All cats must soon be microchipped

By Kelly Errington Deputy Head Vet Nurse 

Now is the time to get your cat microchipped if you haven’t already.

The law in England changes on 10th June 2024 meaning every cat over 20 weeks of age must be microchipped, including old cats and indoor cats.

Owners of cats found without a microchip after that date will have 21 days to comply or they could be fined up to £500.

Every year thousands of lost pets are reunited with their owners thanks to their microchips. 

A microchip is inserted under the skin between the shoulder blades with a needle and is the size of a grain of rice. It contains a unique number which can be read by an electronic scanner and linked back to you. If your cat gets lost anyone with a scanner, such as vets and rescue centres, can see who the owner is.

It is a simple procedure and is no more painful than an injection. It takes literally seconds to implant the chip, and pets don’t require sedation. We try to make it a pleasant experience and can offer treats, however most cats tolerate it very well. 

The procedure can be done in a 15-minute appointment or when the cat is in for a vaccination or being neutered under an anesthetic.

The chips are made from non-reactive material and once in place should have no effect on your pet and should last for its lifetime.

We register your details, including your name and address, with the microchip database company once the chip has been implanted. You as an owner just need to ensure they are kept up to date should you change phone number, email address, house address. If you rehome your cat its vital the new owner provide their details to the microchip company. 

We see a lot of stray cats brought to us at Paragon and normally if we can’t find the owner via a microchip, or appeals on social media, they stay with us for seven days and then they go to a rehoming charity, making a successful reunion with an owner less likely at this stage.

When we scan a stray cat and hear that beep to indicate an ID chip is present, it is a relief to know we can access the cat and owner’s details and get them reunited without too much fuss.

We cannot stress how important it is to microchip your cat. Unlike dogs, cats are very independent animals more at risk of wandering far from home and getting lost.