Owners of these 20 cat and dog breeds warned they go missing the most

A new study has uncovered which cat and dog breeds are the most likely to go missing. The results have triggered an insurance comparison site to warn owners about taking precautions – including microchipping pets.

Rhys Jones, pet insurance expert at Go.Compare, said: “Unfortunately, sometimes our pets will get lost, whether your dog runs off on a walk or your cat wanders too far from home, but there are steps owners can take to protect their animals. Microchipping is the number one way to do this.

“If your pet is lost, the microchip can identify them and help you reunite. This is mandatory for cats and dogs, but is worth considering for other animals, too. Plus, some pet insurance policies will only provide cover for a lost pet if they’ve been microchipped.

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“Pet insurance is another important way of protecting your animal, as you might be able to claim for related costs, like advertising. Sometimes, they’ll offer cover for a reward if your pet is found, too, or provide compensation if they aren’t.”

The study comes from Go.Compare pet insurance, which analysed data from the National Pet Register to uncover which breeds are the most likely to be lost. Out of more than 50 dog breeds, terriers were revealed to have the most missing.

Other pooches in the top ten lost list include crossbreeds, jack russells and spaniels. But terriers, which include Yorkshire terriers and border terriers, appear on the register more often than any other type of dog.

Most lost dogs by breed

1. Terrier

2. Cross mixed (unspecified)

3. Jack Russell

4. Spaniel

5. Chihuahua

6. Bulldog

7. Collie

8. Labrador

9. Lurcher

10. Husky

In comparison, cats make up the majority of lost pets nationwide. The study shows that there are more than eight times as many missing cats listed as there are dogs, with close to 150,000 reported as lost across the UK. Out of 25 reported breeds, the number one missing cat breed is the domestic shorthair or moggy.

Tabbies and British shorthairs are also among the cat breeds most often reported as missing. However, pedigree breeds such as Bengal, Siamese and ragdoll cats also made the top 10 list despite their distinctive features.

Most lost cats by breed

1. Domestic shorthair / moggy

2. Tabby

3. British shorthair

4. Semi-long hair

5. Mixed breed

6. Bengal

7. Tortoiseshell

8. Maine coon

9. Ragdoll

10. Siamese

A law that came into force last summer has meant all cats must be microchipped. This includes cats that usually stay indoors.

The law requires cats to be microchipped before they are 20 weeks old. Contact details must be stored and kept up to date in a pet microchipping database.

Owners who don’t microchip their cat will have 21 days to do so and owners who don’t comply may face a fine of up to £500.

Microchipping is the most effective and quickest way of identifying lost pets. Microchipped cats are more than twice as likely to be reunited with their owner. Microchipping helps recover stolen cats. Vets can contact you quickly if your cat is injured.