Cat owners who fail to have their pets microchipped could be prosecuted and fined under plans being considered by the Government and due to be outlined at the Conservative Party conference.

Under the plans, part of a package on animal welfare, the Government will consult on introducing compulsory microchipping for pet cats to subject them to the same safety measures that currently apply to dogs.

The new policy will also propose a ban on trophy-hunting imports, meaning Britain will have the strongest laws in the world against the practice.

There was controversy at the time compulsory microchipping came in for dogs in 2015, because owners were fined up to £500 for failing to comply.

On Friday, the RSPCA cautiously welcomed the plans to force owners to microchip their cats.

It said: “Whilst there are challenges on how any legislation would be enforced and what cats it would cover, the RSPCA welcomes this latest announcement as a positive move towards increasing cat microchipping by making it a legal requirement in England.”

View more!

A Defra spokesman said: “This should give cat owners more peace of mind and strengthen the measures we have to tackle cat theft.”

The move to ban trophy hunting imports, announced by Zac Goldsmith, the Minister for International Wildlife, could save the lives of thousands of elephants, lions, rhinos and other endangered species.

Defra has labelled the practice “morally indefensible”. Mr Goldsmith, who has been campaigning against trophy hunting for years, credited The Daily Telegraph’s reporting on the issue with pressuring the Government to implement a ban.

The minister said: “The fight against trophy hunting of endangered animals matters.

“It is clear that it is morally indefensible and that is why I am delighted that the Conservative Government will consult on a ban on the import of these trophies.”

The department will also “effectively end” live animal exports, a practice which many animal welfare campaigners have urged the Government to end after the UK leaves the EU.

This will stop livestock being transported long distances in cramped, hot conditions, and they will instead be killed at the nearest abattoir.

Theresa Villiers, the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, said: “This is an important victory for all those thousands of people across the country who have campaigned for tougher measures to protect animal welfare.”