Win a One-Year Pet Health Club Membership

Win a one-year Pet Health Club membership

From June 10, 2024, new laws in England will make it compulsory for cats to be microchipped by 20 weeks old.

Microchipping offers the best chance for pet owners to be reunited with their beloved cats if they are lost or stolen. When joining Pet Health Club, members can have their cat microchipped as part of their plan benefits.

To highlight the impending law change, Pet Health Club has teamed up with Good Housekeeping to offer one reader the chance to win a one-year membership, worth £240, plus vet-approved cat treats.

Pet Health Club provides comprehensive preventative healthcare for dogs, cats, and rabbits. It offers pet owners peace of mind with plans covering vaccinations, parasite treatment, microchipping, regular health checks and exclusive discounts on products and services.

Cat owners who subscribe to Pet Health Club receive a microchip as part of their benefits. Ensuring cats can always find their way back home, the procedure is quick and causes little discomfort, a bit like a routine injection.

A trained professional such as a vet or vet nurse inserts a tiny chip, the size of a grain of rice, under your cat's skin between the shoulder blades. There is no need for recovery time — your cat won't even know the chip is there. This chip contains a unique number that links your cat to you, which can be scanned to retrieve your contact information from a secure database.

All cat owners in England will need to ensure their cat is microchipped by 20 weeks old, before the law changes on June 10, 2024. Owners who fail to comply could face fines of up to £500.

An estimated 2.3 million cats in the UK remain unchipped, which poses challenges for identification and reunion with their owners.

Amelia Battersby, leading vet at Holly House Vets in Leeds, which offers Pet Health Club to its clients, advises:

"Microchipping cats is not only about complying with the new law but also about ensuring the welfare of our pets. It offers a straightforward solution for pet owners to keep their cats safe and should also help reduce the number of lost cats ending up in rescue centres.

“Ensure the microchip's registration details are up to date to reflect your current contact information. If you've adopted your cat, confirm with the shelter or previous owner that the chip's registration has been transferred to you.

“Microchip IDs in the UK typically consist of 15 digits. You may be able to find your pet's microchip ID alongside a barcode within your pet's official documents. If you can't find your pet's microchip ID, contact your local vet to have your pet scanned.”

Pet Health Club is committed to the welfare of pets and encourages all cat owners to microchip their cats before the new law takes effect.

To join and get microchipping as part of your benefits, visit - www.thepethealthclub.co.uk/cat-microchipping.

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This competition ends on 10/05/2024