Do Cats Need Microchipping? The Law, the Risks and the Answer
England now requires every pet cat to be chipped, whatever their lifestyle, so it pays to know where you stand and what keeping their details current involves.
In England, every pet cat older than 20 weeks must be microchipped, including cats that never go outside. The rule came into force on 10 June 2024. Getting it done is one short vet appointment, and our page on cat microchipping covers what to expect.
Where the law applies
The law applies in England only. In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, GOV.UK says cat microchipping is optional, though the chip works exactly the same way if you have one fitted. Our explainer on what the June 2024 cat microchipping rule means for you has the detail.
If you’ve brought a cat into England from abroad, the age threshold doesn’t apply. The regulations say the cat must be chipped within 30 days of arriving.
Feral and farm cats are a different question. In England, the regulations define the keeper as the person the animal normally lives with, so a free-living cat with no keeper has nobody the duty can fall on.
Do indoor cats need microchipping?
The PDSA (the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals) found in its 2024 PAW report that 31% of cats live indoors only, with most kept in because their owner thinks it’s unsafe outside. England’s law makes no exception for these cats, and there’s a practical reason as well as a legal one. An indoor cat that does slip out is more likely to become disoriented and lost, because the outside world is unfamiliar to them.
A chip is how whoever finds them gets them back to you. Scanning takes seconds, and most vets will do it at no charge for a found cat. If your cat is still young, our guide to microchipping kittens explains when it happens and what it involves.
Why some owners skip it
The same report asked owners of unchipped cats for their reasons. 21% said the cat doesn’t go outside, 17% said the cat is unlikely to stray, and 16% didn’t think it was necessary. Those answers made sense when chipping was a personal choice.
Since the law changed, they no longer stand on their own. If your cat isn’t chipped, an authorised person can serve you a notice giving you 21 days to have it done. Ignoring the notice is an offence and you could be fined up to £500, so it’s worth sorting before it gets to that point. If you think a notice shouldn’t apply to you, you can appeal to a tribunal, which pauses the notice until the appeal is decided.
Keeping your cat's details findable
The chip itself only holds a number, so your cat gets home only when the record on a database holds up-to-date details for you. A new phone, a house move or a change of email can break that link, and the chip gives no warning when it happens. In England, the owner is responsible for keeping those details current, and most databases let you edit them from your phone or laptop whenever anything changes.
Once the chip is in, you can register the microchip with your current contact details in one go. After that, keeping those details current is the only ongoing job.
The simplest next step is to register your cat’s chip with Pet Database and keep your details current. Then if your cat does slip out, the number on the chip leads straight back to you.
