Cats Safety has urged Welsh pet lovers to affix its marketing campaign for obligatory microchipping of pet cats after the measure grew to become legislation in England.
Following an announcement earlier this yr, all pet cats in England will have to be microchipped by legislation from June 2024 – but there are nonetheless no plans for it to be launched in Wales.
Cats Safety says obligatory microchipping would make an enormous distinction to cat welfare in Wales, with the charity’s Cats and Their Stats (CATS) report 2022 displaying that over 1 / 4 (28%) of cats in Wales are usually not microchipped.
Welsh animal lovers are actually being urged to again the charity’s marketing campaign by utilizing an internet kind on its web site to contact their MS to ask they assist the transfer.
Cats Safety’s Advocacy & Authorities Relations Officer for Wales Daryl Gordon stated: “Microchipping is already obligatory for canine all through the entire of the UK, and from subsequent yr it is going to even be obligatory for cats in England. That is clearly a vital pet welfare concern, but there are nonetheless no plans for this to be launched for cats in Wales.
“As a nation of pet lovers, we don’t need to see Wales left behind relating to cat welfare. We’re urging the Welsh Authorities to get behind this concern in order that cats in Wales obtain the identical safety that can quickly be given to cats over in England.
“Obligatory microchipping of pet cats would guarantee extra cats could be reunited with their house owners if they’re misplaced or lacking. It additionally helps to establish cats which have sadly died in street accidents and helps to cut back the stress on animal charities which can discover it not possible to hint the proprietor of an un-microchipped stray or misplaced cat, regardless of their finest efforts.”
The charity is asking animal lovers to become involved by utilizing its web site to ship a message to their MS telling them to assist obligatory microchipping of pet cats. To search out out extra, please go to www.cats.org.uk/microchippingwales