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

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the benefits of a compulsory micro-chipping scheme for cats.

It is good practice for owners to have their cats microchipped with their name and address. However, it is not Government policy to make such microchipping compulsory. The case for compulsory dog microchipping does not apply in the case of cats. Stray cats do not present the same level of public nuisance as stray dogs, which are required to be kennelled by local authorities and charities at significant cost and to the detriment of their welfare.