Wales Still Falling Behind on Cat Microchipping: Why Today's Senedd Discussion Matters
Today (8/10/26), the Senedd Petitions Committee considered our Petition P-07-1578: Introduce the Mandatory Microchipping of Cats in Wales, bringing the issue of feline welfare and responsible pet ownership back into the spotlight. The petition was discussed alongside correspondence from the Welsh Government and a response from the petitioner, us. [Agenda for...026, 14.00], [Respose to...dd MS (1) | PDF]
For CatsMatter, the issue is straightforward: if mandatory microchipping is considered necessary in England, where fewer cats were believed to be unchipped before legislation, why is Wales being told that legislation is unnecessary when an even greater proportion of cats remain without a microchip? [Respose to...dd MS (1) | PDF]
What the Welsh Government Says
In correspondence provided to the Committee, the Welsh Government relied heavily on data suggesting that approximately 74% of owned cats in Wales are microchipped. This figure originates from Cats Protection's Cats and Their Stats Wales 2025 report. The Government also referenced evidence from England, suggesting that compulsory microchipping has not significantly increased uptake and pointed to a slight reduction in reported microchipping rates after legislation was introduced. This formed part of the argument against introducing equivalent legislation in Wales.
The Problem with the Numbers
The figures being relied upon raise serious questions. If the often-quoted 74% figure is accepted as accurate, it still means that approximately 125,000 to 146,000 owned cats in Wales remain unchipped. That represents around 26% of the owned cat population. That statistic is significant for one simple reason. Before compulsory microchipping became law in England, the proportion of unchipped cats was estimated at around 22%. England nevertheless concluded that legislation was necessary to improve welfare, increase reunification rates and encourage responsible ownership.
If Wales currently has a higher proportion of unchipped cats than England had when legislation was introduced, it is difficult to understand the logic behind arguing that Wales does not require similar protections.
Are the Figures Being Presented Fairly?
Our submission to the Committee highlights what we believe is a selective manipulation of the statistics. The Government's response referred to a reported drop from 75% to 74% after compulsory microchipping came into force in England. However, compulsory microchipping became law in England on 10 June 2024, following a lengthy public information campaign and a surge in owners arranging appointments before the deadline. Obviously to be expected. Looking only at figures the year after implementation is always going to be lower due to there not being the same rush to microchip cats before the deadline. If you concluded this years figures, next years or in 10 years time, it will always be lower than the year it came in to force.
All using inaccurate figures highlight is that the legislation did increase compliance as it highlights an influx the year it came into force. In our view, presenting post-legislation fluctuations while overlooking the increase associated with introducing the law creates a misleading picture of the policy's effectiveness.
Updating Databases Is Not the Same as Mandatory Microchipping
One of the increasingly common arguments raised in discussions around cat welfare is the need to improve the accuracy of existing microchip records. CatsMatter agrees that accurate databases matter, and we asked you all to complete the England consultation just a few weeks back on this very issue. However, updating a database record and mandatory microchipping are two entirely different issues. Wales are trying to suggest the issue is being looked at while using a completely different issue to claim to address it.
A cat without a microchip cannot be identified, regardless of how accurate any database may be.
A cat that has never been microchipped cannot be reunited through scanning. A road traffic victim, injured cat or stray cat cannot be traced to an owner if no microchip exists in the first place.
We are concerned that discussion around "updating databases" risks becoming a diversion from the issue the petition raised and which over 800 people signed. The challenge currently before Wales is whether every owned cat should be legally required to have a microchip. Database maintenance is a separate matter entirely.
Why Frontline Experience Matters
It was mentioned in the discussion that microchipping is automatically mentioned by vets to people at routine appointments. This is not true, hence the previous petitions for vets to check microchips. Vets do not police microchips because they either don't see it as their place to do so, or they don't want to risk that becoming a barrier to people taking cats to their practice. It is not routinely advertised.
One of our key concerns is the extent to which current policy discussions appear to rely on estimates from a single charity survey rather than wider operational evidence. This is why we have asked they open a public consultation.
CatsMatter believes that veterinarians, rescue organisations, local authorities, animal wardens and scanning professionals should all have an opportunity to contribute evidence on:
The number of unchipped cats they encounter.
Reunification rates.
Welfare outcomes.
Enforcement challenges.
The practical benefits of compulsory microchipping.
This is precisely why we will continue to call for a full Welsh Government consultation on the issue.
Our Response to the Committee
In our submission to Llyr Gruffydd MS, we made three central points:
Even accepting the 74% figure, Wales still has between 125,000 and 146,000 unchipped owned cats.
The evidence from England does not support the claim that compulsory microchipping has failed. When viewed against pre-legislation figures, compliance increased following the introduction of the law.
Wales should undertake its own public consultation and gather evidence from frontline animal welfare professionals rather than relying predominantly on survey estimates by one charity, or relying on another countries consultation results.
The Bigger Question for Wales
Today's Committee consideration is about more than statistics. It is about whether Wales wants thousands of cats to continue slipping through gaps in the system when proven identification technology already exists.
Microchips save reunifications.
Microchips improve accountability.
Microchips assist vets, rescues and local authorities.
And most importantly, microchips help cats get home.
CatsMatter will continue to press for evidence-led policy, greater transparency in the figures being cited, and a meaningful public consultation on whether Wales should finally join England in making cat microchipping mandatory.
CatsMatter submitted correspondence to the Senedd Petitions Committee in relation to Petition P-07-1578, which was considered as part of the Committee's agenda on 8 October 2026. [Agenda for...026, 14.00], [Respose to...dd MS (1) | PDF]
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