New research finds nearly half the UK’s cats are not microchipped
11 June 2015
We are urging pet owners to microchip their animals during National Microchipping Month (June) following recent research which found that nearly half of the UK’s owned cats are not microchipped.
The survey, which was conducted jointly with the Pet Food Manufacturers Association, discovered that out of the UK’s 7.4m owned cats, only 4.1m are microchipped. It also looked at regional variations and found that Scottish cat owners are the least likely to microchip their cats (only 32 per cent) and the South East the most likely (at 69 per cent).
New Government rules stipulate that all dogs in England must be microchipped by 2016 so the argument for getting a pet chipped is stronger than ever.
“This National Microchipping Month we’re urging people to put the safety of their pet first and get them chipped,” said Karen Thompson, deputy manager at the National Cat Adoption Centre. “The procedure is simple, relatively painless and essential to ensure the ongoing welfare of a family pet. The cost is minimal but the joy felt by an owner when their pet is found is priceless.”