All about microchipping
Microchipping pet cats became law in England and Wales on the 10 June 2024. The law says that if you have a pet cat who is over 20 weeks of age, you must have him or her implanted with an approved chip, and you must also keep your contact details up to date on the microchip register if you move, change your phone number or the cat passes away.
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Putting that aside for a minute, chipping is the most effective way of getting your cat back to you if she or she gets lost. It's also a good way of tackling pet theft, and so, irrespective of anything else, it's good for your cat's welfare.
Chipping of pets has been done in the UK and worldwide since the late 1980s. ​ It's been compulsory for pet dogs in the UK since 2016.
That means billions of animals have been safely chipped and the safety of chips is monitored in the UK in the same way as animal medicines. A tiny number of chips fail or move in the animal slightly, but still do not cause issues. Chips are sterile, so won't cause infections when implanted.
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The microchip is rice-grain sized and has a tiny transmitter. When a special scanner (that vets, charities, animal wardens and a few other places have) is held near it, a special and unique number shows up. No anaesthetic is needed as the chip is just injected like a normal vaccine or medicine.
That number is registered on the chip database, and your cat's details and your contact details are logged against that.
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There are no details kept on the chip (it'd be a bit silly as you'd never be able to change them without removing the chip). But the law says you must keep your details on the register updated if you move, change phone number, or the cat goes to live with a new owner or sadly passes away. ​​
Microchipping is included in the £10 fee for neutering under the C4 scheme. If your cat is already chipped, the vet will scan for a chip, though the £10 fee stays the same. Normally the vet takes care of registering the chip for you, but occasionally might send you home with either a registration form to post off, or a link to do it online; this may happen, for example, if you are not totally sure of your phone number or email address. If your cat is already neutered, we don't offer any "only-chipping" services under the C4 neutering scheme. However vets or some animal charities may be able to provide this service for a full or reduced fee for you which is separate from the scheme..