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 IDENTITY
MICROCHIPPING:
What are identity microchips?
A microchip is a tiny device encased in biocompatible glass.
The microchip is designed to be injected into the loose skin
at the back of the cat's neck where it provides a permanent
means of identification. The microchip contains a unique code
which is "read" when a scanner is passed over the cat's neck.
At The Veterinary Cat Clinic, our microchipped cats' details
are held on a secure national database which can be accessed
24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This allows contact with the
owner as soon as possible after the cat is identified. The microchipping
and database registration are relatively economical. Prices
may vary from area to area so you're best to speak to your local
practice about their costs.
Will every rescue centre have a scanner?
In the early days of microchipping, not every rescue had a scanner
so it was possible for some pets to slip through the scheme.
Nowadays virtually every rescue organisation and council facility
has a scanner or has access to one via veterinary surgeons.
Does the procedure hurt?
The microchip is about the size of a grain of rice and is injected
under the skin using a hollow needle. The needle is quite large
but it is extremely sharp so it is similar to any other injection.
However, we find it a bit chunky for kittens so we prefer to
wait until they're a little bigger. At The Veterinary Cat Clinic
we usually  advise
getting the microchipping done at the time of neutering- if
the cat is coming in for a routine anaesthetic it makes sense
to catch up with the microchipping when the patient is oblivious
to the injection. Older cats tend to cope much better with the
microchip injection so it's something which can be done routinely
in the consulting room.
My cat doesn't go outside. Should I still get him microchipped?
If there is a chance your cat could escape you would still want
to consider microchipping. We've also had a few indoor cats
who have accidentally fallen out of flat windows and found themselves
on busy roads or gardens. Also consider the security of other
places your cat could live e.g., catteries, relative's houses
etc.
Should my microchipped cat still wear a collar?
A collar and identity tag are still very useful for cats who
wander locally. It's easier for a concerned neighbour to pick
up the telephone and contact you directly than have to call
a rescue organisation to uplift your cat and take it back to
the rescue before it is identified.
Does microchipping cause long-term health problems?
Owners (and vets) quite rightly query the possibility of long-term
health problems associated with the implantation of a foreign
object. Millions of microchips have now been used over many
years and we've not seen the emergence of any health disorders
that we can associate with the microchip. In dogs there is some
concern about the chip migrating elsewhere in the body but this
is appears to be very uncommon in cats.
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