ID tag your cat
Many pet owners choose to give their cat a collar with name + address or phone number in case the cat runs away or gets lost. As cats can usually shake off a collar easily, the best method is to chip your cat so that it can be identified if someone finds it. From 2 January 2023, it will also be law to register your cat with the National Board of Agriculture. Here we explain exactly how to register your cat for the new law.
How to ID your cat at the vet
In order to register your cat with the Swedish Board of Agriculture, it must be ID-tagged. There are two approved ways to ID tag your cat and you will need to take your cat to the vet and either chip or tattoo it. If you have already ID-tagged your cat, it may be a good idea to double-check that the tattoo has not been erased and that the chip is working properly.
It has been a common practice in the past to give your cat an ID tattoo in the ear - the tattoo has an ID number which is the same as on the cat's ownership registration paper. A chip is now the preferred method, as a tattoo can become blurred and indistinct over time.
From the age of 6 weeks your cat can be ID tagged - the cat does not need to be sedated and it is not a major procedure, the Micro chip is injected under the skin of the cat, normally between the shoulder blades. The procedure is no more noticeable than a normal vaccination and is not harmful.
The law makes it easier to find your cat
The new law allows police and cat shelters to find out who you are as a cat owner to help your cat find its way home if it has run away. Registering your cat with the National Board of Agriculture is a safety measure, whether you have an outdoor or indoor cat.
These cats do not need to be tagged and registered
The obligation to mark your cat and register it with the Board of Agriculture does not apply to cats born before 1 January 2008. Apart from these cats, all cat owners are obliged to register their cats before they are 4 months old.
How to register your cat
Registration with the Swedish Board of Agriculture will open on 2 January 2023. There is an e-service that allows you to register your cat using your BankID. It costs 40 SEK and you can pay by Swish or Card. If you don't want to or can't use the e-services, you can register your cat via a form, which then costs you SEK 100 per cat.
Keep in mind that even if you have your cat registered in another cat register such as SVERAK or SKK, this is not the same as the Swedish Board of Agriculture. Therefore, you should register your cat with them from 2 January 2023.
