Pets Are Lost Without It
Thousands of pets are lost every year and many are never reunited with their owners – microchipping can help to change that.
While collars and tags can get caught or removed – microchipping identifies your pet permanently and effectively.
Microchipping is only effective if you keep your details up to date. If you move house or change your telephone number you must make sure that you tell the database you are registered with so that they have your up-to-date contact details.
What Is A Microchip Cat Flap
If your cat has been microchipped, you might want to consider installing a microchip cat flap in your home. These identify cats trying to enter your home by scanning their microchip and will only allow entry to those whose microchip number you have programmed into the cat flap.
A great buy for those looking to exclude intruders especially if they have a habit of eating your cats food! You can find a range of microchip cat flaps from Sureflap.
How Will The Microchip Help My Cat Get Home
Most, if not all, humane societies and animal shelters now have universal microchip readers, and scan all animals that come into their care. If a lost cat is brought to a veterinary clinic, the veterinary staff will use their reader to check for a microchip. Since the occasional microchip may move out of position, the microchip reader will be passed over the entire body of the cat in order to ensure that the chip will be detected if present.
The reader will detect the electronic code embedded in the chip and display the identification number on its screen. The registration database is then checked for this identification number , and the pet owners contact information is retrieved. Steps are being taken to standardize the readers and develop databases that can be readily accessed.
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Is A Microchip A Good Replacement For Id Tags And Rabies Tags
No! Even if your pet has a microchip that you make sure to keep up to date, they should still have an ID tag and rabies tags. There are a number of reasons for this:
- If someone finds your lost pet, they may not know they have to take it to have its microchip scanned. In this case, an ID tag will be the best way for them to know this is someones missing pet and not a stray.
- Rabies tags display vital medical information that proves your pet is up-to-date on its rabies vaccine. In some places, the law requires pets to have a rabies tag on display.
- Its always possible for microchips to malfunction, or for scanners to not be able to pick them up. In that case, having an ID tag provides another way to find you.
Microchips Are Not A Gps Tracking Device
GPS devices and microchips arent substitutes for each other theyre complementary, and each is useful to locating a lost dog in different ways. A GPS may tell you where your dog is, but it cant provide your contact information to those nearby that would help return him home. It also requires batteries and can be lost, like a collar or tags. Microchips, because theyre inserted into a dogs skin, are permanent. While they cant guide you to your dogs location, they provide a way for you to be contacted, by almost any veterinarian or shelter, if your pup is brought in.
According to AKC Reunite, Pets with microchips are up to 20 times more likely to be reunited with their owners. Its a simple procedure, its not expensive, and the risks are minimal. So, take this opportunity to have your dog microchipped, because the thought of losing him forever is too much to bear.
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What Are The Benefits Of A Microchip
The main benefit of having a microchip is pretty straight forward when paired with the right contact information and a microchip, you can be reunited with your cat if she should get lost. And since most microchip companies serve as an intermediary during the reuniting process, your home address and phone number is more secure than if it was placed on a regular ID tag. You can also update your contact information with the microchip company as frequently as youd like by simply making a phone call or sending an e-mail. In fact, it is recommended that change your contact information every time you change your phone number or address.
Most of us dont want to think of the worst case scenario until it happens. Often we cant fathom the idea of our cats escaping , but there are plenty of reasons it occurs. Whether your cat runs away from the cat sitter, escapes during a party, or bolts after hearing a slew of fireworks, having your cat microchipped can be a lifesaver.
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Microchip Cat Implant Vs Gps Tracker: Which Is Best For My Fluffy Friend
So now you know the main features and uses of cat microchips and GPS tracking devices for felines. So which one should you go for? Well, the answer is: both! Because when it comes to the safety of your kitty, nothing is too much.
Remember: Having your cat microchipped might be a mandatory regulation in your country, but unfortunately, this wonât be enough in case kitty runs away.
In comparison with a microchip, having a GPS cat tracking collar attached to your felineâs neck will definitely help you to find your cat, in case she gets lost. And in real-time! So keep your kitty safe with both a microchip, and a GPS tracker.
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When Will A Cat Microchip Be Scanned
It should be done upon taking an animal in to see a vet. So, as a veterinarian, if a client comes in with a cat and says, “Oh look, I just found this cat, he’s new, but he’s so sweet. I think we’re going to keep him.” Okay, that’s great. The cat might be a stray, but they should be scanned right then. And that’s what we try to do here. So anytime somebody comes in with a new pet, I try to just make it a habit to just scan them. Not that I don’t trust people, but I just want to know if it’s theirs or not, or maybe this was a cat that belonged to somebody else. Also, if your cat gets displaced and is picked up by animal control, then one of the first things they’re going to do when they get back to the shelter is scan for a chip. And if the cat is chipped and it has your information associated with it, you should have your cat back pretty quickly.
Why A Pet Parent Should Care
While new ways of identifying lost pets could very well end up being mainstream in the future, a microchip is currently the most common way of identifying a cat or dog that is lost and missing his tags. It is a safe procedure, relatively inexpensive, and almost all shelters will scan an animal for a microchip immediately upon his arrival. Your pet is part of your family, but unlike your two-legged relatives, can’t tell someone where he lives and that he’s lost and scared. A microchip helps your pet communicate that he is loved and is one more tool you can use to make sure that he comes home again.
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Now The Important Part: Registration
An RFID chip itself is useless if your registration is not submitted and then kept current. Do not hesitate to ask your veterinarian any questions about the registration process, in order to ensure your beloved feline friend can be accurately identified with his or her pet microchip. Once registered and the microchip is scanned, your pet can be found from the information on the chip. When the RFID scanner picks up the chip, the chip only provides an identification number that correlates to the chip’s manufacturer. That number is called into the pet recovery service, and you will be contacted by that service using the contact information on file. This is why it is essential to make sure your registration information is accurate.
How To Find The Owner Of A Pet With Microchip Issues
If the found pet has an unregistered microchip or one with incomplete or inaccurate information, you may be able to track down the owner with a little detective work of your own. Check out this article to learn more. Or try contacting Microchip Hunters, a volunteer group which provides assistance in tracking down unregistered microchips or ones with out-of-date contact information.
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Will A Microchip Tell Me My Cats Location
It is important to understand that a pet microchip is not a GPS device providing real time tracking capabilities. Rather, a cat microchip is a Radio Frequency Identification device. Unlike a GPS device, a cat microchip doesn’t require power, and it is activated by an animal shelter or veterinarian waving an RFID scanner across a cat’s body where the microchip is embedded. The scanner activates an identification number, which is linked in a database to your ownership information.
Once the veterinarian or shelter get the chip’s number, as well as the information about the company that made the chip, they’ll contact that company to find the cat’s owner.
Does A Pet Microchip Contain A Tracking Device
No again. Microchips are different from pet trackers. They dont emit any trackable signal, and they cant help you locate where a lost pet is the way a GPS or bluetooth tracker can. A microchip works passively to help reunite lost pets with their owners it can help the owner find their pet, but only after the pet has been found by someone else and taken to have its microchip scanned.
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Why You Should Still Contact Shelters Rescues And Vets
If your pet is missing, make sure that you still contact shelters, rescues, and vets even if your pet is microchipped. The errors listed above do occur and some small rescue groups may use cheap or not even have scanners. Most veterinarians will not scan a pet unless they are asked by the person that brought the animal to the clinic.
You can find a list of Shelters and Rescues on Petfinder.com. LostMyDoggie.com and LostMyKitty.com will also provide a free service of emailing or faxing your pets flyer to local vets, shelters, rescues and animal related businesses. This is a good additional step but does NOT replace calling and/or visiting them yourself.
What Does It Mean To Microchip Your Cat
So when we say that, we’re talking about implanting a small chip, or microchip, about the size of a grain of rice under the skin of your pet. In this case, a cat. It is usually done in the scruff area behind the neck. Why? Because you try to do it in a universal place so that anybody who is looking for his head chip knows where to look. You wouldn’t want to put it on her back leg. Most people are not going to scan a back leg. It’s universally accepted that chips are going to be implanted in that region. So that’s what we do. But it is a way to identify – not track, but identify – your pet should they ever get lost and don’t have any outer markings or tags on them.
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Microchips Provide Permanent Identification
Once implanted, a microchip provides a permanent way to identify your cat and offers an excellent backup to her collar and identification tags. Unlike cat safety collars that slip off easily in potentially dangerous situations, your cat’s microchip is with her all the time.
Having your cat microchipped improves her chances of coming back to you if she runs away or is stolen. The microchip can help an animal shelter or veterinary clinic get you and your cat back together quicker, and the chip can also help settle any potential disputes over ownership of your cat.
How Do I Transfer Ownership Of A Pet With A Microchip In The Uk
Looking to rehome your cat? Youll need to contact your microchip database to complete the transfer of ownership documents. If youre giving your cat up to Cats Protection, well ask you for a signed copy of your cats microchip registration documents authorising ownership details, or might ask you to fill in a form with more information.
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The Microchip Ownership Question
The widespread adoption of microchip identification may lead to ownership disputes occurring more frequently since sometimes microchip ownership information is irrelevant according to the ownership laws. This can occur when the owner is not the one to whom the microchip ownership information belongs. This is a significant problem because client confidentiality rules generally prohibit veterinarians from divulging information about a pet without the client’s permission. Furthermore, veterinarians are required to get permission from the person who registered the chip to perform a surgery on a microchipped animal, even if the animal is experiencing a severe medical emergency. The problem can be more complicated if animals with microchips are abandoned or stolen.
What Else You Can Do
While the benefits of getting your dog or cat microchipped certainly outweigh the shortcomings, there are other steps you can take to help ensure your pet is returned to you if lost:
- Make sure your pet always has a collar and tag. Metal tags work better than plastic tags they dont chip or break, the information doesnt wear off as easily, and they usually last longer.
- Dont allow your pet to roam.
- Use responsible boarders or sitters if your pet cant be with you.
If you microchip your dog or cat, ask to see and verify your contact information that is put into the computer or written down to send to the microchip company.
Keep your copy of this paperwork with your vaccination records and current photos of your dog for easy retrieval.
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Microchipping Your Cat Is The Most Effective Way Of Reuniting You With Your Pet If It Goes Missing
Microchipping your cat permanently identifies your cat with you. A microchip cant fall off or put the cat at risk of injury like some collars can. The microchip we insert into your cat has a unique 15-digit number programmed into it. This is recorded on a nationwide database with your contact details.
So, if your cat does go off on an adventure and cant remember their way home, a microchip means the two of you can be reunited quickly and effectively.
Video Guide: How The Microchip Cat Implantation Process Works
The following video is a useful guide to microchip implantation. It will provide you with a better understanding of the procedure itself:
In conclusion, the main difference between a microchip cat identification implant and a cat GPS tracker is the possibility of actively searching for your cat, in case she runs away or gets lost. The only device that gives you this ability over an unlimited range is the GPS tracker, since it offers the possibility of real-time tracking.
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How Does A Pet Microchip Work
A pet microchip is a tiny device about the size of a grain of rice. Contained within glass thats designed to be placed in your pets body, the microchip holds a small computer chip.
The microchip is implanted between your pets shoulder blades with a needle.
This computer chip stores your contact information. Most animal shelters and vet offices have scanners that can read pet microchips, and they will routinely scan any animal found or brought in.
What Are Gps Tracking Devices For Cats
Unlike microchips, GPS trackers for cats offer you real-time GPS location information about your cat directly in your smartphone. And not only can you keep track of your cats whereabouts for safety, you can have fun finding out what your mischievous house cat gets up to on their daily adventures!
Here are some of the main features of the Tractive GPS CAT Tracker:
â Small, lightweight device that can be worn comfortably on your cats collar or harness
â Offers real-time tracking with location updates every 2-3 seconds
â Unlimited GPS tracking range you can find your cat over any distance
â Works in over 150 countries worldwide
â Exchangeable battery, which lasts between 2 and 5 days on one charge
â Monitors your cats activity level in addition to location information
â Active search possible no need to rely on external factors when kitty gets lost
Check out a real GPS tracker in action on a Tractive team members cat in the photo below!
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Is It Painful To My Cat
It hurts about as much as having blood drawn. The chips are usually inserted without incident in awake animals, even in the tiniest kitten. Although the needle is large, it is sharp so that most animals do not even flinch when the chip is inserted. Some clients choose to have the microchip implanted when their cat is spayed or neutered so that the cat can be anesthetized for the injection, but this is not necessary the microchip can be implanted at any time that is convenient.
High Tech: Identifying Lost Pets With Microchips
Despite your best efforts, accidents can happen. Someone leaves a door ajar, an intrepid pooch digs under a fence, and your best intentions go awry: Your pet escapes and gets lost. If they’re wearing a collar and identification tag, chances are good that youll get them back.
But what if the collar comes off?
To protect their pets, many owners turn to technology, in the form of identification microchips implanted in their pets. Microchips are tiny transponders, about the size of a grain of rice, that can be implanted in your pet’s skin by many veterinarians and animal shelters some shelters implant one in all pets they place.
Microchips are a good back-up option for pet identification, but should never be the main one. Reading a microchip takes a special scanner, one that an animal control officer or shelter will have, but your neighbor down the street will not. And if Fido wanders off, it’s likely to be a private citizen who encounters them first. That’s why, in the event of accidental separation, identification tags are your pet’s first ticket home.
That said, microchips provide an extra level of protection in case your pet loses their collar and tags. Providing your pets with both tags and a microchip can help ensure a happy reunion if the unthinkable happens.
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