Compulsory cat microchipping just six months away
Simba was missing for more than a year before his microchip allowed him to be reunited with his owner.
This weekend marked six months until the new cat microchipping law comes into effect on 10 June 2024.
Under the law, pet cats in England will be legally required to be microchipped if they are older than 20 weeks. Owners will also be required to keep their contact details up to date on the microchipping database.
If a cat is found not to be microchipped, the owner will have 21 days to get one or face a fine of up to £500.
As the change in the law draws closer, the RSPCA has been highlighting recent cases that show the importance of cat microchipping.
One such case is that of Simba, a six-year-old cat belonging to Rabia Ali in London. Simba went missing from his home in October 2023 and his owners feared the worst.
Simba was found after the RSPCA were called to a property in Ilford regarding a stray cat that appeared to have stopped eating and drinking. The cat was collected by an animal rescue officer who had him scanned and found his owner’s contact details.
Ms Ali said: “When he went missing we searched day and night for him, there were a lot of tears. We’ve had him since he was a kitten and he is very much a member of the family.
“Despite extensive searches we heard nothing - until 23 November when an RSPCA animal rescuer came to my door and asked if I had a cat called Simba - and said he would be back home in five minutes! Before this, I thought the worst had happened, so I really couldn’t believe it!”
Alice Potter, cat welfare expert at the RSPCA, said: “Cat owners must make sure their cats are microchipped as the new law comes into effect in just six months time. We understand how busy our lives can be and how busy vets can be, so we urge owners with cats over 20 weeks of age to book their appointments now.
“Not only will microchipping your cat mean that if they become lost, stolen, or injured, they are much more likely to be reunited with you, but we also hope that mandatory microchipping will help to tackle important cat welfare issues such as abandonments.”
Image © RSPCA
The BSAVA has opened submissions for the BSAVA Clinical Research Abstracts 2026.
