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Nearly eight out of 10 stray cats do not have a microchip
Tens of thousands of people have signed a petition calling on the government to make microchipping compulsory for cats, as it is for dogs.
The petition was launched in response to new figures that show nearly eight in 10 stray cats coming into the care of Cats Protection do not have a microchip. Jacqui Cuff, head of advocacy & relations at Cats Protection, said:
“Most of the stray cats we take into our adoption centres do not have a microchip, so it’s incredibly difficult to trace an owner. It means many cats, which may well have a loving family, have to be re-homed as we simply can’t trace their owner.
“Microchipping gives lost cats the best possible chance of being reunited with their owner. And in the sad event that a cat is injured or killed on the roads, the details on a microchip can ensure their owner is quickly informed.
She continued: “Microchipping is an essential part of responsible pet ownership and is already compulsory for dogs. It’s now time that cats receive the same level of protection by ensuring that all pet cats are microchipped.”
There are lots of stories about pets being reunited with their owners many years after they were lost. But perhaps some aren’t quite as extraordinary as the tale of Quincey, who had been missing for more than 12 years when he was finally reunited with his family.
Sadly Quincey’s owner died not long after he disappeared. But, thanks to details on his microchip, he was returned to her daughter Paula, in Braintree, Essex.
Paula said: “We honestly never thought we would see Quincey again and the whole family was overjoyed when we got a call to say he’d be found. Even after all these years, he’s still a much-loved family pet, and we were delighted to get him back.
“None of that would have been possible had he not been microchipped, and I’m firmly of the view that microchipping is a necessary part of owning a cat.”
Two independent vets have launched a podcast to help owners strengthen their bond with pets. Dr Maggie Roberts and Dr Vanessa Howie, who have worked in both veterinary practice and major charities, are keen to use their experience to enable people to give pets a better life.
