Pet owners issued £500 fine warning as new law set to come into force

Charities including the RSPCA and British Veterinary Association are urging owners to get their cats chipped as it is the easiest way to find lost pets - and from June 10, it will become law.

From June 10, all moggies over 20 weeks in England must be chipped by law and will be kept on a database.

Charities including the RSPCA and British Veterinary Association are urging owners to get their cats chipped as it is the easiest way to find lost pets.

Cats Protection estimates 2.2 million cats in England are unchipped and 300,000 have owners who are unsure if their pet has had the procedure. It costs about £17 and enables vets or shelters to scan a lost or stray cat.

Madison Rogers, of Cats Protection, said: “After years of campaigning, we are delighted cats in England will finally be given the same protection in law as dogs.

“No matter how far from home they are found or how long they have been missing, if a cat has a microchip there is a good chance they can be swiftly returned home.”

Cats Protection figures also show more than a quarter of owners have not had their cat chipped because their pet does not venture outdoors. And around one in five say their cat does not wander when they do go out.

Simba the cat was reunited with his owner Rabia Ali thanks to a microchip after going missing for over a year. Simba was spotted over a mile away from his home and reported to the RSPCA.

Rabia, from Ilford, Essex, said: “When Simba went missing in October 2022 we searched day and night for him, there were a lot of tears. We’ve had him since a kitten and he is very much a member of the family.

We heard nothing until November 23, 2023, when an RSPCA inspector came to my door and asked if I had a cat called Simba and said he would be home in five minutes. The whole family is overjoyed, we thought he was gone.”

If your cat is not microchipped or to check if it is, book an appointment with your local vet. If your cat is already microchipped, check the contact details linked to their microchip are up to date. If you are adopting a cat check they have a chip. Ask to see the certificate, vet records or pet passport.