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Pet owners could face a £500 fine if they don’t follow a new law that will be enforced from today (10 June).
Despite all the joy and happiness our furry friends can bring to our lives, there can be some pretty high costs that come along with them too.
From vet bills, to insurance and medication, it can sometimes be never-ending.
And from today, you could be faced with an even heftier bill after a new law surrounding cats is coming in effect.
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Back in March, the government announced that all cat owners need to have their pets fitted with a microchip, which is a small chip inserted under your cat's skin, and registered on a database.
And that law is being enforced from today, with the official Gov.uk website explaining: "From 10 June 2024, cats in England will need to be microchipped and registered on a database by the time they’re 20 weeks old."
If your cat is microchipped, then it will be easier for you to find them in the off-chance that they go missing.
A similar law has been in place for dog owners since 2016, with the government saying that microchipped dogs are more than twice as likely to be successfully reunited with their owners.
So the consequences if you don’t? Well, for starters, that’s going to land you a £500 fine if you don't provide evidence within 21 days.
When the law was announced earlier this year, The Money Saving Expert's website offered some advice on microchipping your pets and how important it is to get done.
"Microchipping helps owners get reunited with lost pets," the website explains. "A scannable chip is inserted under its skin, then registered."
The important details are that the microchip must be fitted by a trained professional, with MSE explaining that the process usually costs around £10 to £30 per pet.
However, there are some places that you can get your pet chipped for free, including Dogs Trust rehoming centre, via a Blue Cross centre, and some councils even offer the service.
And if you happen to be a cat parent worried about the new law, then similarly, local charities offer a free service, or host events where it is provided for absolutely nothing.
The microchip contains a number, which will show up whenever your pet is scanned, so it’s a pretty handy feature to have.
The government also warns that you're responsible for keeping your pet’s microchip information up to date, for example, if you move house, as you will be expected to contact the database company that your dog or cat is registered with to update any of your details - which can cost between £6 to £20, according to Blue Cross.
Mia Williams