The RSPCA is urging owners to ensure their cat is microchipped ahead of the new law coming into effect in England on Monday (10 June) making microchipping your moggy mandatory.
Any owners who fail to have their cat microchipped could be handed a hefty fine – including indoor cats.
Despite the incoming law change, on average, one in 10 cats coming into the RSPCA’s care are still not microchipped and February of this year saw the most unchipped cats in one month with 44% of the rescued moggies being unchipped.
RSPCA ambassador and CBBC vet Rory Cowlam, said: “The thought of a pet going missing and never being able to find them is a pet owner’s nightmare, which is why microchipping is so important. Having microchipped many animals myself, I can assure you it’s quick, easy and is the best way to ensure that if your pet does go missing, or becomes injured, they can be reunited with you.
“It’s also vitally important to keep the details up-to-date if you change your address, phone number or email address, this all needs to be updated so that whoever scans your cat for their chip has the correct details for you to let you know they’ve been found.
“As an RSPCA Ambassador and a vet myself, I’ve heard stories of cats being found by members of the public or RSPCA rescue officers who either weren’t microchipped or had out of date details and heartbreakingly couldn’t be reunited with their owners. Also, amazing stories of cats being reunited with loving owners years after they went missing all thanks to this tiny chip!
“For anyone who hasn’t had their cat chipped yet please book an appointment with your vet before June 10 when it will be compulsory for all owned cats to be microchipped.”
As well as reuniting lost cats with loving owners, the RSPCA also hopes this new law change will improve cat welfare and reduce abandonments. More than 7,500 abandoned cats were reported to the RSPCA last year and over 1,500 so far this year. The charity hopes that compulsory microchipping will provide a deterrent to owners and reduce the number of cats being dumped.
Alice Potter, cat welfare expert at the RSPCA, said: “We all want the best for our cats so with one week to go we are urging cat owners who haven’t got their cats microchipped yet to ensure they are chipped before the new law comes in.
“In just one week, cat microchipping becomes mandatory for all cat owners, so – as we strive to create a better world for every kind – we’d urge owners who haven’t got their cat microchipped yet to contact their vet to book an appointment. From 10 June, it will be compulsory for all owned cats aged over 20-weeks to be microchipped or owners could face a hefty fine – so it’s time for cat owners to act. Owners will also be required to keep their contact details up-to-date on a pet microchipping database.
“We hope this change in legislation and the power of this tiny microchip will have a huge, positive impact on cat welfare.”
The RSPCA is also campaigning for the compulsory microchipping of owned cats to be introduced by the Welsh Government in Wales too.
