It's now a legal requirement for all dogs to be microchipped by the time they reach 8 weeks old. Owners who fail to have their dog microchipped will have 21 days to resolve the situation or they face a fine of £500. The move has been welcomed by most and it is hoped that more of the lost, stolen and stray dogs will be reunited with their owners as a result of the law. Cats Protection has now spoken up for cats and have approached ministers to extend the new law to include cats and the RSPCA have shown support for the move.
Cat Jarvis, a spokesman for Cats Protection is urging pet owners to consider microchipping their cats as well as their dogs. Thousands of cats go missing each year and sadly almost one in 2 of the missing cats never return to their homes. Microchipping provides a permanent way of finding out the information about the cats address and family, increasing the chances of them returning home. The PDSA say that there are over 4 million cats that are not yet microchipped, that’s about two cats in every five. It is hoped that compulsory cat microchipping will also help the charities and rescue centres who already struggle to cope with the number of strays and abandoned cats in the UK.
Even indoor cats should be microchipped, especially if they are at risk of running out of an open door or making the most of any given opportunity to flee the home. One momentary lapse could easily result in a lost kitty.
We provide a number of options to reduce the risks of lost or stolen cats. Our pet confinement systems can be designed to fit your outdoor space perfectly and there are cat gates available if you need to create a fully enclosed area. Find out more by giving us a call on 0800 999 4008 or click here to read our ‘How to’ guides.