A recent survey has revealed that around one in five cat owners in England do not plan to microchip their pets, despite a new law requiring it. The legislation, which came into effect on June 10, mandates that cats must be microchipped before reaching 20 weeks of age. Owners who fail to comply within 21 days face fines of up to £500.
The survey, conducted by Censuswide for Direct Line Pet Insurance in May, found that 21% of cat owners in England do not intend to microchip their cats, and 16% were unaware of the new regulation. Furthermore, over half (58%) of the respondents did not know the maximum fine for non-compliance.
In addition to the survey, Direct Line’s research involving 50 veterinary practices across London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, and Yorkshire indicated a significant increase in microchipping appointments. Six out of ten vets reported more appointments for cat microchipping, with nearly a quarter noting a substantial rise.
The cost of microchipping a cat is typically around £28. Madeline Pike, a veterinary nurse for Direct Line Pet Insurance, emphasized the importance of microchipping: “It’s a very quick and relatively painless process… one of the most effective and efficient methods of finding lost pets.” Pike urged cat owners to book an appointment promptly, highlighting that most vets have availability.
Earlier in June, Cats Protection estimated that up to 2.2 million out of nine million pet cats in England were still not microchipped. Alice Potter, a cat welfare expert at the RSPCA, underscored the issue, noting, “We have seen cats coming into our care who are sadly not microchipped and may never be reunited with their owners.”
The survey included over 1,100 cat owners, with approximately 90% residing in England.
