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Time and time again, we say that microchipping your pet is the number one way to have a happy reunion with them should they go missing. And still, many cat owners fail to do it for whatever reason. For pets that come from animal rescues and shelters, they are typically microchipped before they go on to live with their adopted families. But we know that many people acquire cats by other means, too. For UK residents with pets, a proposed law is about to change all of this.

The government consult will close this Saturday, January 4th, 2020, and if the proposed law passes, it will become mandatory for all cat owners to have their felines microchipped.

Maine Coon cat

And for those cats and dogs that aren’t? Well, they could have their beloved feline friends seized from their homes.

The Gov.UK website states that:

This government has always urged cat owners to microchip their pets as the right thing to do as responsible pet owners and is now taking steps to introduce compulsory cat microchipping to give pet owners peace of mind, help tackle cat theft and identify cats injured or killed on roads.

Independent.co.uk shared that: “Cats Protection reported that 8 out of 10 stray cats handed in to their adoption centres in England during 2018 were unchipped.”

As part of the proposed law, it is being considered that local councils will have the power to seize the unchipped cats. The unchipped cats will then be taken in for their microchip implants, and returned back to their rightful owner once an estimated fee of £25 is paid.

Black cat

A similar law was made effective regarding canines in 2016, and it was reported that nearly 92 percent of dog owners were believed to be compliant in 2018. Due to this, there was a 15 percent reduction in the number of dogs handled by the local authorities.

For canines in the UK, owners will be fined £500 if they fail to have an identification chip implanted in their pet by the time they are eight weeks old.

“Microchips are often the only hope of reuniting lost pets with their owners so it truly is the best New Year’s resolution you could make to protect your furry friend in 2020.” — Zac Goldsmith, Animal welfare minister

Jacqui Cuff of Cats Protection in the UK urges cat owners on the significance of microchipping as well. She says:

“It is so important that cat owners microchip their pet cats as it is a safe and permanent form of identification. Cats love to explore, and are also great escape artists, so microchipping is important for cats, even those that live indoors. Microchipping ensures lost cats can quickly be returned home, and that owners can be informed if their cat is injured and taken to a vet.”

curious kitten

Along with the importance of microchipping your pet, it is also highly stressed that pet owners must always ensure that the information associated with their pet’s microchip is current. A pet with a microchip is useless if there’s incorrect or missing information.

UK officials feel that “microchipping pets, and ensuring the data is kept up to date, is a vital part of being a responsible pet owner.”

For cats, it doesn’t matter if they are exclusively indoor pets. Accidents happen every day and having your cat microchipped can ultimately mean the difference between being reunited with them or not.  

cat in window

What are your thoughts on this proposed law?

Do you think this is necessary? Share with us in the comments section and tell us your thoughts on this.

REMEMBER: ADOPT, DON’T SHOP; FOSTERING SAVES LIVES & SPAY AND NEUTER!

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