Calling all cat owners – is your pet microchipped? 

From Monday, June 10th, all cats must be implanted with a microchip before they reach the age of 20 weeks or owners could be fined up to £500. 

According to Government research, there are over nine million pet cats in England and as many as 2.3 million aren't unchipped. 

To help cat owners check if their cat has a microchip, Vets for Pets Alsager is increasing awareness of the new law and helping owners understand more about the legal requirements. 

Carl May, Registered Veterinary Nurse and practice owner at Vets for Pets Alsager said "In just a few weeks' time, some cat owners could be breaking the law and facing a fine of up to £500. 

"But pet owners shouldn't worry about microchipping their pet. It is an easy and simple procedure. 

"A microchip is about the same size of a grain of rice and is injected under the skin. Each microchip has a 15-digit code which is unique to the pet and can be read through a special scanner." 

The new legislation will make it easier for lost or stray pet cats to be reunited with their owners and returned home safely, says Carl. 

He added: "It is also vital that all owners keep their contact details up to date on a microchip database. 

"Previous research has shown some pets cannot be returned to their owner because the chip has incomplete or inaccurate data." 

Almost all pets can be microchipped, including cats, dogs, rabbits, tortoises, parrots, ferrets and snakes. 

For more information on microchipping, speak to the team at Vets for Pets Alsager or visit vets4pets.com 

More details about Vets for Pets Alsager are available on their website here and Facebook page here

Alsager Nub News is proud that Vets for Pets Alsager is a sponsor of our news service as we revealed in our article here

It is thanks to the generosity of organisations like Vets for Pets Alsager that we can continue our mission to revive local news, both in Alsager and across the UK.  

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