All cat owners face £500 fine from today unless they take immediate action

Cat owners throughout England will be legally required to microchip their feline friends from today (June 10).

Ignoring this law could result in a financial penalty of £500. Starting today, it will be compulsory for all domestic cats in England to be microchipped.

If found without one, the owner will be granted a grace period of 21 days to ensure their pet is microchipped, failure of which could result in a fine. The long-awaited legislation has been welcomed by animal welfare societies and advocates alike, citing an increased safety for cats.

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Westley Pearson, Chief Executive Officer at Animal Friends Pet Insurance, expressed his delight saying: "We are delighted that our feline friends are finally going to be offered the same level of protection as our canine companions, who have been protected under microchipping law since 2016. This essential change will make it easier to reunite any cats with their families should the heart-breaking situation of being lost or stolen arise."

In addition, Pearson said: "It will also mean that should a cat be sadly killed in a road traffic accident, their owners can be notified and given the chance to say goodbye properly."

A public consultation initiated in December 2020 and lasting until February 2021 saw over 33,000 responses, with 99 per cent of respondents concurring that the new law was necessary and should be implemented.

Mr Pearson is calling on cat owners to take swift action to comply with the upcoming legislation, emphasising: "If your cat hasn't yet had this done, we urge you to get them microchipped as soon as possible to make it easier to be reunited should they wander or get lost in the meantime."

What exactly is microchipping?

Catrin George, an animal welfare expert at Animal Friends Pet Insurance, outlined the significance of microchipping for pets. She detailed: "Put simply, a microchip is a tiny device with a unique number that is inserted under a dog or cat's skin to help make them easier to identify. If your pet is microchipped and goes missing, vets, local authorities, and rescue centres are able to scan your pet and find your details, helping you become reunited with your beloved furry family member."

She further clarified: "Microchips are very small - around the size of a grain of rice. They are implanted under their skin (usually between their shoulder blades) using a needle. The procedure is very similar to a vaccination so whilst it can cause some slight discomfort, this passes very quickly."

Catrin also highlighted the resilience of microchips, adding: "The great thing about microchips is that they are hardwearing and are designed to last your pet's lifetime, so once it is inserted all you need to do is ensure you keep your details up-to-date over the course of their life."

Catrin, an expert in the field, offered advice for those unsure about their pet's microchip status: "Whether you rescued your pet or bought them from a breeder, you should hopefully have been given some documents to confirm their microchip number. If not (or you can't remember), your vet will be able to scan them to confirm if they are microchipped or not."