Cats and Microchipping - What Do You Need To Know

Introduction

There are over 11 million pet cats in England, with at least 2.3 million without a microchip (GOV.UK) . This means that if they were to go missing or be injured, it would be much, much harder - if not impossible - to reunite them with their owners. Microchipping is the safest way to ensure pets can be reunited with their owners as quickly as possible.

Is Microchipping Compulsory?

While microchipping your cat isn’t compulsory at the moment, the Government’s announcement on 13 March 2023 means that all pet cats in England must be microchipped by 10 June 2024 and you will be given 21 days to get your cat chipped or face a fine of up to £500 if you don’t comply.

The new legislation applies to all pet cats – even indoor cats need to be microchipped.

Indoor cats can escape through open windows and doors that have been left open by mistake, especially in warm and hot weather. Unneutered males and female cats who are in season and are kept indoors can sometimes be very keen to escape to find a mate.

When an indoor cat escapes, they are at higher risk of becoming lost as they would be in unfamiliar surroundings.

When Do I Need to Microchip My Cat?

Whilst there is no minimum age to have your cat microchipped, it must be microchipped by 20 weeks of age under the new legislation. It is important to get it done before your cat goes outside for the first time. 

What Does Microchipping Involve?

Microchips can be implanted by vets, vet nurses and people who have been specially trained. A small chip - about the size of a grain of rice - is inserted just beneath your cat’s skin. It is typically inserted when your pet has their vaccinations, though it can be done at any time. 

Each microchip has a unique code attached to it, which can be scanned by veterinary practices and animal welfare shelters. 

Your contact information is stored in a secure database. This information can then be matched to your pet when their chip is scanned, helping to reunite lost cats with their owners.

Why Should You Microchip Your Cat?

• First and foremost - it will soon become law, and cat owners who fail to microchip their pet could face a £500 fine.
• This aside, cat thefts are on the rise - with some figures suggesting a threefold increase in the last five years.
• On top of this, we know that cats tend to wander and may become lost - or look lost. If they are taken to a shelter, and there is no chip, it is near impossible to get them back to their humans. 
• Last but not least - road traffic accidents. Cats love to be outdoors, particularly around dusk and dawn. Right now, these times coincide with peak rush hour. Inevitably, this means that the autumn and winter months see a rise in the number of road accidents involving cats. Again, with no chip, veterinary surgeries have no way to contact an animal’s family in the event of such injuries. 

So, in short - microchipping significantly improves the chances of reuniting pets with their owners should the unthinkable happen.

Is Microchipping Safe for Cats?

Yes! The process of microchipping your cat is incredibly safe, though, as, with any procedure, there are certain risks involved - and this is why you should always trust a registered veterinary surgeon or other qualified individuals to insert the chip.

When properly placed, complications are incredibly rare - and most problems that have been reported concerned the movement or the loss of the chip rather than any discomfort or ill health of the cat itself. The risks are so minimal that they only happen in around 0.01% of microchipped pets - and this roughly equates to 27 reported problems each year across all animals that undergo the procedure.

Keep That Chip In Check!

As a cat owner, it is incredibly important that you keep your details up to date on the national Petlog database. You should regularly check that phone numbers and other contact details are correct - and you can do this by logging in to the database at www.petlog.org.uk.

You should also ask your vet to check that the chip is still correctly placed and scans correctly - many will do this as part of their annual well-being check.

Got a Question?

We’d love to help! Just get in touch, and one of our cat experts will get back to you as soon as possible. 

Sandra James

Owner & Founder

The Cat Butler was set up by Sandra James in recognition of the fact that a stay in a cattery can be unsettling for many cats and also their owners.