One year after microchipping for cats became mandatory in England, Jollyes is highlighting that up to 1 in 10 of pet cats in the UK remain unchipped, with owners risking a £500 fine in England.

According to the RSPCA not only do a third of cat lovers struggle with the cost of microchipping their pets, alongside this, one in 10 (11pc) of cat owners are still unaware that their beloved pet must be microchipped under a new English law.

And that peace of mind costs just £20 at Jollyes.

Over the last year Jollyes has remained the most affordable microchipping service on the market – helping the UK’s pet parents swerve overcharging from independent vets and major retail competitors alike.

Jollyes, The Pet People, currently operates community pet clinics across most of its 100-plus stores, with microchipping available for just £20 – in contrast with the same service costing an average of 26pc more at one nationwide vet chain.

Jollyes believes pet parents should get the same great prices wherever they live and shop, which is why shoppers will see the same £20 fee for microchipping both cats and dogs on offer across all its in-store community clinics.

By contrast, the same major competitor fluctuates prices, meaning shoppers in Edinburgh will pay £33 for microchipping – an eyewatering 65pc more expensive than the same service offered by Jollyes.

Shoppers across Warrington, Milton Keynes, Poole, Norwich and Wrexham will also be charged approximately 50pc more for microchipping at the same veterinary chain than they would at Jollyes.

Research shows that the price differential on kitten and puppy vaccinations is even more steep. Both necessary doses are a combined £55 at a Jollyes’ Community Pet Clinic but as high as £96 at one competitor.

The CMA is currently investigating concerns around lack of transparency and affordability across vet practices, as a staggering 84pc of practices provide no pricing information online. Against this backdrop, Jollyes is focused on keeping costs down for pet owners.

Keeping microchipping costs down is just one of the ways Jollyes is supporting cats and their owners. The pet’s specialist recently rolled out its ‘Big Cat Takeover’, significantly expanded its cat ranges, updating its stores to offer 48 per cent more kitty items after internal data showed feline food sales have been rising ahead of canine equivalents.

That expansion, inspired by Gen Z cat owners such as Taylor Swift, includes the UK retail’s first open market veterinary diet cat range.

“In the year since microchipping was made mandatory for all cats, we have kept the cost of complying with the new law low, so pet parents can easily avoid the risk of a big fine,” said Jollyes’ chief operating officer Adam Dury.

“And it’s high time the other UK nations followed England’s lead in making microchipping compulsory.”