All cats in Switzerland will soon have to be microchipped, under plans announced by the government. Lawmakers hope the change will help protect the health of the country’s feline friends.
In a statement, the Federal Council called on parliament to make the microchipping of cats mandatory in Switzerland. It follows proposals from across the National Council to make the idea a reality, most recently by Green Party National Councillor Meret Schneider.
Unlike dogs in Switzerland, as it stands it is not mandatory to microchip cats. As a result, of the around 1,5 million cats estimated to be living in Switzerland, less than half are given a microchip - which is the size of a grain of rice and allows the moggies to be quickly identified.
In arguing for the change, the government said that a microchip obligation would help establish "the exact number of cats, their population density, the distribution of breeds and the origin of the animals." It would also help monitor the roughly 225.000 wild and feral cats that call the country home and make it easier to find felines who have run away.
As microchip implantation requires a visit to the vet, the government also hopes the change will lead to an increase in vaccinations, deworming, and sterilization. It would also provide more of an insight into the impact of cats on Swiss wildlife - according to the Neue Zürcher Zeitung, cats kill 30 million birds and half a million reptiles and amphibians every year.
However, the government did not heed the calls of the Swiss Cat Friends Association for a mandatory system of cat castration, arguing that it would be disproportionate.