Cat owners warned to microchip pets or face fine

Vets say the process to get a cat microchipped is "very unstressful"

People are being reminded they need to get their cats microchipped by 10 June, or risk a fine of £500.

It is already a legal requirement for dogs to be chipped, and that is now being extended to cats.

Cats can be microchipped at vets' surgeries, rescue centres and at some pet stores.

The owner of one pet shop in Plympton said it was " it's very unstressful for the animal"

'Very small chip'

Sammie Hunt is passionate about getting cats chipped, and is offering the service for free at Redpaw Pet Supplies .

She said: "It's just devastating to lose a pet, but if we have that connection with the chip, it's a way for you to get your pet back and it's also on the database across the country.

"So wherever your pet goes in the country, if it's got a microchip, it's a simple way for it to get back to its owner."

Ms Hunt added: "it is a very small chip that's just put in between the shoulder blades and it's very unstressful for the animal."

Tigger the cat went missing from his home in Devon and was microchipped after his owners were reunited with him

A 2024 report by the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) said about two million cats in England had not been microchipped.

Lynne James, a vet with the PDSA, said microchips provided "such a relief" as they made it easier for owners to be reunited with their pets.

She said: "Every day rescue charities and vets across the country get cats brought into them who may be injured or who have just gone for a wander and got lost, and the ability to reunite them with their owners is such a relief.

"The regulations will be enforced by the local authorities, just the same as the dog microchipping."

'Not hugely expensive'

Ms James said she understood associated costs might put people off getting their cat microchipped, but it was "not a hugely expensive procedure".

"We all have pressures on our wallets at the moment, microchipping is not a hugely expensive procedure, we're looking at somewhere between £10-£30 so it's something that can be saved up for," she said.

"We also have other charities that do various schemes where you can get a microchip for free as well."

Ms James also reminded people that all cats needed to be microchipped under the new law and to make sure the registered addresses were updated.

She said: "Under the law housecats that don't leave the house should also be microchipped.

"It's so easy for a cat just to slip out, and they're much more likely to get lost.

"It's so easy to forget when you move house all the things to change your address for, but this is so important to add to that list."