Ok I Want To Have My Cat Microchipped What Do I Do Next
If you have decided that you want to get your cat microchipped, youll just need to call your veterinarians office to schedule an appointment so they can implant the microchip in your cat.
And, dont forget after the vet implants the microchip into your cat that you will need to register the microchip in order for it to be linked to your information.
Hopefully, by reading this article, you have found answers to any of your questions or concerns about implanting a microchip in your cat.
There are many benefits and few negative side effects or risk factors associated with microchipping your cat. If you speak with your veterinarian, they are very likely to recommend that you put a microchip in your cat.
In fact, on their website, the AMVA , states that it recommends that cat owners microchip their pets.
The website page further states that the AMVA urges veterinarians to recommend microchipping to the pet owners who come to their practice.
If you are interested in hearing more about why it is important to microchip your cat from an employee of the Human Society, you can watch this YouTube video.
In the video, a newscaster interviews a Human Society employee in Charlotte, North Carolina. The importance of microchipping and a little more about how it works is discussed during the video.
Additionally, you can show this short video to your friends or family who may not be aware of the benefits of microchipping.
When Should I Get My Kitten Microchipped
Theres no minimum age to have your kitten microchipped although you should have it done before they go out for the first time. Many owners will do it at the same time as theyre having their pet neutered when theyre already under general anaesthetic. Most rescue centres will microchip kittens by the time theyre eight weeks old. In any case you should get them microchipped before you let them outside to explore.
Whether youre buying a kitten or welcoming an older cat into your home, microchipping them should be top of your priority list because it gives you the best chance of being reunited with them if theyre lost or stolen. If youre moving house, always remember to change your address and/or phone number on the microchip.
Cat Microchip: How To Id Track And Always Find Your Kitty
Learn all about microchips for cats and their main uses and limitations when it comes to tracking your favorite feline friend!
Even if you have an indoor cat, its best to make sure your feline has a microchip cat ID, since they are very likely to be escape artists. But how can you best track your cat? In the past, simple collar tags with the name and address of the pet owners were attached to the cat. Nowadays, we have various, much more useful tracking and identification options, such as GPS and Bluetooth trackers, microchips, etc. So what to choose for your felineâs safety?
This article explains why it is not possible to keep track of your cat by relying solely on a microchip. It will also clarify the difference between microchips, GPS and Bluetooth trackers, and explains what your cat really needs to be safe.
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What Happens If I Lose My Cat
If you do lose your cat, the first thing to do is check with the database on which your cat is registered that all your contact details are up to date. If you cant remember or cant find the documentation, call the clinic and we should be able to provide you with everything you need. If your lost cat is found and taken to a vet, local authority or animal welfare organisation it will be scanned and you will be contacted about your cats whereabouts.
How Do Vets Insert A Microchip In A Cat
Microchipping your cat isnt dissimilar to them receiving their vaccinations. The microchip is inserted via a quick injection between your cats shoulder blades and they should experience little to no discomfort.
Once in place, your cat wont feel the chip. The actual chip sits inside a special capsule which wont break down and is designed to last your cats entire life.
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Are There Any Cat Microchip Side Effects
Side effects from microchips are fairly rare. Your cat may experience some soreness at the injection site, and its always possible for it to become infected, so keep an eye out for that for a week or so after your cat has his or her microchip inserted.
One of the most common cat microchip side effects is for the chip to migrate inside your cats body, either moving to a different area or sinking into muscle tissue. In either case, it may be difficult for a veterinarian or shelter worker to find and read the chip with a microchip scanner. For this reason, its important to have your cats microchip scanned at yearly vet checkups, just to make sure its still in the right place and readable.
One other very uncommon side effect is for a cat to grow a tumor at its injection site. This is very rare, but any time you notice a new lump or bump on your cats body, you should let your vet know and possibly schedule a checkup to make sure it isnt something serious.
The Tricky Truth: Side Effects Of Microchipping Your Cat
As the success of pet recovery using microchips continues to rise, more and more people are implanting their pets with these devices.
A microchip is 12mm by 2mm, takes seconds to inject, and is designed to last for the life of your pet.
Sound like a sweet deal? In truth, once youve had a chip implanted in your cat, there are a plethora of hurdles to jump through to keep your microchip successful.
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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!
Can A Microchip Get Lost Inside A Cats Body
No, there is no way that it could get lost inside a cats body, although there is a small chance that it may migrate to another body part. A cats subcutaneous tissue will bond to the chip within 24 hours after it is injected into a cat, which prevents it from moving.
Reasons why a microchip cannot be located in a cats body:
- A cat has long or matted hair.
- The chip is enclosed in too much fat.
- The cat is wearing a metal collar.
- The cat is squirming.
- The chip moved or migrated to an undetected area of a cats body.
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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.
Is Microchipping Dangerous Or Painful For My Cat
Dangerous? No, you’re implanting a sterile benign non-active device under the skin of the cat. So harmful, no. Painful, for about a second. It is a large-bore needle that we have to use. Imagine a grain of rice and a needle big enough to encompass the grain of rice. It has to go into the skin. So yes, it’s a large gauge needle that we have to use. Other than that, it’s really no big deal, as its done instantaneously and it’s effective immediately.
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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.
Do All Shelters Scan Lost Cats For Microchips
To our knowledge, just about every animal shelter and veterinarian in the United States has the RFID devices to detect a microchip for cats. However, there are various cat microchip manufacturers, and because of this not all RFID scanners can detect every microchip for cats. Therefore, shelters and veterinarians may keep several different scanners on-hand to detect different cat microchip brands. Since cat microchips can migrate, it is a good idea to ask your veterinarian during each checkup to scan the pet microchip to make sure it is still reading, and is also still located where it should be.
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Why Should I Microchip My Cat
Whether youve just bought a kitten or adopted an older cat, making sure they are microchipped should be top of your list. Microchipping your cat gives them the best chance of being identified and returned to you if they are lost or stolen. Microchips are safe, easy to implant and effective. Unlike collars and ID tags, microchips dont come off and they dont put your cat at risk of injury.
How Do I Update My Cats Microchip
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Have A Professional Scan Your Pet
Not sure if your pet has a microchip? No problem. Time to get them scanned by a pet pro. This is painless, free and only takes a second. Simply take your dog or cat to a vet office or animal shelter. We can do this for you at Adopt & Shop! If youre planning on going somewhere other than Adopt & Shop, call the location beforehand to ask if they use a universal scanner. These devices read all pet microchip frequencies so your chip wont accidentally get passed over.
Do Cats Have To Be Microchipped By Law
Currently there is nothing in place that states that cats need to be microchipped by law. It is currently against the law for dogs not to be microchipped, however, with owners facing considerable fines if they dont comply.
At Cats Protection, were continuing our campaign to make microchipping compulsory for cats in the UK to help ensure more happy reunions.
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Enter Theserial Number Into The Microchip Registry
Thefirst step on how to find a lost cat with microchip is informing themicrochipping company immediately. The company maintains an online registrythat contains your details and pets information. Go to the company website andenter the serial number of your pet cats microchip. You may also make a directand follow up calls to the company to see if your cat has been scannedanywhere.
Thereare some cases when your cat may have been microchipped before you became hisowner. If you are unsure about which microchipping company you should inquirewith, there are multiple databases online containing information aboutmicrochipped pets, such as petmicrochiplookup.org. You may also call the vet, the breeder, orthe previous owner for microchip information if you dont have the serialnumber.
Why Should Your Cat Have A Microchip
Every pet should wear a collar with tags that have your contact information, but a microchip provides an additional form of ID that cant ever be lost or removed.
Microchips provide an extra level of protection in case your pet loses their collar and tags, Kimberley Alboum, shelter outreach and policy engagement director for the Humane Society of the United States, says. Providing your pets with both tags and a microchip can increase the chances of a reunion if your pet gets lost.
If your cat ever goes missing, youll have the peace of mind their microchip connects them back to you. According to the microchip specialists at HomeAgain, less than 2 percent of cats without microchips returned home. However, if a cat is microchipped, the return-to-owner rate is 20 times higher than if the cat was not microchipped.
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Is The Cat Microchipping Procedure Dangerous
Cat microchipping is considered very safe. As with any medical procedure, there is always a risk of side effects. These include:
- Potential migration of the chip into another location
- Tumor development at the injection site
It is important to note that side effects have occurred in a very small portion of cats, and are considered very rare compared to the tens of millions of cats who have received microchips. When it comes to microchips, the potential rewards far outweigh potential risks.
Get Your Pet’s Microchip Number
Dont have their microchip number handy? Call your vets office, they may well have it in their records OR bring your pet into your vets office, animal shelter, or animal control to have them scanned . And hopefully, they’re using a “universal scanner,” as not all microchips work on the same frequency.
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Do All Shelters Scan For Microchips
I think I can safely say yes, but I don’t work in shelters, so I don’t know how they operate. That is absolutely what they should be doing. Every animal that is picked up should be scanned when it gets back to the shelter and, if so, it’s not all that difficult to find your information, as I just mentioned, and to reunite that cat with their owner.
Why Does My Cat Need A Microchip
There are a few different reasons your cat needs a microchip. The primary reason you may want to put a microchip in your cat is to make it possible for you to locate your cat in the event they get lost or escape from your house or another location.
If a cat with a microchip gets lost and is found by someone else, the microchip can be scanned at a veterinarians office or shelter.
When the chip is scanned, your information will come up so you can be contacted to come to bring your cat home.
It is much more likely that a cat, or any pet, with a microchip, will be able to be reunited with its owners than a pet who does not have a microchip.
According to Animal Planet, A 2007 study by the American Veterinary Medical Association found that 74.1 percent of the time microchipped pets who were lost and found by someone were able to be returned to their owners.
This is in contrast to the only 13 percent of lost non-microchipped pets who were able to be returned to their owners.
The difference a microchip can make in reuniting you with your pet in the event they get lost is staggering. The study shows the definite positive impact a microchip can make.
Having your cat microchipped can also lead you to have more peace of mind since youll know itll be easier for you to be found in the event they get lost.
The interview took place before a major hurricane was expected to hit land and Dr. Pickett offered her advice to ensure the safety of your pets.
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Keeping Your Cats Microchip Details Up To Date
Once your cat has been microchipped you must remember to keep your details correct and up to date.
Your veterinary practice and the pet microchip database are separate. If you move house you should inform both your veterinary practice of your new address and phone details as well as your microchip company.
Dont forget to update microchip details on a cat you have re-homed as well. This can be done by contacting the microchip company.
Youre responsible for keeping these details up to date. However, your veterinary practice can help.