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Microchipping Your Cat
for Extra Safety
"Microchipping can be a life saver. But you still need
to have a collar and pet ID tag on your cat."
What is Microchipping?
"Microchips" are small computer chips about the size of a rice grain. A veterinarian injects the chip under your cat's skin. Most cats tolerate this minor procedure with no problem.
The chip contains your cat's identifying information and can be read by a special scanner. If your cat gets lost and is taken to an animal shelter, most shelters can scan the information on the chip, identify your cat, and get her home to you.
Having your cat microchipped is a good way to help her get home if she ever becomes lost.
Use This Along with a Cat ID Tag
Having your cat microchipped is an added security measure to make sure that your lost cat finds her way home. However, this should not be the only form of ID your cat has.
A safety collar and
identification tag
should also be worn by your cat at all times.
Having a
safety collar
 with a current ID tag will help you and your cat if she is found in an area where the local shelter is not equipped with scanners. It also helps to prevent your cat from being taken to the shelter in the first place. If someone finds your cat and simply reads the information on the cat ID tag, they can just contact you directly and help your lost cat get home even quicker.
However, if your cat becomes lost and loses her collar, a microchip is often a powerful back-up method to help your cat get home quickly and safely.
How Much Does It Cost?
The cost to microchip your cat at your local veterinarian is usually under $50USD. There is an additional minor fee to register your cat's chip ID number. This additional fee ensures that your cat's identification and your contact information are registered with as many shelters as possible, including those outside of your local area.
Some animal shelters automatically microchip their animals for adoption. If you adopt your cat from such a shelter, you usually only have to pay the small registration fee.
Local shelters often offer special rates to the community for microchipping. In my area, they even have certain times of the year where they will do the procedure on cats and dogs for free. Call your local animal shelter to ask if they have this service available.
Does It Work Everywhere?
No! Microchipping and/or microchip scanning is not available in all areas. It's especially important in these areas that your cat wear a safety collar with a pet ID tag.
And remember, just because your local animal shelter offers microchipping and microchip scanning, if your cat gets lost in an area that does not have scanning available, a safety collar and ID tag will be her only chance of making it back home to you.
Important Note: Some pet hospitals, such as Banfield, use microchips that cannot be easily scanned by most shelters. Be sure to ask not only the pet hospital microchipping your cat, but shelters as well, to make sure your cat is being microchipped with the best microchip.
Please read the important related article about the Banfield microchip.
Related Topics:
Pet ID Tags
- Visit this website for a great selection of cat identification tags.
Banfield Microchip Warning - Check out this warning about the Banfield Microchip.
Search My Healthy Cat or the Internet for more feline information.
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