Legal Updates
Cat Microchipping Rules in England: What Owners Need to Know
Published 9 Feb 2026Updated 3 Oct 20263 min read
Since 10 June 2024, cats in England must be microchipped and registered by 20 weeks old. Indoor cats included. Here is who the rule covers, who is exempt, and what happens if a cat isn't chipped.
The rule: chipped and registered by 20 weeks
Since 10 June 2024, every pet cat in England must be microchipped by the time it is 20 weeks old, and its keeper's details must be registered on a microchip database that meets government requirements. The rule covers cats that were already adults when it came in, not just new kittens.
Dogs have had a similar rule since 2016, with an eight-week deadline. Both are now set out in the Microchipping of Cats and Dogs (England) Regulations 2023.
Yes, indoor cats too
There is no exemption for indoor cats. The law makes no distinction, and in practice indoor cats get out more often than their owners expect: a door left open for a delivery, a window in hot weather, workmen in the house, or a move to a new home.
An indoor cat that slips out is often more lost than an outdoor one, because it doesn't know the area. A chip with current details is how a vet or rescue centre gets it back to you.
Who is exempt
A cat a vet has certified as unfit to be chipped for health reasons is exempt while the certificate applies. Unowned cats that live with little or no human interaction, such as feral, farm and community cats, are not covered. Every pet cat is.
What happens if your cat isn't chipped
If a cat is found to be unchipped, for example when it is scanned at a vet or rescue centre, the keeper can be given 21 days to get it chipped. If that doesn't happen, the keeper can be fined up to £500.
Keeping the details current is part of the law
Being chipped isn't the end of it. Keepers must update the database when their details change: a new address, a new phone number, or a new owner. Some databases charge for changes, so check what yours costs, but don't let it slide. A chip that leads to a disconnected number is little help to a lost cat.
If you have taken on a rescue or rehomed cat, ask for the chip number and transfer the record into your name.
Getting it done at home
Plenty of cats hate the carrier more than the chip. A home visit means no carrier, no car and no waiting room. It is £40 for one cat and £50 for two chipped on the same visit.
Book cat microchipping at home
No carrier, no waiting room. Tony chips your cat at home, and you can check your full price for your postcode before sharing any contact details.
Book cat microchippingFrequently asked questions
Yes. The law covers indoor cats in the same way as outdoor cats. The only exemptions are a vet's health certificate and unowned cats such as ferals.
Yes. It applies to all pet cats over 20 weeks old, whatever age they were when the law came in.
A keeper who doesn't get their cat chipped within 21 days of being told to can be fined up to £500.
Your address, plus any phone number or email that has changed, on the database your cat's chip is registered with.
These regulations are for England. Scotland and Wales set their own rules, so check the government guidance for where you live.