In this week’s column from the Manx SPCA, Juana Warburton explains a cat’s ‘right to roam’ and reveals how to tell that a visiting cat has an owner...
All pet cats in England must be microchipped by June 10, 2024 (i.e. next week!).
The new rules mean that cats must be chipped before they reach the age of 20 weeks, and an owner’s contact details must be held on a DEFRA approved microchipping database. Indoor-only cats are included in the regulations, with the only cats exempted being those classed as feral. If an owner misses the June deadline, they have up to 21 days to have their cat chipped, or they may face a fine of £500.
New Rushen Heritage Centre art exhibition captures the Isle of Man's natural beauty Using crates to keep dogs away from busy roads during Isle of Man TT 'not the answer' Ex-Top Gear host Chris Harris spotted soaking up the atmosphere at Isle of Man TT Isle of Man TT 2024: New Friday and Saturday race schedules released In law, cats have a ‘right to roam’, and an owner is not legally responsible for where their cat wanders. And wander they do - it’s in a cat’s nature to explore their surroundings and mark their territory, particularly if they are not neutered or spayed. Hundreds of cats go missing on the Isle of Man every year, and if they were all chipped it would make reuniting them with their respective owners much simpler; but there are currently no plans to make microchipping compulsory on the island.
However, it easy and cheap to .
