Taiwan to fine owners for failing to microchip cats starting next month

Taipei, Dec. 25 (CNA) Cat owners who fail to put microchips in their pets could face fines of up to NT$15,000 (US$477) starting in January, according to the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA).

Under the Animal Protection Act, dog owners have been required to microchip and register their pets since 2008, with violators subject to fines ranging from NT$3,000 to NT$15,000.

The same requirement was extended to cat owners at the start of 2025 after an amendment to pet regulations was formally announced on Dec. 16, 2024, although penalties will not take effect until Jan. 1, 2026.

Starting on Jan. 1, 2026, cat owners who fail to microchip their pets may face the same fines as for dogs and can be ordered to correct the violation within a set time period.

If the owner still fails to comply by the deadline, additional fines may be imposed for each subsequent offense.

According to the most recent survey of the MOA's pet census conducted every two years, there were about 1.31 million cats nationwide in 2023.

As of 2024, some 146,430 domestic cats had been microchipped through voluntary efforts pushed by animal rights and environmental groups, and that number has risen to 164,388 following a year of awareness-raising under the new regulations.

The requirement for all domestic cats to have microchips is aimed at strengthening owner responsibility and management by curbing irresponsible abandonment and prevent illegal breeding, the ministry said.

Microchipping cats not only increases the chances of recovering lost pets, but also allows authorities to track whether they have been spayed or neutered, the MOA said.