Cat microchip cost as owners given three month warning or risk £500 fine
11.03.2024 - 15:58
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
A new law will come into force over the summer which will make it a legal requirement for all cat owners to have their pet microchipped.
From June 10, 2024, all cats must be microchipped, with their owners up-to-date contact details, and failure to do so could result in a £500 fine.
Cats must also be implanted with a microchip before they reach the age of 20 weeks. The new law aims to make it easier for lost or stray pet cats to be reunited with their owners and returned home safely.
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Those who are looking to get their pets chipped before the deadline may now be wondering how much it will cost. The process of microchipping involves the insertion of a chip, generally around the size of a grain of rice, under the skin of a pet. The microchip has a unique serial number that the keeper needs to register on a database. When an animal is found, the microchip can be read with a scanner and the registered keeper identified on a database so the pet can quickly be reunited with them.
According to Cats Protection, it costs between £20 and £30 to microchip a cat in the UK, depending on where you live. Charities and cat rescue organisations may also be able to microchip your cat for a reduced rate.
For example, the RSPCA offer a £10 microchipping service and the vet chain CVS offers free microchipping as part of its Health Pet Club plan.
Amending your contact details on a cat microchip database can mean paying a fee - for when you move house for example. However, depending on the database, this might be a one-off fee for the lifetime of your cat, or a cost every time you update.
Speaking after the new law was announced last