Cat owners in Ipswich gathered on Saturday to help protect their pets with a chipping event.

The event, held from 11am to 3pm at The Meeting Place Community Centre, was organised by the Missing Cats Anglia charity, and gave pet owners the chance to chip their cats for £5 with an established chipper.

Organiser Deni Parkes, from Missing Cats Anglia, said: “It went really well and we also had a lot of enquiries about dogs. We have got lots of members, and it was a great opportunity to meet people.”

The event also raised £167 for the charity through a raffle, donations and a cake sale with cakes provided by Jo’s Cakes. The money will help Missing Cats Anglia fund emergency medical treatment for injured cats that come into them, and allow them to re-home pets where owners cannot be traced.

From April next year, dogs will be required to be microchipped by law, and Ms Parkes is keen to emphasise the importance of chipping for cats too.

She added: “If you claim to love your cat the best thing you can do is chip it.

“It’s the only proof of ownership and it is in people’s best interests too, especially with the amount we are picking up that aren’t chipped.”