Should My Indoor Cat Be Microchipped?

Even indoor cats need identification. A simple oversight, such as a door that is left ajar or a window cracked open, can give a kitty means of escape. If she is not used to being outside, she could freak out and bolt, and in her panic she may not know how to get home. To ensure that caring folks at shelters and vet's offices -- or rescue workers in the case of a fire, accident or natural disaster -- know how to contact you, microchip even your indoors-only cat.

  1. How Microchipping Works

    • A pet ID microchip is a small device, about the size of a grain of rice, injected between your cat's shoulder blades. A rescue group or veterinarian will possess a scanning device that will detect the chip. The scan will produce a unique identification number that links your information to your pet through a secure database run by a private company. When a vet or rescue finds a chip, the company will get in touch with you. Pets are unlikely to have any adverse reaction to the microchipping process.

    Benefits of Microchips

    • Microchips are preferred because of their durability. Collars can pose health hazard to your kitty because they can snag or get caught on tree branches and similar objects. Safety collars are designed to snap open to prevent choking -- but in such a case, although kitty may escape unharmed, her identification is gone. Microchips are permanent. They're standardized, readable by most vets and rescue organizations. As long as you keep your information current, it's a worthwhile precautionary measure.

    Reunification

    • Most shelters and city pounds have short time limits on owner reunification before they put stray cats up for adoption -- perhaps a full week or just a few days. Microchipping assists in quick reunification with an owner. Officials who find the cat will be able to access enough information about the cat's owner to take steps to get in touch. According to one Pennsylvania vet, only 2 percent of cats without ID who end up in shelters are reunited with their owners.

    Proof of Ownership

    • When a dispute exists about the identity of a cat, a microchip provides proof of ownership. Unfortunately, shelter cats may be claimed by individuals who are not the true guardians -- to simply keep or to sell. In pedigreed cats, where theft is a particular concern, microchips are common.

    Authorization for Veterinary Care

    • Rescue groups may provide emergency first aid to lost cats in the wake of a calamity but will stop short of extensive medical care without first talking to a pet's guardian. A microchip allows for quick, easy access to owner details and sets the stage for a phone call to let the concerned family know where the cats is and what is going on, and to get permission to proceed with vet care.