Microchipping your cat can help to increase the chances that they will be found if they get lost. Read on to learn more from our Pleasant Hill vets about how microchipping is beneficial for cats.
What is a microchip?
Tiny radio-frequency identification (RFID) chips known as microchips can assist veterinarians and animal shelters in identifying pet owners when an animal has been found. The cat's shoulder blades are the typical location for microchips, which are roughly the size of a grain of rice.
Microchipping your cat does not require surgery. The chip is implanted just under the skin using a needle and involves little discomfort. In fact, most cats have almost no reaction to having the microchip implanted.
Once your cat has been microchipped, you register the chip's serial number and your cat's information with the company that produced the chip. By matching your cat's information with the serial number of the microchip, if your cat is found, they can be traced back to you.
Why not just get a collar and tag for my cat?
Collars and tags can help find lost cats and bring them back to their owners. People only need to read the tag and call the number on it to get in touch with the owner. In case they get into trouble, outdoor cats should always wear collars and identification tags. Make sure your cat has a tag with your name and phone number on it. Indoor cats should also wear identification tags because they frequently escape when their owners aren't looking.
As good as it is to equip your cat with a collar and identification tag, tags can fall off and get lost, leaving your cat with no identifying information. Microchips are a permanent way to provide your cat with a means of identification. NOTE: It is important to keep your microchip registration information up to date. Be sure to contact the microchip company to update your information if you move or change your contact number.
How do microchips work?
The veterinarian or rescue group will use a specialized scanner to read the microchip if your cat has been located. Microchip scanners are all-purpose and can read any contemporary chip, regardless of its manufacturer. The microchip will send its specific identification number to the scanner when it is moved over the cat's back and sides.
The rescuer will then contact the national database to find out your phone number, so that you can be notified that your cat has been found.
Should your cat be stolen, microchips can also be very helpful when it comes to proving ownership.