New legislation to introduce compulsory cat microchipping were laid in Parliament ton Monday 13 March.
The new microchipping rules follow a Government call for evidence and consultation on the issue in which 99 percent of respondents expressed support for the measure.
The introduction of compulsory cat microchipping was a manifesto commitment and an Action Plan for Animal Welfare pledge.
The new rules mean cats must be implanted with a microchip before they reach the age of 20 weeks and their contact details stored and kept up to date in a pet microchipping database.
All owners must have their cat microchipped by 10 June 2024 and owners found not to have microchipped their cat will have 21 days to have one implanted, or may face a fine of up to £500.
Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey said: “Cats and kittens are treasured members of the family, and it can be devasting for owners when they are lost or stolen.
“Legislating for compulsory microchipping of cats will give comfort to families by increasing the likelihood that lost or stray pets can be reunited with their owners.”
Chief Veterinary Officer Christine Middlemiss said: “Microchipping is by far the most effective and quickest way of identifying lost pets.
“As we’ve seen with dog microchipping, those who are microchipped are more than twice as likely to be reunited with their owner.
“By getting their cat microchipped, owners can increase the likelihood that they will be reunited with their beloved pet in the event of it going missing.”
David Bowles, head of campaigns and public affairs at the The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), said: “We are pleased to see the UK Government delivering on their pledge to bring in compulsory microchipping for owned cats in England.
“Microchipping is an absolutely essential component of being a responsible pet owner. This new law means that lost cats can be easily identified and reunited with their owners, rather than being handed to rehoming charities who are struggling with overflowing waiting lists.
“Microchipping dogs has been mandatory for many years, so to finally see the same law and protections being applied to cats is a huge step forward for feline welfare.
“We have seen innumerable stories of non-microchipped cats that have been hit by a car or strayed who never get reunited with their owner, as well as the happy stories where cats have been reunited with their owners by our dedicated RSPCA officers thanks to this tiny chip.
“We are hopeful that now we will see more happy stories than sad ones.”
It will not be compulsory for free living cats that live with little or no human interaction or dependency, such as farm, feral or community cats.
Owners with cats that are already microchipped should ensure their details are up to date.
