78% of cats helped by Blue Cross last year were not microchipped

15 June 2017

78% of cats helped by Blue Cross last year were not microchipped

As the half-way mark of National Microchipping Month passes, national pet charity Blue Cross reminds cat owners to microchip their pets now or risk losing them forever if they stray.

Out of the 5,760 cats that were admitted into the charity’s rehoming centres and hospitals across the country, between May 2016 and May 2017, a staggering 78% (4,517) were not microchipped or had needed to be microchipped by Blue Cross.

Kitten microchip

The charity, dedicated to helping sick, injured and homeless pets, sees all too often how heart-breaking it can be when a beloved pet goes missing without a microchip or with an out-of-date microchip.

Many of the cats brought in to Blue Cross are believed to be stray; although sometimes in a good, healthy condition meaning they’re likely to be a family pet who has gone for a wander.

Caroline Reay, Clinical Lead, Blue Cross said: “Particularly in the summer months, with cats going out for longer and wandering further, there is a higher risk of straying and of accidents. This is why it’s so important to microchip your cat; even if the cat is an indoor cat as there is still risk of them escaping – in fact, indoor cats are more at risk of getting lost if they do escape. So please, be safe and chip your cats.”

The sad truth is that sometimes un-microchipped stray cats are pets who after a week of being kept a rehoming centre end up needing to be rehomed as there is no way of contacting the original owners.

Blue Cross has also seen happy cases of reunions after long periods of time because the cat had been microchipped; one cat managed to stray 20 miles away from his home, but thankfully his microchip details were up-to-date, so he was able to be returned to his worried family.

Microchipping and keeping the chip details up-to-date gives owners the best chance of a being reunited with their missing feline friend.

Blue Cross may be holding a free microchipping event near you, call your local rehoming centre to find out more.

For more information on microchipping, or to donate to help give back to pets in the care of Blue Cross please visit https://www.bluecross.org.uk

ENDS

Notes to Editors

  • Images are available, please contact the press office.
  • Sick, injured and homeless pets have relied on Blue Cross since 1897. Abandoned or unwanted, ill or injured, pets turn to us for help every year. Our doors are always open to them, and with your support, they always will be.
  • Each year, thousands of cats, dogs, small pets and horses turn to our animal hospitals, clinics and rehoming services for treatment and to find them the happy homes they deserve.
  • For more information, please visit www.bluecross.org.uk.

Blue Cross is part of the Veterinary Animal Welfare Coalition; a group of the UK’s leading veterinary organisations and charities delivering veterinary services, which includes the British Veterinary Association (BVA), British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA), Blue Cross, British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA), British Veterinary Zoological Society (BVZS), PDSA, RSPCA and USPCA. The Coalition was formed to meet the recommendations in the Vet Futures and VN Futures project and aims to deliver awareness raising and behaviour change communication campaigns, based around responsible pet ownership and the five welfare needs as outlined in the UK’s Animal Welfare Acts.

Media contact

Sam Murray, Media Officer 020 7932 4070 / [email protected]
Media Team, 0300 777 1950 / [email protected]

— Page last updated 21/01/2021