Cat owners in the UK are now required by law to microchip their cats. Otherwise, they will be subject to heavy fines. Under this new law, all households will have to microchip their cats by June 2024. The law will come into full force in the same month.
All pet cats must be microchipped by June 2024
All cat owners must microchip their cats by June 10, 2024, the Sun News reports. The UK government has implemented this new obligation to make it easier to reunite lost cats with their owners. Mandatory microchipping will go a long way in identifying and returning lost cats to their rightful owners.
Furthermore, this requirement will have a positive impact on the number of feral cats in the UK. If this law goes into effect, the number of lost and feral pets will ultimately decrease.
Additionally, mandatory microchipping will significantly reduce the operational burden faced by animal shelters across the UK. By microchipping all cats, shelters will no longer face the overwhelming overcrowding and financial problems associated with housing and caring for lost pets brought into shelters.
UK cat owners face $640 fine if cat is not microchipped
Cat owners who fail to microchip their cats by the set deadline in the UK face a $640/£500 fine. According to Metro News, there are over 11 million owned cats in the UK alone. Unfortunately, approximately 2.3 million people do not have a microchip.
In 2016, the UK government introduced a law requiring all domestic dogs to be microchipped. Currently, cat owners must follow the same laws as dog owners.
As part of complying with this new requirement, all cat owners must keep their microchip information up to date. For example, if you move to a different address, it is your responsibility to ensure that your veterinarian updates your cat's microchip with the new details.
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