Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to encourage cat owners (1) to microchip their cats, and (2) to keep registered microchip contact details up to date.

The Government is committed to improving the welfare of cats and has a manifesto commitment to introduce compulsory microchipping of cats. Defra launched a consultation in December 2020 on the compulsory microchipping and scanning of cats, and scanning of dogs in England which ended on 17 February. We are currently analysing the responses to the consultation and we will issue our response to it later this year.

The Government advises owners to follow the statutory welfare code for cats which advises that microchipping a cat gives them the best chance of being identified, and reunited with their owner if injured or lost. The code of practice for the welfare of cats can be found in the attached document.

Cat owners can ensure that they register with a compliant database by using any of the microchipping databases listed on GOV.UK.