The process of cat chip registration is now mandatory in England, but it still helps to have a clear plan in place if your pet is stolen to help find them.
Speaking to the Oxford Mail, Shauna Walsh, a vet nurse with animal welfare charity the PDSA, listed the things people should do if their pet vanishes.
Some of these are the things one might expect an owner to do, such as looking in their familiar hiding places, as well as some less likely ones that a cat could squeeze into.
If you are sure the cat has escaped, ask the neighbours if they have seen your furry friend run off and give them pet treats to help lure them back if they do reappear, as well as checking if they are lurking around their garage or garden.
Most of all, however, Ms Walsh noted how having the cat microchipped will help. She said: “Call your pet’s microchip database to inform them your pet is missing, and make sure your details, such as your phone number, home address and email address, are up to date.”
Making sure you have not just got your cat chipped but have kept the registration up to date if you have moved since then is vital. Otherwise, somebody could be looking for the owner at the wrong house.
Not all of the UK has made cat chipping mandatory, but those who have done this outside England have often been very glad they did.
A recent Scottish example, widely reported earlier this month, involved a cat that had gone missing in Aberdeen two years ago.
Spot disappeared in 2023 and spent the last two years wandering in the countryside outside the city, but was recently found by a member of the public and taken to the SPCA due to her having a leg injury.
While the cat’s leg had to be amputated, the fact that Spot was microchipped enabled her to be traced back to her owners.
SPCA animal rescue officer Lynn Cruickshank said: “This is exactly why we always encourage pet owners to microchip their animals and keep their contact details current.”
