New legislation to introduce compulsory microchipping for cats will come into force in England on 10th June 2024. This follows the Microchipping of Dogs (England) Regulations 2015, which was successful in bringing about an increase in the number of dogs microchipped, from 75% of dogs seen by vets, to 92%. It is hoped that the new rules will lead to a similar increase in the numbers of cats microchipped; making it easier for lost or stray pet cats to be reunited with their owners and returned home safely.

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How many cats aren’t microchipped?

According to Cats Protection’s annual CATS (Cats and Their Stats) Report, there are around 11 million owned cats in the UK. Of these owned cats, an estimated 3 million (27%) are not microchipped. 

The Report also found that around 600,000 cats don’t have up to date contact details stored in a pet microchipping database. This renders their microchip potentially useless if they were to become lost. Keeping microchip details up to date is another requirement of the new rules. 

How much does microchipping cost? 

In the UK, you can expect to pay anywhere between £10 and £30 to microchip your cat, depending on where you live. Speak to your local vet for details.

The RSPCA are running some regional microchipping campaigns, and you can check whether this is available in your area by searching for your nearest RSPCA branch. 

What are the new rules exactly?

Under the new microchipping regulations, cats must be microchipped before they reach the age of 20 weeks. Their contact details must be stored and kept up to date in a pet microchipping database. 

All owners of cats over the age of 20 weeks must have their pet microchipped by 10th June 2024, and their details uploaded onto the database. Owners found not to have their cat microchipped will be given 21 days to comply or may face a fine of up to £500.  

Feral, some farm, and unowned cats are exempt from the new microchipping rules. But all other cats in England must be microchipped, whether they are indoor or outdoor cats. 

How will the new rules be enforced?

The new cat microchipping regulations include the same conditions around enforcement as per dog microchipping. The Secretary of State and local authorities have the power to allow ‘authorised persons’ to carry out the enforcement of the regulations. Police constables, community support officers and local authority animal wardens may be ‘authorised persons’. 

Since it came into being in 2016, the compulsory microchipping of dogs has been enforced, with fines coming in and prosecutions on record. There has been variation in how the rules have been upheld between the local authorities however; and it’s likely this will be the case for cat microchipping enforcement. 

What about cats brought to the vet without a microchip?

If a cat is not microchipped, the veterinary practice can insert a microchip so that the owners are compliant with the new regulations. If the owner does not microchip their cat on the day, they will have 21 days to do so. But if after 21 days the cat still is not microchipped, the veterinary practice may seek advice from the local authority animal warden. 

If a stray cat comes to the veterinary practice without a microchip, the cat will be provided with any emergency first aid and pain relief that is necessary; regardless of microchip or ownership issues. This may include euthanasia if required for welfare. 

The veterinary practice will then hold on to the cat while attempts are made to locate an owner. Or they may send the cat to a local rescue charity for enquiries to continue. Ultimately, how long to keep a stray animal will be a matter for the veterinary practice or animal rescue organisation to decide. Local authorities will keep an animal for seven days before considering rehoming; and most veterinary practices and animal rescues will have a similar protocol. This allows a reasonable period of time for an owner to come forward. Attempts to contact or trace an owner must be documented during this holding period. 

What about stray cats that have a microchip, but the details aren’t up to date? 

If the microchip details aren’t up to date and the owner can’t be reached, the same guidance will apply as for cats without a microchip. They will be held for a reasonable period while attempts are made to reach the owner. But if an owner is not forthcoming, they will be rehomed. 

Ordinarily, when a cat is rehomed, the original owner must request this change in ownership with the microchip database. This is so that the contact details stored against the cat match the new owner. However, if the veterinary practice or animal rescue has tried to contact the owner with negative results, once the new regulations come, a second microchip could be inserted (without removing the first) so that any new owners are compliant. If a second microchip is inserted there would need to be an audit trail to connect it to the first, for example, through clinical records.

Do microchips track cats like a GPS tracker?

No, they don’t show the location of a cat. Microchips last a lifetime and are inserted under the skin of a cat. They work by showing a unique microchip number which allows an owner’s details to be identified by the relevant database company the details are registered on. 

GPS trackers are attached to a collar or harness, and they continuously calculate the location of your pet using GPS satellites. As with collars, they should be worn with a quick release mechanism to avoid injuries. Unlike microchips, GPS trackers require a power source to work. They can easily go missing and can be uncomfortable for a cat to wear. So they don’t replace microchips as the primary means of identifying and locating your cat.

Will it be possible for nearly three million cats to be microchipped within a year when there are widespread vet capacity issues?

Microchipping can be carried out by vets, registered veterinary nurses (RVNs) and others who have had appropriate training; such as council workers and those who work for animal welfare charities. This increases the capacity for microchipping and many vet practices will use RVNs to carry out the procedure. For young cats and kittens, it is best to get them microchipped when they are at the vet practice for neutering as the cat is anaesthetised and it is more time efficient. Microchipping must be done by the time the cat is 20 weeks of age so this has the additional benefit of encouraging owners to get their cats neutered promptly before they reach an age where they can start having litters.

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