Question reference: S6W-15928
- Asked by: Christine Grahame, MSP for Midlothian South, Tweeddale and Lauderdale, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 14 March 2023
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Current status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 20 March 2023
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the UK Government’s legislation to introduce compulsory pet cat microchipping in England to help reunite lost cats with their owners, whether it plans to introduce similar legislation in Scotland.
Answer
The Scottish Government’s Code of Practice for the Welfare of Cats recommends that all cat owners should consider neutering and microchipping their pets as the best way of being reunited with their rightful owners, should they be separated.
The Scottish Animal Welfare Commission has established a working group to consider the microchipping of cats and the UK Government’s recently published draft legislation. Scottish Ministers will carefully consider their findings once published.
The Scottish Government remains willing to consider areas where consistent changes to legislation in all GB administrations will improve the welfare of kept animals and strengthen the prospects of separated animals being returned to their families.