LONDON

From June 10, cat owners across England are required by law to have their pets microchipped before they reach the age of 20 weeks.

This new legislation, introduced by the UK Environment Ministry, aims to make it easier for lost or stray cats to be reunited with their owners.

According to a statement by the ministry, with more than 9 million pet cats in England, mandatory microchipping is expected to significantly enhance the ability to identify and return lost pets to their homes.

The policy follows the success of a similar requirement for dogs, which has proven to be the most effective method for pet identification, with microchipped dogs more than twice as likely to be reunited with their owners.

The process of microchipping involves inserting a small chip, approximately the size of a grain of rice, under the pet's skin.

Each microchip contains a unique serial number that is registered in an approved pet microchipping database, along with the owner's contact details.

When a lost animal is found, a scanner can read the microchip, enabling authorities to quickly identify and contact the owner.

The average cost of microchipping and registration is around £25 ($32), though many charities and reputable cat rescue organizations offer microchipping at a reduced rate.

This legislation mandates that all owned cats, even those that predominantly stay indoors, must be microchipped.

However, it exempts free-living cats with minimal human interaction, such as farm, feral, or community cats.

The requirement was confirmed in legislation laid in March 2023, providing cat owners with over a year to comply.

Those who fail to microchip their cats by the required age could face fines of up to £500 ($635).