THE RSPCA has actually released an immediate tip to family pet owners in England that they will quickly be breaking the law if their cats aren’t microchipped – with almost half uninformed that they might quickly fall nasty of the law.
As of 10 June 2024 stopping working to have your cat microchipped might lead to a significant fine.
The animal well-being charity’s caution comes following the outcomes of a study they performed at the end of last month. Data revealed that almost half (47%) of grownups in England were not familiar with the brand-new cat microchipping law¹.
In addition to this, the RSPCA has actually reported that 68% of cats brought into its animal centre in Cambridgeshire in 2022 were not microchipped².
Under the brand-new legislation, which was revealed in March this year, from 10 June 2024 it will be a legal requirement to microchip family pet cats prior to they reach 20 weeks of age. Owners will likewise be needed to keep their contact information up-to-date on a family pet microchipping database.
Owners discovered not to have actually microchipped their cat will have 21 days to get one implanted or might deal with a fine of approximately £500.
Samantha Watson, clinical officer and cat well-being specialist at the RSPCA said: “The countdown is really on to get your cats microchipped and avoid those substantial fines. This month is likewise National Microchipping Month, so what much better time to get your cat cracked and ensure your loved ones understand the inbound law too.
“Microchipping is a definitely important element of being an accountable family pet owner. This brand-new law indicates that lost cats can be quickly determined and reunited with their owners, instead of being handed to rehoming charities who are having problem with overruning waiting lists.
“Microchipping dogs has actually been obligatory for several years, so to lastly see the very same law and securities being used to cats is a big advance for feline well-being.
“We have actually seen numerous stories of non-microchipped cats that have actually been struck by a car or strayed who never ever get reunited with their owner, in addition to the happy stories where cats have actually been reunited with their owners by our devoted RSPCA officers thanks to this small chip. We feel positive that – thanks to the modification in the law – now we will see much more happy stories than sad ones.
“We are hopeful that alongside increasing the number of lost or injured cats reunited with their owners, the new law will help to tackle other common welfare issues for cats, including abandonments.”
The RSPCA study likewise discovered that there was frustrating public assistance for the brand-new microchipping laws, with over 3 quarters of grownups in England concurring that this is a positive advancement for cat welfare³.
Samantha included: “Microchipping is a really simple and pain-free treatment which includes a small microchip being rapidly and just placed under the animal’s skin and this then offers the family pet their own distinct code.
“The microchip can be scanned and matched to the owner’s contact information which are kept a database. We think the maximum time to microchip a cat is when they are neutered as a kitten at around four-months-old and under anaesthetic.
“If an owner moves house or changes their telephone number they must also make sure that they tell the database they are registered with so that they have up-to-date contact details. If the information on that database is old and out-of-date then the chip is useless. Telling your vet does not automatically update the details on the database but this is something you can do yourself online.”
Whilst the RSPCA is enjoyed see cat microchipping laws being presented in England, the charity is likewise confident that the Welsh Government will act and present obligatory microchipping for cats in Wales too.
“Seven in ten adults in Wales agree that mandatory microchipping would improve cat welfare in Wales⁴.” Samantha continued. “Which goes to show the public are heavily in favour of introducing microchipping laws, it’s just down to the Welsh government now to take action.”
Microchipping in England will not be obligatory for unowned cats.
More info about cat microchipping can be discovered on the RSPCA website.
