The UK’s biggest cat charity is asking animal lovers to get in touch with their local MP to urge them to support compulsory microchipping of pet cats.
Cats Protection is campaigning for microchipping to become a legal requirement for pet cats, as it already is for dogs, to help improve feline welfare.
The charity will be hosting an online event for politicians on 20 October 2020, and is asking supporters to get in touch with their local MP to ask them to attend and pledge their support to the charity’s campaign.
Cats Protection’s Head of Advocacy & Government Relations Jacqui Cuff said: “We need to get as many MPs as possible to support a change in the law to make it compulsory to microchip pet cats.
“After years of campaigning by Cats Protection, major political parties put compulsory microchipping of cats in their 2019 election manifestos. But no progress has been made and the issue risks falling off the political agenda.
“As a nation of animal lovers, we know that many people will want to see their local MP taking a keen interest in animal welfare issues. By getting in touch with your MP and asking them to join in our online event you’ll be helping us move a step closer to a law change which will benefit countless cats and kittens in the future.
“Our campaign for compulsory microchipping of pet cats is one of a number of issues we’re working on to improve feline welfare across the UK. We’re grateful for support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery, which helps make this work possible and ensures a better future for one of the nation’s favourite pets.”
Microchipping is the safe and permanent way to identify a cat and reunite a lost cat with their owner. Owners of unchipped cats can suffer unnecessary heartbreak not knowing the fate of their cat if they go missing.
Yet despite this, statistics show that over three million owned cats (29%) are still not microchipped (PDSA Animal Wellbeing (PAW) Report 2019). Making microchipping compulsory will significantly drive up numbers of microchipped owned cats. Microchipping was made compulsory for dogs in 2016 and as a result 92% are chipped.
To support Cats Protection’s campaign and send an email to your MP, please visit www.cats.org.uk/microchippingcampaign
To find out more about Cats Protection’s campaign for compulsory microchipping of pet cats, please visit www.cats.org.uk/what-we-do/campaigning/microchips-reunite
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