Cat owners could be handed a whopping £500 fine for failing to comply with a new compulsory microchipping law.
It comes as new Government legislation to introduce the law is being laid in Parliament today (13 March), and it’s setting out to make it easier for lost or stray pet cats to be reunited with their owners and returned home safely.
According to the latest data, there are currently more than nine million pet cats in England, and as many as 2.3 million of those are unchipped.
This means it would be very difficult to reunite them with their owners if they get lost or stolen.
Cat owners could be fined £500 under new ‘compulsory’ microchipping law / Credit: The Lucky Neko | krakenimages (via Unsplash)
But, under the new microchipping legislation being introduced today, cats must be implanted with a microchip before they reach the age of 20 weeks, so that their owners’ contact details can be stored and kept up-to-date in a pet microchipping database.
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All owners must have their cat microchipped by the cut-off date of 10 June 2024, and then those found to have not complied before then have a total of 21 days to have one implanted.
Failure to do this may mean they face a hefty fine of up to £500.
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The new rules follow a call for evidence and consultation on the issue by the Government back in 2020 and 2021, and from this, 99% of respondents expressed support for the measure – leading to the introduction of compulsory cat microchipping becoming a manifesto commitment, and an ‘Action Plan for Animal Welfare’ pledge too.
New Government legislation to introduce the law is being laid in Parliament today / Credit: Gustavo Fring (via Pexels)
Chief Veterinary Officer, Christine Middlemiss, said she is “pleased” the Government is progressing with the requirement for all cats to be microchipped.
“Microchipping is by far the most effective and quickest way of identifying lost pets,” she added. “As we’ve seen with dog microchipping, those who are microchipped are more than twice as likely to be reunited with their owner.
“By getting their cat microchipped, owners can increase the likelihood that they will be reunited with their beloved pet in the event of it going missing.”
The Strokes announce first Manchester gig in two decades
Daisy Jackson
The Strokes are finally set to return to Manchester for the first time in years, announcing a huge arena show today.
The iconic indie rockers have shared details of a new European tour, which includes a night at the massive Co-op Live arena here in Manchester.
The news comes hot off the heels of their celebrated Coachella set over the weekend.
The Reality Awaits Tour, named after their upcoming seventh studio album, will take The Strokes to Manchester as well as London and Newcastle, plus several cities across Europe.
The Strokes broke into the industry back in 2001 with their seminal debut album Is This It, which spawned massive indie anthems like Last Nite, Hard To Explain, and Sometimes.
Since then, they’ve released six studio albums, all of which have climbed into the top 10 of the UK Albums Chart.
You can expect to hear all sorts of fan favourites, like Reptilia, Juicebox, and You Only Live Once, plus new music including their latest single The New Abnormal.
Co-op Live said: “This is set to be an unmissable show as they come to Co-op Live for the first time and we can’t wait!”
Last time The Strokes played in Manchester, it was at the O2 Apollo way back in 2006 – the same year they supported Foo Fighters at Emirates Old Trafford Cricket Ground.
They played Lytham Festival more recently, but haven’t ventured back into Manchester itself since.
The Strokes will play at Co-op Live in Manchester on 26 October 2026.
Tickets will go on sale at 10am on Friday 17 April HERE, with a number of pre-sales beginning from Wednesday 15 April.
Manchester Museum to close much-loved section for ‘major’ £200k redevelopment
Emily Sergeant
Manchester Museum has announced that it’s planning to close of its best-loved exhibitions.
Thanks to a grant of £200,000 from the Department of Culture, Media and Sport’s (DCMS) Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund, Manchester Museum is planning a major redevelopment of its much-loved Vivarium.
The Vivarium has sat at the heart of Manchester Museum for more than 60 years, and is a centre for globally-significant conservation projects, caring for around 30 different amphibian and reptile species – many of which are critically endangered – in a bid to inspire generations of visitors.
Thanks to a pioneering partnership with Panama Wildlife Conservation Charity, which is just one of many projects designed to safeguard the future of endangered species and develop learning programmes that raise awareness of threats to biodiversity, Manchester Museum houses the world’s only captive ‘back-up’ population – which is why the redevelopment of the Vivarium is so important.
The funding grant will help to ‘revitalise’ public displays, and create new state-of-the art facilities and bespoke naturalistic environments for the amphibian and reptile species cared for by the Vivarium.
It will also allow the development of dedicated facilities for schools, teaching, and visiting tour groups, which the Museum hopes will ‘further enhance’ the gallery’s potential for learning.
During the redevelopment – which has been named the ‘Habitats of Hope’ project – new permanent displays will also be created that explore the connections between its wider collections and the animals it cares for.
Manchester Museum is set to close one of its much-loved sections for ‘major’ £200k redevelopment / Credit: Supplied
“Habitats of Hope speaks to how wonderful and how vulnerable the world’s rarest amphibians are” commented Georgina Young, who is the Head of Collections and Exhibitions at Manchester Museum.
“Major investment means Manchester Museum can match the highest standards of animal care with a more accessible visitor experience, while weaving stories of research, conservation, partnership and action that stretch from thriving ponds in Manchester to hyper-biodiverse ecosystems in Costa Rica and Panama.”
Emily Sergeant -
13th March 2024 
