THE HEADLINE FACTS
Cats are not often mentioned in law, but last March Parliament passed a law with cats in mind. Here’s the headline facts;
FROM 10 JUNE 2024…
… EVERY CAT OVER 20 WEEKS OF AGE …
… LIVING IN AN ENGLISH HOUSEHOLD …
… MUST BE MICROCHIPPED.
If your cat is checked after June 10th 2024 and found not to have a microchip, you will be given 21 days to have a chip implanted. If you do not, you may be fined up to £500. But why wouldn’t you? A microchip might bring your straying cat home, or settle a case of disputed ownership. And a chip activated cat-flap will let your cat come in and keep any outsider cats outside.
THE PROCESS
I’m speaking to people who go the extra mile for their cats anyway, so you probably know all this already. Bear with me, and if you know someone who hasn’t had their cat chipped yet you can direct them to this post for a full education on the topic.
A pet microchip is a radio frequency identification device or RFID, emitting a signal corresponding to a unique registration number that can be read by a RFID scanner. It’s about 12 millimetres long and 2 millimetres in diameter, and will keep transmitting that number throughout the cat’s lifetime. It has no internal power source, relying on the blip of power it receives from the scanner.
Your vet will implant the chip into the scruff of the cat’s neck, then scan the area to be sure the chip is working correctly. One sticker from the chip’s packaging will be attached to the cat’s records and the other to a card for you to keep. The vet will register the implant with a microchip database company, together with your details as registered owner. The database company will contact you to ask whether you want to make any changes or additions to the details it has registered – this is usually free, if notified within 28 days.
DOES IT HURT?
It’s uncomfortable rather than painful, though vets prefer to implant the chip while the cat is still under anaesthetic from other surgical procedures – usually just after the cat has been neutered. As to whether it hurts your finances – prices vary between vets, but are generally between £20 and £30, and as rescue centres sometimes have a member of staff trained to implant the chip, you may be able to get your new rescue cat already chipped included in the adoption fee.
TO MAKE THIS WORK…
First, the database companies have to keep those details secure, accurate and up to date. That’s their job.
Secondly, you have to do your part by keeping your contact details up to date with that company. Moved house? Changed your email address or phone number? Let them know. Likewise, if you transfer the cat to another owner, make sure the company knows that too.
Thirdly, there has to be a system where every stray or deceased cat is scanned for a chip. This happens to some extent now. Anyone who follows the FaceBook pages for Sible Hedingham or Halstead or Braintree may have seen the posts by volunteers working to get a stray or deceased cat scanned to reunite it with its owner. The saddest posts report back that there is no chip or a chip with out-of-date contact information, and the cat is left with a vet or rescue charity while they wait for any owner to get in touch.
WHERE DO WE STAND RIGHT NOW?
The Government estimates that there are 9 million pet cats in England, and 2.3 million are not currently microchipped. That’s one in four cats with no quick way of being returned home.
If your cat isn’t yet microchipped – don’t leave it to the last minute. Talk to your vet now. I have heard of cats that went straying for weeks, months and in some cases years, and were identified by their microchip and returned to their homes. Don’t be the person whose cat wanders off before you can get him or her chipped. The worst situation for a cat owner is not knowing what’s happened to your cat. A microchip will give them that extra chance of being brought home.
