ALLEY CAT RESCUE
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The Importance of Microchipping Your Cats

Alley Cat Rescue often hears from concerned cat guardians who have lost their beloved cat and are looking for help. Our first question to them is always, “Is the cat microchipped?” We ask this question because microchipping your cat is the best way to help you find your cat in the event that she becomes lost. It is estimated that less than 5% of lost cats are found[1]. Microchipping your cat is an easy procedure to increase the chances you are reunited with your loved one in case the worst happens.

Procedure:
The procedure for microchipping your cat is very easy and straightforward. A veterinarian will implant the microchip between your cat’s shoulder blades using a needle. The cat does not need to be anesthetized and the procedure does not hurt more than a routine vaccination. Alley Cat Rescue microchips all the cats entering our adoption program and the procedure can take as little as two minutes.

Cost:
The average cost for a microchip is $45-$70 and often includes registration to a pet recovery database. If you adopt a cat from a shelter or rescue, the cat often comes already microchipped.

How it works:
Once your cat is microchipped, you are not done! Next, you need to register the microchip into a database. This database connects the cat’s microchip information to your personal information. You can register your microchip number into a free database here. If your cat gets outside and is taken to a rescue, shelter, or veterinary practice, they can scan using a small wand-like instrument) and receive her unique identification number. The person can then enter the microchip number into a database to find your contact information. Once they receive your contact information, they can contact your directly to be reunited with your friend. REMEMBER, if you move or change phone numbers, you need to update the microchip information so anyone who finds your cat can still contact you.

What about using a collar with identification tags?
You can put a collar on your cat with your contact information, however this has several disadvantages. First, the collar can fall off the cat or be removed. If this happens, your cat is no longer connected to your contact information, significantly reducing the chances of finding the cat. Second, if your cat gets outside, the collar can get stuck to a tree branch or other object causing potential strangulation or suffocation. If you want to put a collar on your cat, Alley Cat Rescue recommends using a break-away collar (will snap off if the collar gets stuck on something), in addition to microchipping your cat.

Download PDF.

References
​

[1] Frequency of Lost Dogs and Cats in the United States. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.aspcapro.org/research/frequency-lost-dogs-and-cats-united-states
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  • Home
    • About >
      • Email Sign-up
      • Frequently Asked Questions
      • History >
        • Our Team
        • Board of Directors
        • Financial Information
        • Privacy Policy
        • Partners
    • Press
    • Our Stories
    • Action Alerts >
      • Welfare Programs >
        • Petitions
        • California Declaw Bill
        • New York Declaw Bill
        • PACT Act
        • Spay Neuter Pledge
        • Michigan TNR bill
        • No Declaw Pledge
        • Toxoplasmosis gondii, Cats, and the Threats Posed to Pregnant Women
        • Adoptions >
          • Cats available for adoption
          • Adoption Inquiry Form
          • New Cat Checklist
          • Introducing A New Cat
        • Campaigns >
          • Working Cats Program >
            • Shelters with Working Cat Programs
          • African Wildcat >
            • Press Release on African Wildcat Campaign
            • Differences between AWCs and domestic cats
          • The Feral Fix
          • End Deadly Eradication Methods Campaign
          • "Fix the Family" Campaign
    • News >
      • ACR Newsletters
      • Press Releases
  • Spay/Neuter
    • COVID-19 Protocol for S/N Clinic
    • Early Age Spay/Neuter
    • Misconceptions About Spay/Neuter
    • Types of Spay and Neuter Procedures
    • State Low Cost Spay/Neuter
  • How to Help Community Cats
    • Find a Stray Cat?
    • What is a Feral Cat? >
      • Feral vs. Stray Cats
      • Benefits of Feral Cats
    • TNR-- What does this mean? >
      • TNR Statistics
      • TNR Step-by-Step
      • TNR: Do It Yourself!
      • Targeted Trapping
      • TNR Tips
      • Hard to Catch Cats
      • TNR Equipment Resources
      • TNR/Community Cat Care Financial Resources
      • Where to Buy TNR Equipment
      • Helping Shelters Implement TNR Programs
      • Adopting Adult Feral Cats >
        • Feral Kittens >
          • What to do if you find kittens
          • Stages of Kitten Development
          • Orphaned Kittens
          • Socializing Feral Kittens
          • Fostering Kittens
        • How Rescuers Can Effectively Adopt Out Cats
      • Common Complaints
      • Providing Shelter
    • State Resources
    • Health Care
    • Cat Overpopulation
    • Relocation
    • Feral Cats and the Law
    • Cats and Wildlife >
      • Cats and Predation
      • Where have all the birds gone?
      • Debunking the Myths and Misinformation: Cat Predation
      • Why Eradication Methods Fail
    • Handbook Download
  • Cat Health
    • Health Care for Your Cat >
      • Vaccines
      • Wellness Vet Checkups
      • Microchiping
      • Nail Trimmings
      • Effects of aging
      • Hospice Care and Euthanasia Decisions
      • Financial Assistance
      • Cat Supplies
      • How to Prepare for an Emergency
      • Pet Food Banks
    • Common Cat Health Issues >
      • Feline Panleukopenia
      • Fleas
      • FIP, FeLV, FIV >
        • Testing for FeLV/FIV
      • Zoonotic Diseases
      • Rabies
      • Toxoplasmosis
      • Ringworm - Symptoms and Treatment
      • Ringworm Myths Debunked
      • Obesity in Cats
      • Diabetes
      • Indoor/Outdoor Cats >
        • Winter Tips for Protecting Cats
        • Summer Tips for Cats
    • Cats & Claws
    • Animal Cruelty Against Cats
    • Hazardous Poisons
    • Poisonous Plants
    • Pet Disaster Preparedness
    • COVID-19 Pet Food Banks
    • Cats and COVID-19
  • Cat Behavior
    • Solutions to Prevent Surrendering you cat
    • Common Cat Behavior Issues
    • Litter Box Problems
    • Scratching and Destructive Behavior
    • Meowing and Yowling
    • Urine Marking
    • Aggressive Cats
    • Cat Enrichment
    • Introducing Cats
    • Cat on Cat Aggression
    • Behavior Issues in Elderly Cats
    • Tips for Entertaining an Indoor Cat
    • Cat Supply Resources
    • Lost Cat
  • Donate
  • Store