Animals Veterinary profession calls for compulsory chipping and registration of cats
Unlike dogs, domestic cats in Switzerland do not have to be chipped or registered. The Society of Swiss Veterinarians (GST) now wants to change this and adopted a corresponding position paper at the end of November.
02.12.2025, 11:10
02.12.2025, 16:33
SDA
The Swiss cat population has risen sharply in recent years. According to the figures, only around 30 to 40 percent of the approximately two million cats are registered. Swiss vets are of the opinion that the cat population could be better controlled with compulsory chipping and registration.
This would allow cats without a chip to be identified as ownerless. For animal welfare organizations, it would be a great simplification if such cats could be neutered directly, writes the GST in its position paper. This would prevent feral cats from reproducing uncontrollably. It would also prevent the spread of diseases.
Last May, a corresponding motion by the Green parliamentary group in the National Council was rejected. A nationwide castration obligation did not receive a majority in the upper chamber in 2020. According to the GST, such a requirement should only apply to foundlings without a chip - the petition refrains from making neutering compulsory for chipped cats.
