Cat owners in the UK are facing a nine-month deadline to have their pets microchipped or risk facing significant fines. Starting from June 10, 2024, it will be illegal for cat owners not to microchip their feline companions. Those found in violation of this law will have 21 days to comply by having a microchip implanted in their cat, or they could face fines of up to £500.
Microchipping is a simple and painless procedure that involves inserting a small chip, about the size of a grain of rice, under the cat’s skin. This chip contains a unique serial number, which the owner must register in a database. If a cat is found, the microchip can be scanned, and the registered owner can be quickly identified, facilitating the reunion of the pet with its owner.
However, the cat charity CatsMatter has worked closely with DEFRA (the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs) to ensure that there is an exemption to the law. Specifically, farm cats, feral cats, and community cats that have little or no human interaction or dependency will not be required to be microchipped.
CatsMatter’s spokesperson explained, “Microchipping is part of responsible pet parenting, and we not only support the financial burden for those unwilling to follow the new rules, we actively pushed for strict measures when working on this legislation.” They also emphasized the importance of microchipping in ensuring that owners are notified in case of accidents and to reduce the burden on rescue organizations.
CatsMatter has advocated for effective scanning measures to complement microchipping, emphasizing the welfare of cats and the rights and needs of their owners. They encourage all cat owners who have not yet microchipped their cats to make appointments with registered implanters to prevent potential complications or injuries to their pets.
The charity also noted that microchips may be available at low or no cost, with some rescues offering incentives to meet the deadline, and year-round discounts for those on low incomes.
This new law is aimed at enhancing responsible pet ownership and increasing the chances of reuniting lost cats with their owners.
