Written question WQ100774

By law, all dogs in Wales must be microchipped and registered on a compliant database by eight weeks of age. While microchipping cats is not mandatory in Wales, it remains good practice and an important part of responsible pet ownership. We encourage all cat owners in Wales to have their cats microchipped, and for dog and cat owners to keep their details up to date. Microchipping improves traceability when animals are lost, stolen, or involved in road traffic incidents, and provides the best chance of being reunited with their owner.

Findings from Cats Protection’s CATS Report, Cats and Their Stats Wales 2026, indicate that microchipping rates in Wales remain strong and stable at 73%, with 93% of these records kept up to date. Evidence from across the UK, including England where compulsory cat microchipping was introduced in 2024, suggests that the legislative change has not led to an increase in microchipping rates. In fact, uptake fell slightly from 74% to 73% in 2026. The data suggests that Wales is performing well without introducing a legal requirement for cat microchipping and there is already good recognition of microchipping’s role in responsible ownership.

As set out in our Programme for Government, we are committed to delivering a new Animal Welfare Plan for Wales. We will work closely with stakeholders, operational partners and the third sector to develop our new approach. Building on Wales's strong reputation for animal welfare, we want to maintain and enhance the high standards already in place. We will focus on policies that deliver the greatest welfare benefits, targeting action where it can have the most significant and lasting impact. This includes proportionate and enforceable standards, which are essential to safeguarding animal welfare and addressing poor practice where it occurs.