CATS are already renowned for being lucky, thanks to their nine lives, but things are about to get even better when new legislation is introduced next year that will require all cat owners in England to microchip their pets before the age of 20 weeks.

White Cross Vets, which has practices in Guiseley and Eccleshill, says the new legislation is welcome news for all cat owners and rescue centres, as well as for our feline friends.

As part of the requirements, cat owners will also have to make sure their contact details are kept up to date in a pet microchipping database. Any cat owners who don’t get their pets microchipped will be given 21 days to abide by the legislation, or else they could be fined up to £500.

It’s estimated that there are almost 11 million pet cats in the UK and approximately a quarter aren’t microchipped. Cats Protection also reports that approximately 80 per cent of the stray cats it deals with are unchipped.

David Hough, from White Cross Vets, said: “We regularly see cats that are lost or have had road accidents that aren’t microchipped. In these instances, the reality is that it can be very difficult to reunite them with their owners. As a result, rescue centres are often swamped with lost cats that then end up being rehomed. Pets are loved and integral family members and it’s very painful for owners when they are stolen or go missing.

“We therefore welcome this legislation, especially because a microchip is the best way reuniting a lost or stolen pet with their owner. They also last a lifetime and cost £19.25 or are free as part of our Complete Wellness Plan.

“Laws introduced in April 2016 require all dogs to be microchipped and registered by the age of eight weeks, and it has made a positive difference, so it’s fantastic that cats will now enjoy the same level of protection.

“Hardly a week goes by without somebody bringing us a lost or injured pet cat or dog and the first thing we always do is scan for a microchip. This gives us a unique reference number, which we can use to obtain the owner’s details from a database.

“However, it’s vital that pet owners who move home or change their phone number update their details, because it’s not unusual to find the database contains out of date contact information. It only takes a few minutes to do, and it can make all the difference if the pet goes missing.”