EU plans to make microchipping mandatory for 127 million cats – curse or blessing?

EU plans to make microchipping mandatory for 127 million cats – curse or blessing?

A heated issue is brewing in the European Union: A proposal would require all 127 million cats in the EU to be microchipped. This plan has met with massive criticism. The turquoise MEP Alex Bernhuber warns of the financial burden for cat owners, as the costs for a chip and registration can be up to 50 euros per animal. He sees this as a danger of a “bureaucratic monster” that could emerge from this regulation and advocates for voluntary labeling, as rumored by Cosmo.

On the other side is Maggie Entenfellner, editor-in-chief of the “Krone” animal corner, who vehemently supports the initiative. She argues that mandatory identification of cats is urgently needed to alleviate the suffering of many homeless animals. She also sees advantages in terms of the responsibility of animal owners: Registration could help to stop the uncontrolled breeding of cats, especially on farms and in cases of “animal hoarding”. Loud crown Assigning lost cats to their owners is much easier if the owners also have to actively enter their data into the database.

The debate about the chip requirement is gaining momentum and could have far-reaching consequences for animal welfare. While critics cite the bureaucratic hurdles, the proactive side sees the measure as a decisive step towards better control and protection of pets and homeless cats. The decisive factor will be how the implementation of this regulation is specifically designed and whether it actually contributes to the welfare of the animals or just creates additional bureaucracy.