Under The Microchipping of Cats and Dogs (England) Regulations 2023 if you live in England it will be a legal requirement to have your cat microchipped by the June deadline. Microchipping your cat will give you peace of mind as cats are keen wanderers and it will ensure your cat can be easily identified if it is lost or stolen. Keepers found not to have micro-chipped their cat will have 21 days to have one implanted or may face a fine of up to £500.
Microchips are safe, easy to implant and effective. Unlike collars and ID tags, microchips don’t come off and they don’t put your cat at risk of injury. It is a tiny identification device (the size of a grain of rice) and contains a unique number that can be read by a scanner. The microchip is inserted under your cat’s skin, between their shoulder blades, via a quick injection. The special capsule around it means that it does not break down and is designed to last your pet’s lifetime.
They are not linked to GPS and won’t track your cat’s location but can be used to keep other cats out of your house if you have a microchip-activated cat flap and restrict food access if you have a microchip food bowl.
The procedure is quick and is no more painful than an injection and there is no need for ‘recovery’ from the procedure. In fact, your cat is unlikely to know it is even there. Chips can only be implanted by vets, veterinary nurses, and people who have been specially trained.
It will be compulsory to have your cat microchipped from 20 weeks of age, but there is no minimum age to have your cat microchipped. Many kittens are microchipped at the same time as being spayed or neutered when they are already under general anaesthetic. It is recommended to have your cat microchipped before they go outside for the first time. Indoor cats should also be microchipped in case they escape from your home. Vets will usually charge between £10 and £30 to undertake the procedure. Some vets include a microchip in their health plans, and some charities offer them for a reduced cost or for free.
The professional that microchips your cat will register them by passing your details on to your microchip database company. They will need your name, address, phone number, pet’s details, and ideally an emergency contact. Microchips do not store personal data; this information is kept against the unique identification number on a secure database. There are many different microchip database companies in the UK, so it’s really important that you make sure your cat is registered with one that’s UK government approved. You can use 'Check a Chip' to check which microchip database your pet is registered with.
If you rehome or sell your cat, you’ll need to contact your microchip database company to let them know. They will give you a form or code to pass on to your cat’s new owner enabling them to change the details on the microchip. This process is designed to prevent people from changing a pet’s microchip details without the owner’s permission (i.e. if they were stolen). Owners should also remember to update their pet's microchip details if they change their telephone number or move house.
Dr Christine Middlemiss the UK's Chief Veterinary Officer has said “Microchipping is by far the most effective and quickest way of identifying lost pets. As we’ve seen with dog microchipping, those who are microchipped are more than twice as likely to be reunited with their owner.”
