Following the UK Government’s confirmation that it will bring in regulations in England for compulsory microchipping of pet cats, Martin Whitfield MSP is backing a call for government to do the same here in Scotland.

Cats Protection’s Cats and Their Stats (CATS) Scotland report 2022 found there are 900,000 pet cats in Scotland. 29 per cent of these cats are not microchipped, meaning 243,000 cats have no permanent means of identification.

Microchipping a cat gives them the best chance of being identified and returned to their owner if they are lost or stolen, or even in tragic cases where a cat is struck by a vehicle and fatally wounded.

Backing the call for compulsory microchipping, Martin Whitfield MSP said:

“It’s heart-breaking when a pet goes missing – but a chipped cat has a much better chance of being reunited with their family.

“Microchipping is, by far, the most effective and quickest way of identifying lost cats. It can also help ease the pressure on rescue charities like Cats Protection.

“However, the percentage of microchipped cats in Scotland is currently less than the UK figure. And that gap is set to widen following the decision to introduce compulsory microchipping in England.

“That’s why I’m supporting Cats Protection’s campaign for compulsory microchipping of pet cats to be introduced in Scotland.”

Find out more about Cats Protection’s campaign at https://action.cats.org.uk/page/117079/action/1.