Why all Greater London cats need a microchip in 2022
May 14, 2022
You have probably heard the old saying about cats and curiosity being a dangerous combination, so how do you give them any kind of safety net as they embark on a life of adventure? Identification, that’s how.
June is National Microchipping Month, so whether you have an indoor or outdoor cat, read on to discover why all cats in Greater London need a microchip, by law, in 2022.
Find your lost cat
While some cats probably shudder at the thought of leaving their favourite sofa, let alone the back garden, other cats can wander for miles. What all cats have in common though, is the ability to get picked up by a helpful passer-by or an animal warden for looking lost and taken to a veterinary practice or rescue centre.
Most cats don’t wear a collar and ID tag so without any form of identification, reuniting the two of you could be impossible. When the owner cannot be found, cats are typically put up for rehoming.
The team at Alpha Vets recommend cat microchipping as the best way of ensuring your feline friend can be quickly reunited with you. Contact us to book a cat microchip appointment.
New cat microchip law UK
‘Lost & found’ isn’t the only reason our Teddington veterinary team recommend cat microchipping.
DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) has announced that cat microchipping will become compulsory in the UK in 2022 as part of a larger animal welfare action plan. The move is aimed at making more cats identifiable, in turn helping with issues such as cat thefts, strays, and deceased cats left by the road following traffic accidents.
This new law, which will carry a fine of £500 for non-compliance, is welcomed by many cat charities including Cats Matter and Cats Protection.
As part of the legislative changes, all cats over 20 weeks of age (unless there is an animal health or welfare reason certified by a Vet) must be microchipped by law. This coincides with the typical age kittens can be neutered from, so both procedures can be done by our team here at Alpha Vets before your kitten ventures outside. If your cat is already neutered, microchipping only takes a few minutes. Call us for more information on 0208 943 2303.
What does cat microchipping involve?
Microchips are tiny electronic devices, no bigger than a grain of rice, which are injected under the skin on the back of a cat’s neck. The procedure is quick and perfectly safe.
Your cat’s microchip carries your unique registration number, which links to a database where all your contact information is stored. One of our Teddington veterinary surgeons or nurses, and staff at some animal shelters, can scan the microchip and access the database to get your details.
It is likely to also be an offence to not keep your contact details up to date on the database, as it is with dogs. And why wouldn’t you? Out of date contact details are no use to your cat!
Don’t delay, book your cat’s microchipping today
At Alpha Vets, we recommend that owners get ahead of this new law and get their cat microchipped as soon as possible. The unthinkable could happen today and a microchip could make all the difference in reuniting you with your cat.
