In 2016, it became a legal requirement in the UK for dogs to be microchipped, with the keepers’ contact details kept up to date on a Defra-compliant database. From Monday 10 June 2024, it will be compulsory for owned cats in England to be microchipped and registered in the same way (Gov.uk, 2023).
Why is microchipping important?
On average, nearly 13,000 pets that are registered with identibase go missing each year in the UK (identi, 2024a). No keeper wants to think about their pet going missing, but sadly, it happens all too often. Here, the word “keeper” is used because a cat does not always reside with its owner.
Nearly 9,000 of the pets registered with identibase have been reunited with their keepers (identi, 2024b); however, this leaves a considerable number of beloved pets untraceable should the details be incorrect on the microchip database.
Cats Protection’s annual Cats and Their Stats (CATS) report for 2023 found that an estimated 8 million UK cats are microchipped (73 percent), while 3 million (27 percent) are potentially not (CP, 2023). The top reasons for cats not having a microchip were cited as:
- The cat doesn’t go outside (27 percent)
- The cat doesn’t stray or go far (18 percent)
- The keepers “hadn’t thought about it” (14 percent)
Despite these reasons, cats can and do escape from their home. They can also get spooked and stray, and there is the possibility of fines should keepers not comply with the law.
Why do keepers avoid microchipping, and how can we help?
Keepers of fearful and nervous cats can be anxious about bringing them into a veterinary practice. They may also be reluctant to make an additional visit for microchipping. If these cats are due for any upcoming vet appointments, their keepers should be made aware that combining microchip implantation with this visit could reduce stress for the cat and maximise the practice’s time.
Compliance makes a difference; by reminding keepers of their legal obligations and the importance of correct contact details, there will be an increased number of traceable pets, such as Oleg (Figure 1).
identi supports veterinary clients with materials that are easily accessible for staff to use and distribute to clients, from social media toolkits to their new “Practice Pet Protection Pack” (available in hard or digital copy for a practice’s convenience). There is also a detail aid, species law guides, a registration routes summary, a cat microchipping tip list and three short explanatory videos.
For clients, identi has produced three client leaflets covering compulsory cat chipping, general microchipping guidance and a puppy and kitten leaflet.
Keepers should be made aware that combining microchip implantation with this visit could reduce stress for the cat and maximise the practice’s time
Oleg’s story
Oleg was originally from Cornwall but moved to the Midlands, following his keeper’s son, Lewis, as he travelled to Lincoln for university. Oleg and Gill (Figure 2), his keeper, moved to Nottinghamshire in April 2022 and he seemed to settle in well. He explored the outdoors, always returning when hunger beckoned, until one fateful day when he did not. Every effort was made to find Oleg but with no success.
Eighteen months later, identi’s pet protection experts received a phone call from a compassionate member of the public working on an industrial estate three miles from where Oleg disappeared (Figure 3). The good Samaritan was concerned for the animal’s safety. Once identification had been made through the microchip, we were able to promptly share the news of his location and finder’s details with Gill, setting in motion Oleg’s long-awaited reunion with his owners.
Gill was shocked to receive our phone call; Oleg had been missing 18 months at that point, and she was close to giving up hope of ever being reunited.
When he was found, Oleg was checked over by vets. There were no concerns for his health, and he embraced his new/old home again.
After reuniting, Oleg has settled in nicely. Gill tells us: “[I have] absolutely no idea where he has been in the meantime, he won’t tell us! If it wasn’t for the microchip, we wouldn’t have found him, there is no way around that.”
Conclusion
With busy lives, microchip administration may not be the first item on the to-do list. However, the realisation that the keeper cannot recall who the microchip is registered with and whether their contact details are up to date is a cause of much frustration when pets do go missing.
A simple newsletter article or social media post, for example, advising clients of “what to do if your pet goes missing” can be a crucial reminder to have important microchip details close at hand.
Who is identi?
identi, which comprises identichip for microchip supply and identibase, one of the UK’s largest and the longest-established Defra-compliant pet microchipping database, is here to support veterinary practices with the microchipping and pet protection journey.
Relevant support for veterinary staff and a range of materials for client-facing roles are available.
| If staff would like to discuss the new pack or would benefit from a short one-to-one remote call to discuss compulsory cat chipping, identichips or the pet protection journey please email contact@identichip.co.uk. |
