The Dutch government plans to make microchipping mandatory for domestic cats starting on 1 January 2028.
The Cabinet wants to reduce the number of strays and make it easier to reunite missing pets with their owners.
Around 62,500 cats disappear in the Netherlands every year, according to Agriculture State Secretary Silvio Erkens.
Tackling the stray population
Erkens said that only about 10% of lost cats are currently recovered by animal welfare services such as Dierenbescherming, while the rest end up living on the streets.
By contrast, mandatory microchipping for dogs has allowed Dierenbescherming to return 90% of found dogs to their owners.
A similar plan for cats was proposed three years ago by former Agriculture Minister Piet Adema, but was never implemented.
Rules for newborn kittens
The requirement will apply only to cats born after the start of 2028.
Owners will be responsible for having the small transponder implanted as soon as possible after birth, with veterinarians managing the registration.
The procedure is expected to cost between 25 and 55 euros, which will be reimbursed by the government.
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