The English government has announced that all cats aged 20 weeks and above must have microchips implanted; otherwise, their owners will face a fine of up to £500. The new regulation aims to reduce the risk of pet cats getting lost and increase the probability of reuniting with their owners. At present, there are approximately 2.3 million cats in England that have not been implanted with microchips, while about 100,000 cats go missing across the UK each year. The recovery rate of cats implanted with microchips is more than twice that of those not.
The microchip is as small as a grain of rice and needs to be implanted between the cat’s shoulder blades by professionals. It contains a unique 15-digit code that can be associated with the owner’s contact information. The chip does not have GPS functionality, but it can quickly identify pets through scanning. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have not implemented this regulation for the time being.
Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss emphasized that microchips are the most effective way to identify lost pets and called on owners to comply in a timely manner to ensure the safety of their pets. Indoor cats also need to abide by this rule to prevent accidental getting lost. The owner needs to register in a database recognized by the government and ensure that the information is updated.
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