Should Cats Get Microchips, Too?

Should I Microchip My Cat?

            Microchips are used for identification and sometimes for licensing dogs, but did you know your cat can also have a microchip implanted?  This is often a good idea even if your cat lives indoors as a precaution in case he or she should escape the house.  The main purpose of having a microchip implanted is so that your pet can be reunited with you in the event he or she becomes lost and taken to a shelter or veterinarian.  Microchips are easy to implant, and no sedation is needed. 

Animal Planet reports, “according to the American Veterinary Medical Association, a 2007 study found that animal shelters reunited microchipped pets with their owners 74.1 percent of the time, while animals without microchips were recovered by owners only 13 percent of the time.”

            If your cat ends up in a shelter and does not have a microchip, there is a chance the cat could be euthanized if an owner cannot be found.  It may also help reunite you with your cat if you travel with her or, if you move and your kitty escapes or gets lost in your new neighborhood.  You don’t have to worry about collars getting lost or hung up on tree branches or elsewhere—a microchip is a permanent form of identification that never needs to be replaced.  However, if you do move, make sure to update your information with the microchip company so your cat can be returned to the proper place.

            Microchips can also be used to prove ownership.  If your cat ends up in someone else’s home or in a shelter, it may be difficult to prove he belongs to you without some type of identifying feature. 

            So, even if your cat spends all her time inside the house, it may not be a bad idea to consider microchipping her just in case one of these situations should arise.  Patton Veterinary Hospital offers microchipping for both dogs and cats. 

This blog brought to you by the Patton Veterinary Hospital serving Red Lion, York and the surrounding communities. 

Sources:  http://www.animalplanet.com/pets/5-reasons-cat-microchipping-is-important/