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 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 very economical.
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 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 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 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. We advise any collars should be cat-safe collars - contact us at The Cat Clinic if you need advice on what helps make a collar
cat-safe.
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 appears to be very uncommon in cats.
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 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 very economical.
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 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 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 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. We advise any collars should be cat-safe collars - contact us at The Cat Clinic if you need advice on what helps make a collar
cat-safe.
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 appears to be very uncommon in cats.