Government call for evidence on compulsory microchipping of cats
15 August 2019
A new announcement by the Government has called for evidence on the compulsory microchipping of cats. The announcement, by David Rutley MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, to launch a call for evidence as soon as possible was in response to a parliamentary debate on June 17 on the scanning and microchipping of cats.
The news comes at a great time for us at Cats Protection, particularly as we have recently launched a campaign to make microchipping compulsory in Wales.
Head of Advocacy & Government Relations Jacqui Cuff said:
“We’re delighted the Government has shown a commitment towards improving feline welfare and promoting responsible cat ownership in the UK by launching this call for evidence. We look forward to working closely with Government to take this issue forward. The debate in parliament with its real-life stories from MPs across the political spectrum showed the strength of public support for microchipping and scanning.”
In 2018, 62% of the cats taken in by Cats Protection’s Adoption Centres were not microchipped. As microchipping is the only safe, permanent and cost-effective method of identifying pets, it is important that this is implemented by cat owners – especially as it increases the likelihood of a happy reunion. Without microchipping, it can be impossible to reunite lost cats with this owners, meaning they may be rehomed to other people.
The Government also heard from MPs about the vital role microchipping plays in enabling owners to be notified if their cat has been injured or killed in a road accident. Cats Protection encourages all local councils to scan cats they collect that have been killed on the roads. The charity welcomes the commitment made in the debate for discussions with the Under-Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government to explore how best practice on scanning can be encouraged across local councils.
For more information on our microchipping campaign, visit www.cats.org.uk/microchips-reunite