As a fellow cat owner, I fully recognise the emotional impact of having a pet stolen, on both the owner and the animal.
While it is already a criminal offence to steal a pet, the Government launched a Pet Theft Taskforce in May 2021 in response to concerns about a perceived increase in pet theft. The Taskforce recommended that a new offence of pet abduction would best address concerns that the criminal law is only currently capable of treating the theft of a pet as a theft of property. This new offence would also recognise the potential impact on the pet’s welfare when taken by strangers. The offence as currently drafted in the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill focuses on dogs, with enabling powers. The inclusion of the enabling powers means that the Secretary of State would be able to extend the offence to other animals, such as cats. I am aware that this Bill is due to return to the House as soon as parliamentary time allows.
Finally, following the compulsory microchipping of dogs in Great Britain in 2016, the Government announced that it would extend this to cats. These changes will make it easier for pets to be reunited with their owners if they have gone missing or been stolen.
