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Cat microchipping

What’s the issue?

Microchipping is a safe, effective, and permanent way to identify individual animals, including cats. Our Voice of the Veterinary Profession 2019 survey showed that over half (51%) of cats that vets see in practice are microchipped. [1]

Cat microchipping has the potential to improve animal welfare and promote responsible ownership by enabling:

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  • Lost, stray and stolen cats to be returned to their owners more rapidly[2];
  • Quicker identification of injured cats meaning that owners are contacted more quickly for veterinary treatment to be agreed and undertaken promptly;
  • Quicker and more accurate identification of dead cats and notification to owners;
  • Health test results to be correctly attributed to an individual animal;
  • Population data regarding cats be collected allowing more accurate prevalence data to be calculated;
  • Tracing and identification of animals in the event of a disease outbreak, such as Rabies;
  • Reinforcement of responsibilities of the owner under the Animal Welfare Act;
  • Microchip activated technology, such as pet feeders or cat flaps, to support weight management and prevent unwanted animals the home;
  • Easier detection of cat theft;
  • Easier identification and subsequent arrest of owners culpable of animal cruelty; and
  • Reduction of potential for fraud at cat shows.

[1] In the Voice of the Veterinary Profession Autumn 2019 survey vets reported that 51% of cats that they see in practice are microchipped (535 base).

[2] In the Voice of the Veterinary Profession Autumn 2019 survey 84% of vets surveyed (535 base) said that the most common reason for being unable to reunite stray cats with their owners was the absence of identifier information.

What’s our view?

Microchipping is a key element of responsible cat ownership and BVA welcomed the introduction of compulsory microchipping for cats in England.

This relatively simple technology can have a big impact, enabling lost, stray and stolen cats to be reunited with their families, and injured cats to be quickly identified and treated.

In addition to this, we have long called for the creation of a centralised portal for microchip records. It was positive to see the new Government measures to reform the existing pet microchipping database system. The proposed plans make microchip records easier to access, improve the accuracy of microchip information, and standardise processes for database operators with the aim of helping reunite stray pets and deter pet theft.

Read our policy document

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Contact our policy team for more information.