Stormont Executive urged to make microchipping cats a legal requirement

The Stormont Executive has been urged to make microchipping pet cats a legal requirement.

The appeal from animal welfare charities comes after new legislation will see cat owners in England risk a £500 fine if they don’t microchip their pets.

More than a quarter of the 300,000 pet cats in Northern Ireland are not microchipped, according to Cats Protection’s Cats And Their Stats 2023 report.

The Northern Ireland Companion Animal Welfare Group (NICAWG) said mandatory microchipping of pet cats would substantially increase the likelihood of them being returned to their homes if lost.

NICAWG President Nora Smith said there are many cases of stray cats that cannot be reunited with their owners.

“Microchipping is an essential part of being a responsible pet owner and mandatory microchipping in Northern Ireland would significantly improve the welfare of cats here,” she said.

“This ensures cats and kittens can quickly return home if they are lost, stolen or injured, and means owners can be informed in tragic cases where cats are killed on the road.

“We come across many cases of stray cats arriving at our center and, if they are not microchipped, it can be impossible to find their owner.

“On the other hand, if they are microchipped, we can return them home very quickly. We had a case last year where a cat was reunited with its family after being missing for over two years.

“This happy ending was only possible because the cat was microchipped.”

NICAWG Vice Chair Janet Hume added: “Cats without microchips harm rehoming organizations like ours, which are already overwhelmed by long waiting lists.

“Without a microchip, we may not be able to locate an owner, and that means we spend valuable time and resources caring for and rehoming a cat that actually already has a loving home.

“Cats are precious family members for many people and it can be devastating when they go missing. Unfortunately, many people only realize how important microchipping is when their cat goes missing, and by then it may be too late.”