Currently, cats do not have to be microchipped by law in the UK, but under a new legislation that is due to be passed, this could be about to change. Our team at Orchard House Vets have been following this story throughout and has put together some helpful information for you below.

Why cat microchipping is being made compulsory

The compulsory microchipping of cats is being brought in following a sharp rise in cat thefts. Police data shows the number of cats being stolen rose almost threefold in five years, and over 12% in the last year alone. Demand for cats shot up during lockdown when millions of households wanted new pets. Some cat breeds are being sold for £2,000, making them even more attractive to thieves.

There are currently over 10 million pet cats living in the UK. Around 70% of cats have already been microchipped, which means over 2 million cats are still without. Compulsory microchipping for cats would resemble the current law for dogs, which comes with a £500 fine for non-compliance.

What cat microchipping involves:

• A microchip (about the same size as a grain of rice) is inserted just under the skin.
• Cat microchips are completely safe and made to last.
• The procedure is like having a vaccination and no recovery time is needed. Kittens & puppies are normally microchipped at their first vaccination, but pets can be microchipped at any time.
• There’s no age limit, but our head vet, Alun Edwards, recommends that kittens should be microchipped, neutered and vaccinated before they venture outside.
• Each cat microchip comes with a unique code, which can be scanned at a vet practice like ours, and some animal welfare centres.
• Your contact information is stored on a pet microchip database and can be matched to your cat when scanned, providing you keep it up to date.

Why you need to microchip your cat

Besides the new microchipping law, cats are at risk of theft, getting lost, being taken for ‘looking lost’, and road traffic accidents. When cats are brought into our veterinary practice with no microchip or ID tag, it can be impossible to trace the owners.

‘Lost & found cats’ must either be handed to a rehoming centre (after receiving emergency care if injured) or taken to a pet cremation service if deceased. Owners are often left without knowing what happened to their beloved pet.

Orchard House Vets always recommend cats should be microchipped to give them the best chance of being reunited with their owner should the unthinkable happen.

The wider animal welfare plan

Enforced cat microchipping is part of a new wide-ranging animal welfare plan that is currently being worked on. This plan will also formally recognise the sentience of pets and livestock, enshrining in law that animals have the capacity to feel hunger and pain and are aware of what is happening to them. This will change how animals can be treated in the UK.

We use Identichip bio-therm microchips which not only give an owner peace of mind that if lost their beloved cat can be reunited with them, but this chip also reads an animals temperature which is a lot less stressful than the conventional way!

To book your cats microchip, get in touch today.