's details. When we move along with our cats to a new area, this is often the time when our cats are most vulnerable and likely to go missing.
Further Information:
Watch this video from Cats Protection.
PDSA: For all you need to know about microchipping your cat from the PDSA, click here
'Around 2.5 million cats remain unchipped' - see article by Cats Protection.
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