And such a pet is scary to lose: in order to find your favorite purr-fur, it is no longer necessary to attach a medallion with engraved owners’ phone number to the collar. Instead, there are now procedures such as chipping cats.
Even if someone tries to pass someone else’s cat off as their own, the chip will indicate who is right and who is wrong. In addition to establishing the rights of the owner of the pet, you can cross the border of the state with this kitty, because it is a full-fledged passport of the pet. With this modern procedure, it is easy to control elite breeds. In a word, chipping the pet is very much needed.
What is chipping
A chip is a microcircuit with a unique 15-digit code, a receiver, a transmitter, a multiwire antenna and a code memory unit. The chip is in a sterile, biocompatible glass capsule. The size is slightly larger than a grain of rice. The device is 0.5 inches (13 mm) long and 0.08 inches (2 mm) in diameter. The unique number is fixed for the cat for life, this original passport is put into the database of the world’s electronic system (standards ISO 11784, ISO 11785).
What information the chip carries
- date of birth
- cat’s sex
- breed;
- color;
- personal data of the owner;
- owner’s phone number.
This information will be enough to clarify the “identity” of the cat.
If there is a constant fear for the cat’s whereabouts, you can additionally purchase a Glonass GPS beacon for chipping.
How the microchip is read
The chip itself does not transmit any electromagnetic waves, nor can it be a GPS device, although such a nuance of chipping would greatly facilitate the search for a missing cat without an additional Glonass-GPS card.
To read all the information, a scanner designed for this purpose is used. The implanted device is passive until it meets the scanner. There is no radiation from the microchip.
If the scanner shows the owners of a lost cat whom kind people took to a shelter or a veterinary clinic, the specialists call the grieving owner back and tell him the good news about the found pet. Although this is an excellent course of action when a cat is lost, it happens that the animal does not end up in an institution with scanners that read such information. In this case, it is necessary to continue the search by all available methods.
Don’t forget that all changes concerning the phone number or the owner’s name should be updated in the microchip database. The product has a lifespan of at least 25 years and does not need to be replaced.
Why it is better to chip a cat
The benefits of chipping a cat are still being evaluated in various countries. The procedure itself was not introduced so long ago, and the debate about its importance is still going on.
The benefits of microchipping cats:
- The chances of getting a lost pet back are high;
- Good veterinary clinics have a scanner that quickly reads the information and simplifies the process of taking in the cat;
- A chipped cat cannot be replaced and a stolen cat cannot be used at exhibitions.
It is worth mentioning that so far the chip-reading scanners are not widespread. But it’s good protection for rare and especially valuable breeds of cats visiting international exhibitions.
If you want to take a cat with you abroad, you should know that not all countries accept animals without a chip.
Do cats have to be chipped?
It’s a good thing technology isn’t bypassing our little brothers: the databases created work in the same way that human databases do. Additional features include the ability to find out about vaccination dates with all the related information via a mobile app. The app lists the nearest veterinary clinics. There is also an information block about missing cats and dogs.
Chipping is still voluntary, but a law on the introduction of this procedure began to be developed in 2011. It is expected that mass chipping of domestic cats and dogs will begin in 2019. If the law is passed, then the database will include all pets and legal entities and individuals, which may affect the taxes. If the procedure becomes compulsory, the animals for whose owners the payment for the chip implantation will be a financial burden, may find themselves on the street.
Chipping cats to travel abroad
Let’s suppose that the family is going to visit the EU and take their beloved cat with them. It is worthwhile to find out in advance about the laws governing the transportation of pets. Europe is in a hurry to adopt the new technology and responsibly approach the content of pets, so the cat must have a chip. Chip certificate is ISO 11784.
Veterinary passport and pedigree shall not contradict information on the microchip.
That is why if you are going abroad, you should ask the embassy of the country you are going to visit if you want your pet to be chipped.
How a cat is chipped
The process of microchipping is quick. The cat will not feel any pain or discomfort. The animal should be checked for disease prior to the procedure. If the disease is detected, treatment is prescribed – at this time, you can not chip the cat, as in the period after it. The immunity of the animal should not be weakened.
A special sterile disposable syringe with a device under the withers between the shoulder blades is injected, implanting a microchip. This will not cause any discomfort to the pet: the device is too small and almost imperceptible.
After the chip is implanted, a sticker confirming the microchipping procedure is placed on the pet’s veterinary passport.
No additional measures are required, the animal continues to lead a normal life.
Veterinarian reviews of chipping
Veterinarians evaluate the procedure from a medical point of view: since the implant is disposable and sterile, there is no risk of infection. Also, the device is implanted in the withers, the animal will not be able to scratch this place, so there is no risk of infection either. Nevertheless, veterinarians warn that the microchip will finally take root in 6-7 days, and there is no threat of movement through the body of the animal.
Chipping a pet can be done at any age, even a kitten, as long as it is healthy.
The cost of a cat’s chipping
Now it’s time to discuss how much it costs to chip your favorite kitty. The price of chipping a cat is made up of several factors. The brand-manufacturer, the type of microchip, and the location of the procedure play a role – the doctor can come to the house with the necessary equipment. This saves a lot of time, but it also raises the price of the service.
The whole procedure of chipping a cat, including the chip itself and the work of a veterinarian will cost you $40-$50.
