Cat owners could face a hefty fine if they don't make sure their pet is microchipped, after the Government introduced a new law making it compulsory.
The legislation, which was laid in Parliament on Monday, March 13, means that owners will have until June 10, 2024 to get their cat microchipped. Any owner whose cat is found not to have been microchipped after this date will have 21 days to get it done, or risk being slapped with a fine of up to £500.
There are more than nine million pet cats in England alone, as many as 2.3 million of which are not microchipped, according to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA). It's hoped that the new rules will make it easier to reunite lost or stolen cats with their owners.
