Cats in England must be microchipped from today
A new law which requires all cats in England to be microchipped has come into force
It's now compulsory for all cats in England to have a microchip.
Any owners who have failed to get their cat microchipped by 10th June could face a fine.
There are more than nine million pet cats in England and it was thought in the run up to the deadline today that as many as 2.3 million were unchipped.
What happens if you don't microchip your cat?
If you are found to have not microchipped your cat, you will be given 21 days to get it done.
If you still haven't done it after this point, you will face a fine of up to £500.
What are the rules across the UK?
The new law only applies to England.
Microchipping cats is not compulsory in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, but there have been calls from animal charities for the other nations to follow suit.
How much does microchipping cost?
Microchipping your cat costs between £10 and £30, according to the RSPCA.
Some animal charities and organisations also offer microchipping and may be able to do it for a reduced rate, or for free.
If you adopt a cat from a rescue centre or animal welfare charity they should be microchipped, and the organisation should give you the information you need to update the details on the microchip.