Compulsory cat microchipping is coming!
Did you know that 25% of cats in the UK have not been microchipped? This means that of the approximately 2.8 million cats that aren’t microchipped in the UK, those living in England will need to be chipped by 10th June 2024 when the new legislation comes into place1.
What you need to know
The introduction of compulsory microchipping in England will assist our lost cats being identified and returned home as soon as possible. The new rules mean:
- Cats must be implanted with a microchip before they reach the age of 20 weeks
- Non microchipped cats over 20 weeks are also required to be microchipped
- All keepers must have their cats microchipped by 10th June 2024 and keepers found not to have microchipped their cat will have 21 days to have one implanted or may face a fine of up to £500.
- Cat keepers must also ensure that their contact details are stored and kept up to date in a DEFRA compliant (government standard) pet microchipping database.
Getting your pet microchipped
Microchipping is a safe, effective, and permanent way to identify individual animals and to maximize the chances of owners being successfully reunited with their pets should they go missing. An implanter is used to place the microchip, which is the size of a grain of rice, beneath the animal’s skin. It is a quick and relatively pain-free procedure that can be performed by one of our vets or veterinary nurses during any routine appointment. The registration process is simple and will be explained to you by a member of our friendly team following your pet’s microchipping appointment.
Please contact us with any questions or to book your pet’s appointment.
