{"id":636542,"date":"2024-08-27T15:46:00","date_gmt":"2024-08-27T19:46:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.catster.com\/?p=636542"},"modified":"2024-08-27T15:47:58","modified_gmt":"2024-08-27T19:47:58","slug":"uk-cat-chipping-law","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.catster.com\/cat-health-care\/uk-cat-chipping-law\/","title":{"rendered":"UK Cat Chipping Law: What Is It & What You Need to Know (Vet-Verified)"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n <\/span>\n \nWhat Is Microchipping?<\/a>
\nUK Microchipping Law<\/a>
\nThe Benefits of Microchipping<\/a>
\nThe Microchipping Procedure<\/a>
\nChanging Details<\/a>
\nWhat to Do If You Lose a Microchipped Cat<\/a>
\nFAQ<\/a>
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It\u2019s been on the cards ever since dog microchipping became compulsory in the UK, and as of June 2024, it is now a legal requirement that all pet cats in England are microchipped before they reach the age of 20 weeks.<\/p>\n

Breeders do not need to chip cats before selling them, but most rescues will do so and incorporate the price of chipping into adoption fees. Owners not only enjoy the benefits of following the law, but they can enjoy an increased chance of being reunited with a lost cat much sooner than if the cat was not chipped.<\/p>\n

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What Is Microchipping?<\/h2>\n

When a cat is microchipped, a small microchip inside medical glass is inserted just under the skin, typically between the shoulder blades. If the cat goes missing and is recovered by a vet or a rescue, they will be able to scan the cat. Scanning the cat gives a microchip ID (a unique serial number) that can be checked against the relevant microchip database, which contains contact details for the cat\u2019s owners.<\/p>\n

The owner is called, and they can be reunited with the cat, typically within a matter of hours, rather than days. It puts less pressure on rescues and shelters and ensures quicker reunion of lost pets and concerned owners.<\/p>\n

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Image Credit: Ivonne Wierink, Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

UK Microchipping Law<\/h2>\n

Before 2024, around three-quarters of pet cats in the UK were believed to be microchipped. While this represents a large majority of the feline population, it still meant that around 2.4 million pet cats were not microchipped.<\/p>\n

The government introduced a new law that came into effect in June 2024 and that required all owners in England to microchip their cats before they reached 20 weeks of age. Owners who fail to have their cats chipped face fines of up to \u00a3500 and might find it difficult to reclaim their cats in some cases. Currently the law is only applicable to cats in England, and is not compulsory for free living cats with little or no human interaction such as feral cats.<\/p>\n

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The Benefits of Microchipping<\/h2>\n
The main benefits of microchipping a cat are:<\/div>
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