Do your bit to make microchipping cats compulsory - charity
BID TO BRING LAW IN LINE WITH LEGAL REQUIREMENT FOR DOGS
THE UK’s biggest cat charity is campaigning for compulsory microchipping to become a legal requirement - and wants your help.
Cats Protection is asking animal lovers to get in touch with their MP to urge them to support compulsory microchipping of pet cats, as it already is for dogs, to help improve feline welfare.
The charity will be hosting an online event for politicians on October 20 and is asking supporters to get in touch with their local parliamentarian to ask them to attend and pledge their support to the campaign.
Jacqui Cuff, Cats Protection’s head of advocacy and government relations, said: “We need to get as many MPs as possible to support a change in the law to make it compulsory to microchip pet cats.
“After years of campaigning by Cats Protection, major political parties put compulsory microchipping of cats in their 2019 election manifestos, but no progress has been made and the issue risks falling off the political agenda.
“As a nation of animal lovers, we know that many people will want to see their MP taking a keen interest in animal welfare issues.
“By getting in touch with your MP and asking them to join in our online event, you’ll be helping us move a step closer to a law change which will benefit countless cats and kittens in the future.
“Our campaign for compulsory microchipping is one of a number of issues we’re working on to improve feline welfare across the UK.”
Microchipping is the safe and permanent way to identify a cat and reunite a lost cat with their owner. Owners of unchipped cats can suffer unnecessary heartbreak not knowing the fate of their cat if they go missing. Yet, despite this, statistics show more than three million owned cats (29%) are not microchipped.
Microchipping was made compulsory for dogs in 2016 and, as a result, 92% are now chipped.
■ To support Cats Protection’s campaign and send an e-mail to your MP, visit: cats.org.uk/microchippingcampaign
■ For more on the campaign, visit: cats.org.uk/what-we-do/campaigning/