How To Microchip Your Cat
This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Dr. Elliott, BVMS, MRCVS is a veterinarian with over 30 years of experience in veterinary surgery and companion animal practice. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987 with a degree in veterinary medicine and surgery. She has worked at the same animal clinic in her hometown for over 20 years.There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been viewed 24,168 times.
Microchips are permanent devices that make it easier to locate your cat if he is stolen or runs away. Breakaway collars and ID tags are helpful, but these can easily come off. A microchip provides a more secure and specific method than relying on the kindness of strangers to return your cat, and it can never fall off. If you want to help protect your cat, have him microchipped.
How Much Does It Cost To Microchip A Cat
In the UK, you can expect to pay anywhere between £20 and £30, depending on where you live. Speak to your local vet for details, or get in touch with your local rescue centre or cat charity. Often, charities and reputable cat rescue organisations may be able to microchip your cat for a reduced rate.
If you adopt a cat from Cats Protection, rest assured that the cost of microchipping your cat is included in your adoption fee.
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. 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 Get My Cat Microchipped
Having your cat microchipped is something that every owner should have done, find out here just why it’s so important.
- Microchipping offers cats a safe and permanent method of identification and increases the chances of a lost feline being safely reunited with his owner.
- Microchipping is the most effective way of identifying a lost pet .
- Each microchip has a unique number which is stored on a national database. A scan of the chip by an authorised body such as an animal warden reveals the owner’s name and address from the database’s records.
Petlog is run and managed by the Kennel Club and handles the details of microchipped pets – currently over three million animals residing in the UK. The most common are dogs and cats, but there are also rabbits, ferrets, horses, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, even an elephant! And as of April 6, 2016, the microchipping of dogs was made compulsory by law.
If your pet is lost while you are travelling in Europe, you can still be traced as Petlog is the UK member of the European Pet Network.
Can Anyone With A Scanner Access My Contact Information From The Chip
Microchips carry only a unique identification number. If your pet gets lost and is taken to a vet clinic or animal shelter, your pet will be scanned for a microchip to reveal his unique ID number. That number will be called into the pet recovery service, and you will be contacted using the contact information on file with your pets microchip. **It is vital to keep your contact information up to date so that you can be reached.
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How Can A Microchip Help Reunite Me With My Cat
From a pet owner’s view, a microchip could be all that stands in the way of you being reunited with your cat should he go missing. PDSA have said that microchipping is the best way of permanently identifying your pet and proving you are the owner. Collars and tags can easily be lost, removed or get caught on a branch, sometimes causing terrible injuries. Microchips do not carry the same risks and cannot be tampered with. Once inserted, your pet will be uniquely identifiable for the rest of their life.
Please remember, if you do choose to use a collar as well, ensure it is a ‘quick-release’ type to prevent serious accidents and injury.
Difficulties In Identifying A Lost Pet Through Its Microchip
It can be challenging to identify a lost pet through its microchip. Not every scanner is capable of reading every chip, as even the best scanners miss some chips. The main issues are patent protection, business interests, and politics. It can also be difficult to ascertain which registry service archives the pet’s identifying information. The American Animal Hospital Association Universal Pet Microchip Lookup Tool is an internet-based application to assist in the identification of those registries to which a particular microchip is registered, or otherwise provide the chip’s manufacturer. Due to AAHA’s effort, it is easier to figure out which registry keeps the animal’s identifying information through a microchip search site. By searching the databases of participating companies, the tool provides useful information. To protect owners’ privacy, it will not return pet owner information contained in the registries’ databases. Instead, it will display which registries should be contacted when a lost pet is scanned, and its microchip number is identified. However, since not all microchip registry companies are involved in this tool, it is missing a significant databank of Avid Identification System Inc.
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How Old Does My Cat Have To Be To Be Microchipped
Kittens can be microchipped at any age by a trained implanter but are usually done at vaccination stage to make sure they are identified before they are let out. The microchip is inserted by a needle and its often recommend doing it at the time of neutering, when the kitten is under anaesthesia to prevent discomfort.
The implanter will decide on the microchip they use and therefore the database that this microchip is linked to. There are several different databases but all microchip scanners in the UK are able to detect the code that is unique to your cat, regardless of the type of ‘chip.
What Are Microchips For Cats
A microchip for cats is an identification tool an electronic chip of the size of a grain of rice, implanted under the skin of your kitty. The unique chip contains an ID number for identifying the owner of the cat, in case your feline friend gets lost. The chip is injected carefully between the shoulder blades of your cat and the painless procedure lasts only a few seconds.
Once the chip is implanted, it works in case your cat goes missing, and is brought to a vet or shelter. There they will be able to scan the microchip to identify, and hopefully, contact you, the owner of the lost cat. Your contact details must be kept up-to-date in the database, otherwise the microchip might be ineffective in reuniting you with your cat.
â ï¸ Microchips alone are not useful in the active search for your lost cat, and microchips cannot help you find your cat in real-time.
With a microchip, you rely on a stranger to find, retrieve and bring your lost cat to a vet or shelter, then contact you. However, in general, microchips for cats are a more reliable form of identificationthan collar tags, which can fall off or become illegible.
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How Do You Find Out If A Cat Has An Owner
If the cat comes close enough you should take them to the local vet so that they can scan them for a microchip. If they are, then you will have the information about the owner and how to contact them. Contact the local animal shelters and see if anyone has contacted them about their missing cat recently.
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If My Cat Never Goes Outdoors Do They Still Need A Microchip
As stated above, microchipped cats are more likely to be returned home in the event that they get loose. Cat owners might feel that if their cat remains indoors most of the time, or all of the time, that a microchip is unnecessary. The short answer to whether or not you should microchip your indoor cat is yes.
According to Veterinary Centers of America, even the most responsible cat owners cannot ensure their cat will never get lost. Situations presenting escape opportunities, like a door accidentally being left open or your cat pushing through a loose window, can occur at any time.
Additionally, indoor cats are unfamiliar with their outside environment, making it even more difficult for them to find their way back home should they get out. They will also be more frightened and anxious about being in the outside world, which can be very traumatic.
In any case, its better to be safe than sorry, so indoor cat owners should seriously consider getting their feline friend chipped.
Can Anyone With A Scanner Access My Contact Information
A microchip for cats cannot compromise your personal privacy. 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.
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What Is The Difference Between A Gps And An Rfid Device
Microchips are RFID devices. What does it stand for? Radio Frequency Identification. So the chip is a dormant thing. It has a scanner. When the scanner passes over the chip, it causes it to emit a signal which contains a number thats typically 16 digits. That’s all it does. You can’t locate an animal. You can’t track an animal. It just says, “Oh, here’s an animal. Oh, this is an animal with chip number one, two, three, four.” And that’s what it does.
GPS, as most people know nowadays, refers to the Global Positioning System. So whatever the GPS device, it is constantly emitting a signal that is detected by GPS satellites, and then sent down to another handheld device or some sort of a tracking device to where you can actually locate and pinpoint the location of a cat.
They are completely different technologies. I wish they were one and the same, but in order for a microchip to serve as a GPS, it would have to have a constant power supply to it in order to continually emit the signal. How are you going to do that? You can’t. There’s no battery implanted and, if there were, it wouldn’t last for the life of a cat. So right now there’s no feasible way. If you want GPS technology, there are several companies that have collars that have GPS devices on them, but remember that they do have to be recharged every so often.
Can A Gps Tracker Help Me Find My Lost Cat
Yes, absolutely! Tractive has been producing the worlds most trusted GPS trackers for cats and dogs for years and in this time, many users have shared with us their stories of a cat parents worst nightmare: losing their beloved feline baby!
However, with the help of the GPS cat tracker, they were able to actively search for and be reunited with their fur-baby in no time. Check out the story below from one grateful cat tracker user:
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How Much Does It Cost
The price will vary depending on where you have it done. Generally speaking, though, you should expect to pay between $40 and $50 if you have it done by a vet.
A large portion of that cost will be due to the fee for the office visit, though, so having your pet chipped during a regular checkup could save you money. Registering your chip with the company is usually free.
You may be able to have it done more cheaply at an animal shelter or through a rescue group. Some shelters have special days with discounted chipping costs, kind of like a low-cost vaccine clinic. You may be able to have it done for as little as $10 in that case.
If you adopt your cat through a shelter, they may already be chipped, so be sure to ask. The chipping could be done by the shelter itself or the pet could have been chipped by a previous owner.
If the cat was chipped by a previous owner, though, youll need to contact the company to update your information. You dont want them calling the old owner if your cat gets lost.
Does My Pet Need A Microchip To Travel
In many cases, a pet will need to have a microchipto travel to another country. Before travelingwith a pet, review your destination countrysrules about microchipping, vaccinations andquarantine periods. Even if a microchip is notrequired for travel, it is still highlyrecommended for proper identification and trackingpurposes.
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How Much Do Microchips Cost
Microchipping is not only safe, its also a cost-effective way to ensure your pets safety. Most microchips cost between $25 and $75, including registration in a nationally recognized database. However, with the right pet insurance, you may be covered for the entire procedure! In addition to extensive coverage for pet accidents & illnesses, Pumpkincovers 90% of the cost of microchip implantation by a veterinarian. Request a free quote today to find out other ways Pumpkin Pet Insurance can help protect your dog or cat for life.
In the end, the benefits of microchipping your pet far outweigh any hesitations or concerns pet owners may have about the process. Aside from being an important safety measure to take, microchipping provides peace of mind that if your best fur friend ever went missing theyd have the best possible shot of making their way back home to you.
Who Else Can Scan My Cat’s Microchip If They Get Lost
Most veterinarians nowadays have that. The technology’s changed a lot in the 20 or so years. When microchipping was first invented, whatever brand of chip was implanted, you’d have to have their scanner to detect it. So you could have a scanner for brand A, and that cat was microchipped with brand B, and it wasnt going to pick it up. Thankfully, it’s not like that anymore. Now, they have universal scanners that can detect any make and model of chip, making it quick and easy to identify.
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Where Should I Get My Cat Microchipped
Most people just have their vets do it its a routine procedure, and it doesnt cost much at all.
There are other options available, though. Many animal shelters will do it as well, and even some pet stores have the capability of installing a microchip .
Ultimately, it doesnt matter where you get it done, so long as you do. The RFIDs that these things emit are universal, so if you have it installed by one vet, it can be read by another .
Pet Microchip Registry: How To Easily Register Your Chip
No matter how careful we are with our pets, thereâs no question that some are born escape artists. And even the most docile pets arenât immune to the occasional wander.
According to statistics, one in three pets will go missing at some point in their lifetime. If youâve ever felt that trauma first-hand or the simple thought of it fills you with dread, one thing is for sure: You know thereâs nothing you wouldnât do to get a lost dog or cat nestled safely back in your arms…fast.
Hereâs the good news: If your pet is microchipped, the key to a speedy and successful reunion is already in place. But in order to unlock its power, thereâs one more crucial step you need to take: register your petâs microchip. Itâs the single most important thing you can do to ensure your petâs safe return. Luckily, itâs also the easiest!
And research proves that this one simple step is absolutely worth the few minutes it takes to complete. According to a 2009 study of 7,700 lost pets, 52% of microchipped dogs and 39% of microchipped cats were successfully reunited with their families.
Unfortunately, of the chipped pets who did not make it home safely, the study revealed unregistered microchips or those with outdated information were the primary reasons.
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This Brings Us To An Incredibly Important Part Of Cat Microchipping: Registration
An RFID chip itself is useless if your registration isn’t submitted and then kept current. At Indian Trail Animal Hospital, we do complete the registration for you and even pay the additional 1st year fee for additional services from HomeAgain including rapid lost pet alerts to pet professionals within a 25 mile distance, free ASPCA poison control calls, and travel assistance for pets found more than $500 miles from home. Your registration and changes in the database never requires additional fees.
How Does A Microchip In A Cat Or Dog Work If My Petis Lost
Lets say your pet goes exploring without yourpermission. Maybe their collar gets snagged andcomes off, so they no longer have their ID. Yourpet then gets picked up and dropped off at ashelter or local vet’s office, where they’rescanned for a microchip. The scan reveals yourpet’s identification number and its associatedregistry. The vet or shelter contacts theregistry, who reaches out to you to tell you whereto find your pet.Thats why it is so crucial that youregister your pets microchip. The chip itselfonly transmits an ID number. Its up to you andyour vets office to connect that ID number toyour personal information so the registry canreach you if your pet gets lost.
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