All domestic cats in the Netherlands will have to be chipped and registered under new plans being drawn up by farm and wildlife minister Piet Adema.

Adema said the move would allow pets to be reunited with their owners more quickly, enable councils to ensure pets are being looked after properly, and help deal with the problem of feral cats.

There are some 2.9 million pet cats in the Netherlands and every year 60,000 are reported missing. Looking after stray pets costs local councils €4.8 million a year.

The announcement coincides with a campaign to stop the province of Friesland from continuing to sanction feral cat hunts  in order to protect birds and other small mammals.

Other efforts have also been made to curb the problems caused by domestic cats. In 2021, a Dutch foundation failed in its efforts force the government to take action against people who let their cats roam freely outdoors.

The Netherlands introduced compulsory chips and registration for dogs in 2013.