The importance of microchipping cats

As a pet owner, one of your biggest fears is likely losing track of your fur baby. In the past, collars with ID tags were the only option to quickly identify lost pets. But what happens if that collar gets removed or torn off? Some modern collars come with a safety feature that allows it to tear away if your cat gets caught in a bad situation. While this could save their life, it also means they are then left without any identification. 

Enter microchipping. When you adopt a cat from Felius Cat Café, your new companion comes fully vaccinated, spayed/neutered, and implanted with a microchip; a rice-grain-size device that is generally injected under the cat’s skin at the nape of the neck (between the shoulder blades). These microchips are read by an RFID scanner (veterinarians and most shelters/rescues have one). These chips store the pet owner’s name and contact information.

Chip registration is extremely important. If you do not register the chip and include your contact information, there will still be no way to link your cat back to you directly.

Now, this injection may sound painful. But it compares to the pain of getting blood drawn. Plus, it’s a surefire way to ensure your escaped pet has the best chance of being returned.

If you are reading this and thinking “I really need to get my cat microchipped”, then you are in luck! The one-time process is simple: work with your veterinarian to schedule an implant. It’s a non-invasive procedure and implantation takes only a few seconds. The chip is designed to last the life of your pet. Once the chip is implemented, your vet will provide you with the chip ID and instructions for how to register your pet’s chip online. Chip registration is extremely important. If you do not register the chip and include your contact information, there will still be no way to link your cat back to you directly. Microchips retail for around $45. The only requirement for implantation is that your cat must be at least 8 weeks old. 

You can also check with local shelters/rescues. Pop-up microchipping clinics are gaining popularity and tend to offer discounted pricing. Note that microchips are not equipped with GPS. The chips only store contact information.

We see the importance of microchipping daily in our line of work. Whenever we find a stray cat, the first thing we do is scan the cat for a microchip. In the instance the cat has a registered microchip, we are quickly able to reunite the cat with its owners. A happy ending for all involved.

If you are still on the fence, chat with your veterinarian. The contact information you provide for the chip is stored in a secure database (vs hanging around your pet’s neck) and chips can expedite the reunion process for you and your feline friend. Plus, the chip could prevent your baby from spending confused nights in an unfamiliar animal shelter.