From 10 June 2024 it has been a legal requirement that all cats are microchipped. If you live in England your cat must be microchipped and registered by the time it’s 20 weeks old. This includes cats that usually stay indoors ( indoor only).

If you don’t microchip your cat you could be fined £500.

Who can microchip your cat?

Your pets microchip must be fitted by a trained professional. Vets, local rescue or shelters,  who have dedicated implanters who are trained and hold verification that they can implant microchips.

What is a microchip?

Your pets microchip holds a number. When an animal is scanned this number shows up.

You must make sure that your animal is registered in the microchip national database with all the correct information. You’re responsible for keeping your pets microchip information up to date, for example if you move home etc.

If your pet gets lost, goes missing, or has been found they will be scanned to find the microchip number which holds all the information of the owner. A microchip is crucial to reuniting them with their owners and returning home safely if they are found.

When should a kitten be microchipped?

If your kitten is big enough when they go for their first vaccination ( 7 weeks old) they can have the microchip implanted. If the vet feels their not quite big enough they may wait till the second vaccination three to four weeks later or when the kitten is fit enough to receive the microchip. 

Catitude microchip process

When a cat or kitten comes to Catitude it will go to our vets and be implanted with a microchip.

The vet usually does this at the same time as vaccinations.  The microchip number will be written down on the vaccination card.

Catitude will register the microchip to our welfare account through of the microchip national databases.

Once you adopt Catitude will do a "transfer of keepership" to the new owners. Please note that once this has been completed the responsibility of the cat is now the new owners and you are fully responsible for updating any information.