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May is peak spring time for a lot of us, nevertheless it’s also Chip Your Pet Month.
Loads of cat parents don’t know exactly what a microchip does or why it’s vital for pets. Some consider that indoor cats don’t even need a microchip — or any type of identification for that matter.
Nevertheless, the actual fact is that microchips make it way more likely for a lost pet to reunite with their humans. Petfinder cites a study that claims only two percent of lost cats who entered shelters made it back to their humans. But that rate jumped as much as 38 percent for lost cats who had microchips.
So should you haven’t yet had your cat microchipped, listed below are the ins and outs of why it’s something you actually need to get around to doing — and Chip Your Pet Month is pretty much as good a time to do it as any!
So What’s Microchipping All About?
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Remember the olden days when every cat wore a necklace with a reputation tag around their neck that also included their humans’ contact details?
Well, consider microchipping as the trendy, updated version of that. Within the unlucky case of your cat getting lost, checking for a microchip may be an efficient option to track down your information and reunite you together with your kitty.
Almost every veterinary office, shelter, and even many police stations have equipment to read your cat’s microchip. If someone turns your lost cat in at any of those facilities, your feline has a much better likelihood of coming back home to you.
What’s The Microchip Like?
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In terms of microchipping cats, the actual chip is tiny. Think around the scale of a small grain of rice.
A vet inserts it under a cat’s skin with the usage of a needle, often between the shoulder blades. And don’t worry — microchips are non-toxic.
Oh, and don’t confuse the microchip with a GPS system. It should not track every movement of your feline’s life.
How Do I Get My Cat Microchipped?
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Vets and native shelters are your best bet for getting your cat microchipped.
Costs can vary, but a vet will often charge around $50 for the method; although, you could get a greater deal should you ask for a microchip as a part of an everyday wellness visit. Your pet’s information will even be added to a database as a part of the method.
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Also, should you adopted your cat from a shelter, return and check their paperwork. There’s a robust likelihood your cat is already fully microchipped up.
The subsequent step might be to only update the database together with your information, and the shelter can make it easier to try this.
If you happen to’re searching for a low price option, keep a lookout for shelters and animal organizations running chip-a-thons where discounts are sometimes offered.
Does My Cat Still Need A Tag?
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In a great situation, yes, your cat must also have a tag!
Microchipping cats may be useful in the event that they wander away and are dropped at a rescue or a shelter. Nevertheless, if a mean person finds your cat, they likely won’t have access to a scanner to envision for a microchip.
They won’t find out about microchips or the steps they need to take after they discover a lost pet. That’s when a reputation tag with a phone number is available in ever so handy.
Be protected and double up! Never let your cat out with out a chip or collar identification.
Does your cat have a microchip? Will you help spread the word for Chip Your Pet Month? Tell us within the comments below!
