Cat Microchipping - Microchipping Reunites Lost Cats With Owners

A microchip is a tiny, computerized chip that's placed underneath your cat's skin, usually around the shoulder area. And the purpose of it is to be a form of identification should your cat get lost and wind up at the shelter or a veterinary hospital.

Dr. Michele Drake
Drake Center For Veterinary Care

We recommend microchipping for your cat because if they were ever to get lost for whatever reason, the microchip is used to identify who the cat is and who the owner is, and get them back to you as soon as possible.

No. There's absolutely no danger to microchip, and there's no pain because it's a beveled needle. So it slips right under the skin. We can insert them when the cat is awake, and I don't think I've ever had a cat notice it. Or we'll do it when they're getting spayed.

There's a little scanning device that we can run over your cat. All the shelters and veterinary hospitals know, if someone were to turn in a cat, to go ahead and check for their microchip because it's standard these days. So we'll use that to identify who the cat is, contact the company and find out who the owners are, and get in contact with you to let you know we have your cat.

Collars can be easily lost and slip off the cat. So that's the reason. And a lot of people don't keep a collar on their cat. So we want to have microchips that have a permanent form of identification.

There is a microchip, I believe, or collar that actually provides that. But for the most part, no.

Anyone that has a scanner can do it. And so almost all veterinary hospitals and shelters have scanners.

The information is stored online with the company who provided the microchip. And so even if you lose all your information, they should have it available. It is super important, though, to make sure you update your information when you move or your phone number has changed so they have a way of contacting you.

If you still have other questions and you'd like to reach out to us, you can call us directly at (760) 753-9393, you can email us, or you can reach out on social media. But please do reach out, and we'll get back to you as fast as we can.

Cat Microchipping - FAQs

Dr. Michele Drake
Drake Center For Veterinary Care

Yes. Whoever has a scanner can identify that your cat has a microchip and contact that company who provides that microchip, and then get the information that way.

In general, the most vital information is the owner's name and the phone number. The address can be on there as well so we know what area they are from. But mostly we want to know how to contact you, so email and a phone number are the most essential to keep updated.

No, the information that's available is we know that your cat has a microchip and what the number is, and then we'll send that to the company. And the company that you chose will go ahead and contact you and let you know that someone has your cat, and who that is and where they are located.

Any veterinary hospital or shelter. Usually the shelters where cats wind up are the ones that are going to be scanning. But veterinary hospitals and shelters all have scanners.

Yes, the microchip is made to stay wherever it's placed. It might migrate a very small amount, but in general it stays in place. And they're very safe, too.

If you still have other questions and you'd like to reach out to us, you can call us directly at (760) 753-9393, you can email us, or you can reach out on social media. But please do reach out, and we'll get back to you as fast as we can.