Why its important to Microchip your cat

Here is a snippit from a news article published on the internet today. by Croft’s Vet Surgery

If you are a cat owner in England, you will be legally required to ensure your cat is microchipped by Saturday 10 June 2024, if it is older than 20 weeks old, following the Government’s announcements on Monday 13 March 2023. Failure to comply may result in a fine of up to £500. If your cat is already microchipped, it is also part of the law that your details associated with the chip must be up to date.

“Microchipping your cat is important because it increases the likelihood of being reunited with your cat if they are lost or stolen. Microchips are a safe and effective method of identification, which makes them more reliable than collars and ID tags that can come off or get lost. Additionally, microchipping does not put your cat at risk of injury or discomfort.“

It is recommended to have your cat microchipped before they go outside for the first time. There is no minimum age requirement for microchipping your cat, but many kittens are microchipped when spayed or neutered while under local anaesthetic. However, the new law requires cats to be microchipped before they are 20 weeks.

You must make sure that your dog or cat is registered on one of the following databases (they all meet government standards):

• AnimalData

• Animal Microchips

• Animal Tracker

• ChipHERO

• Chipped Monkey

• Chipworks

• DKC

• FidoID

• Greyhound Chip ID (racing greyhounds only)

• HomeAgain

• Identibase

• Lost Paws