It is said that 1 in 3 pets will get lost at some point in their life. To make matters worse, only 2% of lost cats are ever returned to their owners, but according to research by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the return rate for microchipped cats is much higher at over 38%! Is your cat microchipped? And if so, have you checked to see if the information registered to it is correct?
What are microchips?
Microchips are small devices the size of a grain of rice. Once implanted, the microchip is registered with your information and can be scanned by any shelter or veterinarian, which enables them to contact you if your cat ever got lost.
What is the procedure for implanting microchips? Does it hurt?
Microchips are injected just under the skin on the scruff of the neck. In fact, the procedure itself is no different than a simple vaccination.
Do I need to register my cat’s microchip? And how do I update my information?
After your cat is microchipped, you’ll need to go home and register it. Otherwise, it won’t show your name, phone number, and address when scanned. And if ever change your phone number or move, then you’ll need to make sure to update it.
To register your microchip or update the information, all you need is your cat’s microchip number. You may have this with the original documentation or your vet may have it on file. If neither of these apply to you, then we welcome you to bring your cat to us, and we’ll scan them (free of charge!) to get the number for you.
At this point, you can get in touch with the manufacturer, either online or by phone, to ensure that your cat’s microchip is registered and up-to-date. There are many databases out there, but make sure that your cat is registered at the AHAA’s Universal Pet Microchip Lookup Tool since it is the database that veterinarians or shelters will use to look up your pet if they get lost and end up coming to them.
If your cat still needs a microchip, we welcome you to call us at our Lake Oswego veterinary clinic and boarding facility at (503) 968-6000 or schedule an appointment online.