That with the new cat licensing laws my “catnapping” PIL will finally get their comeuppance?

[2beesornot2beesthatisthehoney]

This is the new law regarding compulsory micro chipping for cats.

As in cat “adopting” aka stealing. They have done this for years and years. Feeding and petting other cats and allowing them in so much that the cat leaves it’s former home :. I hate it , always have and challenge it where I can . My DH turns a blind eye, despite how distraught we were when one of ours went missing for several weeks.

They don’t really retreat them that well either as in never getting them vaccinated nor Putting them to sleep when they reach the end of their lives so they die naturally but not really peacefully.

The latest one is a “stray” that is housetrained and straightaway made its self at home. So it wasn’t feral and did have a home once.

I told them to contact the Cat Protection League to check whether it was microchipped . If it wasn’t they could adopt it but if it was the owners need contacted to see if they want it returned.

Now with all cats having to be chipped they will have to take it to the vets and at least find out . And if it is chipped , the details can’t be changed without the agreement of the previous owner.

At last they will have to grow up,show some responsibility and do the right thing.

It's more likely they'll simply carry on as they are. Would you report them? Realistically, unless reported, it's unlikely cat nabbers would get caught

I don't think that microchipping is proof of ownership. Also cats are treated differently in the law than dogs with respect to ownership so I think your PIL are likely to continue as is. If they don't take cats under their care to the vets for treatment they are unlikely to take them to be scanned for a chip.

I told off my neighbour for this, it’s really unfair, she took no responsibility for the cat’s welfare (it was clearly owned, had a collar, was well fed) but liked the attention, I suppose. She knows she can borrow our 2 dogs who she loves to bits any time, she doesn’t need to encourage someone else’s cat to move in.

I doubt the law will change anything, although hopefully it will mean that vets have to scan a stray/stolen animal rather than just ignore an original chip. There was a case a few years back of an owner losing the (unusual breed) dog and the new ‘owner’ getting it re-chipped, despite the old owner seeing it and trying to claim it back. Heartbreaking.

@BadEyeBri yes I see your point . My PIL though are generally mindful of the law but if there is a choice eg not vaccinating it would take the easier course.

I live in hope

Does the new law actually legally oblige someone who finds a 'feral' cat to take it to the vet because that seems unworkable as an idea. All this would give you is a slightly stronger argument that the original owner could be traced, nothing to force PILs into doing the right thing.

@VettiyaIruken
Who do you report too?

“To”

At least you yourself could dcatnap it back and take it to a vet... Say you found it in unsafe circumstances for example... They would contact the owner.. Send it with a note. Your ils are bloody awful.

No idea. Whoever this new law suggests you report to I suppose.

I just don't think it's going to stop people who entice other people's cats. If anything, it means they may not seek vet help if the cat is sick or injured which would only lead to the cat suffering.

Maybe microchips should be tracking chips too. That would help fight the cat nappers.

I'm not sure.

I've noticed over the last few years people near me have become really weird about cats. They will take a picture of a cat that shows up in the yard or something, perfectly healthy and cared for, and post it in the neighbourhood FB page, all "concerned" for it. "Oh, I just thought I'd post this do the owners know this cant I see every week is out, is it ok?" And then some of them will take the cats in or send them to the shelter!

I appreciate not everyone lets their cats out but we have had a huge neighbourhood rat problem over the last five years so many people do as it seems to help keep the numbers down.

@Aprilwasverywet
Unfortunately we live hundreds of miles away and haven’t seen them in over a year.

While vets scan most new animals that present to them it really isn't our responsibility to get involved in the ins and outs of animal ownership. We are busy enough without taking in the role of "pet detective ".
But I just know it will be another stick used by the public to vet bash with. It's no wonder vets leave the profession in droves.

Now with all cats having to be chipped they will have to take it to the vets and at least find out

I don't understand why you think they would do that?

You say they are law abiding but you know they are thieves. Even if you try to interfere they will just say they took it to the vets and there was no chip....

@lockdownalli
I don’t think they see what they are doing is thieving . I do!
So that is what I mean by law abiding . Although yes my MIL is a born liar and FIL not much better so yes it’s possible they might just lie .and sadly the new law May deter them from taking the cat to the vet if it needs treatment. But maybe then my DH would stop sticking his head in the sand and intervene.

I've had several strays and my vet is really good. If the cat is friendly they check for a chip and make sure attempts have been made to find an owner over a period of time before they neuter/chip etc.
I think if your PIL's were going to check for a chip they would have done it by now, it's very unfair of them not to.

Cats won't care - they are going to carry on as they always have done, and decide to move and change humans as and when it suits them.

It’s not actually law yet either is it and when it does become law it will be announced with a lead up period. Can imagine it leading to more strays if people have to chip before sale as pre covid kittens could be free -£30.