Microchipping Your Cat: Your Guide to UK Law, Safety & Reunion

As well as lots of love and attention, it’s important to give your cat the best protection possible if they get lost or go missing. As well as being the law in England, microchipping your cat gives them the very best chance of being safely returned to you if they should wander off.

Why microchip your cat?

Microchipping your cat provides invaluable peace of mind and is a fundamental part of responsible pet ownership. It offers a permanent form of identification that greatly increases the likelihood of being reunited if your cat becomes lost.

Furthermore, in England, it is now a legal requirement. Let's delve a little bit more into the key reasons why microchipping is so essential:

The mandatory microchipping law in England

In England, it has become compulsory to have all cats microchipped before they reach 20 weeks of age, with the keeper’s details registered on an approved database and kept up to date. This is important, as a microchip only helps reunite owners with their pet if the contact information it is linked to is correct. The law also applies to cats that usually live indoors. Not complying with this could see you facing a fine of up to £500.

Increased chances of reunion

As well as complying with the law, there are several benefits to permanently identifying your cat by microchipping. The main one is to be able to reunite you with your cat if they get lost, wander or stray, or are involved in an accident.

A microchip is the best way to do this as unlike cat collars with tags, which can be lost or caught, a microchip is a permanent form of identification. Quick-release collars, by their nature, are especially likely to be lost when a cat is out and about.

Even if your cat lives indoors, there is still a chance they could escape through an open door or window, especially if they get spooked by something, or maybe just become disoriented in a new environment - if you’ve just moved house or rehomed them for example.

Additional benefits

As well as helping to reunite you with your lost pet, a cat microchip can also help support ownership if there is ever a dispute.

In addition, you can use a microchip to activate a microchip cat flap in your home. This can be linked to your cat’s microchip and only let your feline into the house and so prevent ‘intruders’.

Plus, the microchip number can be linked to your cat’s veterinary notes, and of course if you decide to travel abroad with your cat for any reason, a microchip will usually be needed as part of their travel requirements.

Read our articles on moving house or traveling with your cat for more details.

What is microchipping?

Microchipping a cat is a quick and simple way to give your cat permanent identification. If your cat is found, a vet or rescue centre can scan your cat’s embedded microchip to find your details from the microchip database. It really is as simple as that!

How does microchipping work?

Depending on how old your kitten is when you get them, it is possible that your cat’s breeder will have microchipped them already, so it’s always worth checking when you pick them up. If not, you will have to arrange this before your kitten reaches 20 weeks old.

Registering and updating your cat’s details

The cat microchip has a unique 15-digit code, which is then logged in a national database along with your details including your name, address, and contact telephone number.

Remember that if you later move or change your contact details you must by law update your records by contacting the microchip company. There is sometimes an admin fee applied to change your details, but some providers may waive this fee for the first change.

How a microchip leads you to your cat (should it get lost!)

If your furry friend does wander off one day and is found by a member of the public, they can take them to a rescue centre or veterinary surgery where the vet or centre staff can use a scanning device to find your cat’s microchip. This scan is quick, safe and painless and, much like a bar code on your shopping, a unique 15-digit code will be displayed. After security checks have been carried out, the microchip register will reveal your contact details, helping you and your cat to be reunited.

When should I get my cat microchipped?

It should be done before they go outside for the first time – and many people choose to do this while their kitten is under anaesthetic during neutering, as long as this is before they reach 20 weeks of age.

Kittens adopted from a rescue centre will often already be microchipped if they are old enough. Most rescue centres will microchip all cats that they rehome but if you rehome a cat that is not microchipped, and they are over 20 weeks old, you will have to arrange this within 21 days.

Some breeders also arrange microchipping of their kittens as part of their agreement with new owners.

How much does it cost to microchip a cat?

The cost of cat microchipping varies depending on the area where you live and whether it is done by a vet or a local charity. In most cases there’s a fixed cost to have the implant put in place, with no ongoing charges unless you need to update your contact details. Some charities offer free or low-cost microchipping. 

What to Do if You Find a Lost or Stray Cat

Often a stray cat isn’t lost at all - they are just exploring the neighbourhood. Well-meaning people then feed them and so they keep coming back! Often the easiest way to reunite these feline explorers is to take a photo and post it on local social media pages (most villages or towns have their own social media page).

If they are injured or do not look well or appear underweight you can take them to a local vet or rescue centre - they can scan them to try and identify the owner.
For more details, read our other article on what to do if you find a stray cat.

FAQ