Can You See Your Cat's Microchip?

Microchips are tiny computer chips that play a big role in reuniting lost pets with their owners. While you can̵7;t see your cat̵7;s microchip after it̵7;s inserted, just knowing that it̵7;s there can give you added peace of mind. The American Veterinary Medical Association reports that around 38.5 percent of microchipped cats are eventually reunited with their owners, compared to 1.8 percent of cats that are not microchipped.

  1. Inserting Microchips

    • Microchips are injected under the skin, between the shoulder blades, with a hypodermic needle. This quick and painless procedure is usually carried out by vets or skilled animal shelter workers. Animal shelters routinely microchip animals before re-homing them, so check if your pet has already been chipped if you adopted her from a sanctuary. Your vet can carry out the procedure during a routine check-up or when she is being vaccinated, saving you and your cat the stress of an additional trip to the vet. Cats can be microchipped after they are 12 weeks old.

    Invisibility

    • Your cat̵7;s microchip is invisible to the naked eye because it is embedded under the skin and is slightly smaller than a grain of rice. Trying to see or feel a microchip is akin to attempting to detect a tiny piece of kitty kibble in your pet̵7;s tummy after he swallows it.

    Detecting Microchips

    • Microchips can only be seen by X-Ray equipment after they are implanted. However, they are detected with scanners which emit radio waves that activate the microchip to access the unique identification number embedded in it. This number is then looked up on the national microchip registry containing your name and contact information.

    Benefits of Invisibility

    • The invisibility and inaccessibility of microchips stops them being accidentally lost or stolen. Therefore, unlike ID tags on collars that can be lost or deliberately removed, they offer a permanent means of identifying your kitty, provided you keep your contact information up to date with the database on which you and your pet̵7;s information is registered. The American Veterinary Medical Association recommends using an ID collar in addition to having a microchip inserted.