One in five surveyed don't plan to microchip their cat despite £500 fines

• New legislation coming into effect on 10^th June requires all cats in England to be microchipped
• 56 per cent of cat owners surveyed didn’t know the size of the maximum fine (£500) if their pet was not chipped after 1st July
• The average cost to have your cat microchipped in England is £28.34, with some owners citing expense as a key reason for not microchipping their pet

New research from Direct Line Pet Insurance¹ reveals one in five (20 per cent) cat owners surveyed do not plan to ever get their pets microchipped. This is despite new rules coming into effect on 10^th June requiring all felines in England to be microchipped or the owners could face a £500 fine. Owners will be given a three-week grace period after this date for their cats to be microchipped.

A large number (18 per cent) of cat owners surveyed are not aware of the new legislation and risk being fined if they do not act quickly to microchip their beloved felines before the regulations come into force. People simply are not aware of the scale of the fines they could face, 56 per cent of cat owners surveyed didn’t know the maximum fine if their pet was not chipped after 1^st July.

Research amongst England-based veterinary surgeries² conducted by Direct Line showed that almost two thirds (60 per cent) of vets have seen an increase in appointments for cat microchipping, with nearly a quarter of vets (24 per cent) experiencing a significant uplift in bookings as we approach the 1^st July deadline. There is still time and availability for cat owners to have their pet microchipped, 98 per cent of vets said they still have appointments available.

A fifth (19 per cent) of cat owners surveyed who haven’t yet had their cats microchipped said they were worried the procedure would hurt their cat and 17 per cent said it was too expensive. The average cost across England to have a cat microchipped is £28.34 but some surgeries are charging as much as £55. The average cost is significantly higher in London, at £39.71. Liverpool was the cheapest area to have a cat chipped at an average of £23.10 per appointment.

Madeline Pike, Veterinary Nurse for Direct Line Pet Insurance, responds: “Microchipping is a very quick and relatively painless process no more painful than having an injection or blood test. It’s also one of the most effective and efficient methods of finding lost pets. We urge cat owners who haven’t yet done so to seek an appointment in the next few weeks and by the 1^st of July at the latest. Nearly every vet we spoke to said they still have availability or could make room for anyone needing an appointment.

“The compulsory microchipping of cats will provide families with much-needed comfort and peace of mind that if their cat gets lost or strays, they can more easily be reunited with their much-loved feline friends.”

- ENDS -

NOTES TO EDITORS

1.      Research conducted by Censuswide with a nationally representative sample of 1,135 UK Cat owners aged 16+, 17^th May-20^th May 2024.

2.      Survey of 50 veterinary surgeries in England, equally split across London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool and Yorkshire.

For further information please contact:

Direct Line Group:

Chelsey Wheeler 

Deputy Head of News and Issues 

Email: Chelsey.wheeler@directlinegroup.co.uk

Direct Line

Started in 1985, Direct Line became the first UK insurance company to use the telephone as its main channel of communication. It provides motor, home, travel and pet insurance cover direct to customers by phone or on-line.

Direct Line general insurance policies are underwritten by U K Insurance Limited, Registered office: The Wharf, Neville Street, Leeds LS1 4AZ. Registered in England and Wales No 1179980. U K Insurance Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority.

Direct Line and UK Insurance limited are both part of Direct Line Insurance Group plc.

The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 1135 cat owners across the UK aged 16+. The data was collected between 17.05.2024 and 20.05.2024 Censuswide abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society and follows the MRS code of conduct and ESOMAR principles. Censuswide is also a member of the British Polling Council.