Sunderland cat owners could be fined £500 for not microchipping their pets

The law came into effect on June 10 and requires all nine million cats in England to be microchipped, or their owners could face a £500 fine.

Owners were given a three-week grace period after that date for their cats to be microchipped, which ends on Monday, July 1.

Some 18% of cat owners surveyed are unaware of the new laws and risk being fined if they do not act soon. Meanwhile 56% of owners don’t know what the maximum fine is.

The research amongst England's veterinary surgeries, conducted by Direct Line, showed 60% of vets have seen an increase in appointments for cat microchipping, with 24% experiencing a "significant uplift in bookings" approaching July 1.

There is still time and availability to have cats microchipped; 98% of vets still have appointments available.

A fifth or 19% of cat owners who haven’t yet had their cats microchipped said they were worried the procedure would hurt their cat; 17% said it was too expensive.

The average cost across England to have a cat microchipped is £28.34 but some surgeries charge as much as £55. The RSPCA may be able to help.

Madeline Pike, veterinary nurse for Direct Line Pet Insurance, said: “Microchipping is a very quick and relatively painless process no more painful than having an injection or blood test.

"It’s also one of the most effective and efficient methods of finding lost pets. We urge cat owners who haven’t yet done so to seek an appointment in the next few weeks and by the 1st of July at the latest.

"Nearly every vet we spoke to said they still have availability or could make room for anyone needing an appointment.

“The compulsory microchipping of cats will provide families with much-needed comfort and peace of mind that if their cat gets lost or strays, they can more easily be reunited with their much-loved feline friends.”

Owners must ensure their cat is microchipped before it reaches the age of 20 weeks, with their contact details stored and kept up to date in an approved pet microchipping database.