Compulsory Microchipping for Cats

Compulsory Microchipping For Cats

As of April 2016, it became a legal requirement to microchip all dogs across England, Scotland, and Wales; this law was passed in 2012 for Northern Ireland. A fine of £500 would be faced for those who didn’t meet expected microchipping obligations.

This wasn’t the case for cats in England, but this has now changed as new legislation was introduced on March 13^th 2023, which will require all cats across England to be microchipped.

Here’s what you’ll need to consider:

• All cats must be microchipped by their owners by 10^th June 2024.
• This applies to all new pet cats before they reach 5 months (20 weeks) of age.
• If current owners have been found to have not microchipped their pet cat, they will have 21 days to do this.
• Failing to do so could result in a fine of £500.

The new rules are an attempt to protect and reunite pet cats, who unfortunately go missing each year, with their owners. This will additionally give owners extra reassurance that the odds are much more in their favour of finding their beloved furry family member.

This is the most effective way of helping owners to track down their pets; for microchipping to live up to its full potential, you must ensure your contact details are always kept up to date on the database.

We work alongside Pet-ID to ensure your pet’s are kept as safe as possible, please don’t hesitate to contact with us to find out more.

Owning a cat can be a fun and rewarding experience

However, if they suffer an illness or injury, it can also be both stressful and expensive. British Pet Insurance Services can provide the support you and your cat need, whether it is with your insurance cover, making a claim or just helpful advice along the way.