All cat owners must follow new law from next week - or risk £500 fine

All cat owners in England will be required to have their pets microchipped from next week due to a new law change. Owners who fail to comply may end up with a hefty fine of £500.

From Monday, June 10, cat microchipping will be mandatory in England. If their pet is found without a microchip, owners will be given a 21-day grace period to get their cats microchipped, after which they could face a penalty.

The new legislation has been eagerly anticipated by animal welfare authorities and campaigners, as it aims to enhance the safety of cats.

READ MORE: 'I found a goldfish lying on the lawn - it's now my pet and has a Twitter account'

Westley Pearson, CEO at Animal Friends Pet Insurance, said: "We are delighted that our feline friends are finally going to be offered the same level of protection as our canine companions, who have been protected under microchipping law since 2016. This essential change will make it easier to reunite any cats with their families should the heart-breaking situation of being lost or stolen arise."

He added: "It will also mean that should a cat be sadly killed in a road traffic accident, their owners can be notified and given the chance to say goodbye properly."

A consultation held from December 2020 to February 2021 received over 33,000 replies in which 99 per cent of people agreed the new law should go ahead.

Mr Pearson is urging cat owners to act promptly to ensure they don't get caught out by the new law. He said: "If your cat hasn't yet had this done, we urge you to get them microchipped as soon as possible to make it easier to be reunited should they wander or get lost in the meantime."

Catrin George, an animal wellbeing specialist at Animal Friends Pet Insurance, explained the