Everything You Need to Know About Cat Microchipping

Microchipping cats is an important part of giving owners the best chance of you both being reunited! Cats go missing for many different reasons, especially when you move home. The change in the environment can really throw them off. If you haven’t moved too far away, they can sometimes try to return to their old home as it’s what they know. If they’re chipped, it’s extremely easy to trace your moggy from your old home or any other place they have roamed off to.

Until recently, it has always been the owner’s choice whether you want to get your cat microchipped. However, following the passing of the governments manifesto commitment and an Action Plan for Animal Welfare pledge it’s no longer a choice for owners.

The UK government has changed the law which now expects cat owners to have their feline friends microchipped, in an effort to make reuniting missing pets and owners a much easier process. Out of the 9 million pet moggies in England, 2.5 million remain unchipped, which makes it more important than ever to have visibility over your bundle of joy.

All owners will need to have their feline friends microchipped by the 10th of June 2024. The new regulation means that all cats over the age of 20 weeks should be microchipped and if they are found not to be, owners could face a fine of up to £500. During the research process before the government brought the law into place, it was found that 99% of people asked were in support of mandatory microchipping to make sure fewer cats were being separated from their owners.

Microchipping is not an expensive procedure and can be done in a matter of minutes, so you don’t need to worry. At the Jollyes Community Pet Clinic, you can get a microchip for as little as £13 which is implanted by a professional.

Once in place, you no longer need to worry about your believed feline companion going missing with no way of tracing them back to you. If they were to go missing, they can be scanned and your details will pop up on a system so you can be reunited with your pet. It’s not a big price to pay for such good peace of mind!

Getting your cat microchipped could not be easier. Any trained professional or vet can carry out the process of microchipping. If you choose to get it done with a vet, it can often be tied in with a general health check-up, vaccinations or spay and neuter. It takes a matter of seconds to apply the microchip - if your kitty has a vet trip coming up and isn’t already microchipped, you can quite easily ask for it to be done on the day.

There’s no need for any anaesthetic when they get their microchip done, therefore you don’t have to worry about recovery or drowsiness afterwards. The site of the needle will heal quickly on its own.

A microchip is usually placed at the back of your moggy’s neck or between their shoulder blades. These are common places for your cat’s chip to be inserted and means for any professional searching in the future, it makes the process straight forward in checking their owners’ details.

The chip is placed right under the surface of the skin, so it does not have to be injected very far to make it easier to read. After your beloved pet is microchipped, it can be quite common to feel the little rice grain size chip under the skin because it’s so close to the surface - this is nothing to worry about and perfectly normal. During most vet visits after they’re microchipped, the vet will tend to test scan their chip to make sure it’s still right place and working properly. The only upkeep cat owners have, is keeping their details up to date – especially after moving house!

Being a good owner starts with doing everything you can to keep your cat safe and healthy including microchipping them, so they can always be returned to you in the case of them going missing. For all their other needs, take a look at our range of cat products to pamper your feline friend.