What's happened
New legislation in England mandates the microchipping of all cats aged 20 weeks and older, with fines of up to £500 for non-compliance. An estimated 2.2 million out of 9 million pet cats in England are not yet microchipped, posing challenges for owners and authorities.
Why it matters
The new law aims to reunite lost pets with owners and deter pet theft, impacting millions of cat owners in England. It highlights the importance of responsible pet ownership and could lead to increased reunifications and reduced strays.
What the papers say
The Guardian emphasizes the cost of owning a cat, while The Independent and Metro focus on the new microchipping legislation, highlighting the potential fines and the benefits of microchipping for reuniting lost pets.
How we got here
The legislation follows concerns about the high number of unchipped cats in England, with the aim of improving pet welfare and reducing the number of lost or stolen cats. Microchipping provides a permanent form of identification that can help reunite lost pets with their owners.
Common question
More on these topics
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Cats Protection, formerly the Cats Protection League, is a UK charity dedicated to rescuing and rehoming stray, unwanted or homeless cats and educating people about cats and cat welfare.
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England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest of England and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. England is separated from continental Europe by