It’s National Pet Identification week, and we are sharing this information again, because it’s so important. Do you know if your cat has the right ID to help kitty find her way home to you?
Your cat doesn’t have pockets to carry a wallet, so ID for cats takes the form of a microchip and tag. Only two percent of cats who end up in shelters have some form of ID, and until your cat learns to talk, that’s the only way your cat can tell people where she lives.
“A pet’s looks and fur can change drastically in only a few days or weeks on their own,” says Kim Freeman, pet detective and owner of Lost Cat Finder. Cats covered in dirt or wet can look surprisingly different than a nearby lost cat sign that has their photo on it, so ID is the best way for someone to tell it really is your cat.
Microchips
A microchip is a small transponder about the size of a grain of rice that is has with a unique identification number. The chip is implanted by a simple procedure at your vet or even at a local shelter. Reduced-cost and sometimes even free microchips are available at events in your community at various times during the year.
Be sure to register your chip so that if someone finds your kitty, they can get your contact information. Your chip isn’t registered automatically!
If You Move to a New Home
Update your contact information with the microchip registry so that if someone finds your cat, they will be able to contact you. Animal shelters run into heartbreaking dead ends when they scan a cat for a chip but the phone number on the chip is disconnected. Don’t let this happen to your cat!
After moving, access your cat’s microchip registry to update the information. Photo: depositphotos/ots-photo
Collars
If your cat will wear a collar, make sure you use a breakaway collar that will come off if your cat gets it caught on something. Safety first!
Include daytime and evening contact information on your cat’s tag, since you never know when someone might have to try to call you. If your cat has a medical condition like diabetes, you can include that on the tag, too, so that if your kitty is lost, he can get the appropriate care until you are reunited.
If the noise of a metal tag bothers you or your cat, there are lots of options available, including silent silicon tags and metal tags that slide onto a collar so they don’t dangle.
If You Move to a New Home
Make sure your cat’s tag includes a cell phone number or the number of someone who knows how to reach you.
Microchip Plus Collar
The ASPCA recommends your cat have a registered microchip and also wear a collar with personalized ID tag. Anyone who finds your cat can read an ID tag, while the microchip reader requires the good Samaritan to go to a veterinarian or shelter where they can read the chip.
Collars with tags make it easy for anyone to get your cat home to you. A microchip, hidden beneath your cat’s fur, won’t be lost like a collar can, so it’s a great way to be sure your cat won’t “lose her wallet” and not have any ID when lost.
We all hope our cat never gets lost, but make sure your kitty has the best chance to get back home to you as quickly as possible by chipping and collaring your cat with ID for your cat.
A cat with both microchip and collar has the best chance of getting home and back into your arms again. Photo: depositphotos/elwynn
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This is such an important message!
There are so many options for ID, there’s no excuse. There is a new tag with GPS as well.
Great reminder as to how important it is for cats to wear IDs. 🙂
I wish there were itty bitty microchips with GPS on board!
This is so important and so is making sure your microchip has updated home information!!! Can’t stress this part enough!
Excellent PSA….and guess what mom even has all kinds of info written on my PTU in permanent marker too.
Hugs madi your bfff
Great post! Microchips are so important. We’re all chipped up at our house.
such an important message….it really is heartbreaking when rescues try to get animals back home and have no way to reach anyone
Very important reminders, great post ! Purrs
Great message!
Such important information!
Good info!
The Florida Furkids
This is an important reminder for humans. We have microchips and collar tags with Mommy’s phone number.
When I started blogging, I had no idea collars/tags were necessary for indoor-only cats. It wasn’t until I started visiting other blogs like yours that it hit me that I’d rather be safe than sorry. Last weekend, I got Bear Cat his first collar (I’ve had the tag for awhile) – and he tolerated it far better than I expected. Thank you for the reminder.
Love this post every year! It’s so important. Last year after I read your post, we undated my tag info. I can’t/won’t tolerate anything around my neck so a collar is out. You can have your number embroidered right on the collar I’m giving away as part of my giveaway. Of course that won’t help if the cat loses the collar.