Microchipping

I don't know a lot about it. I've never personally known an animal that has been microchipped (to my knowledge anyway).

What are everyone's thoughts/feelings/concerns/experiences about microchipping?

My Rosie is microchipped and Sophie's getting done next saturday when she goes for her yearly checkup at the vets.

My girls are indoors and also wear collars with a tag that has my phone number on should they get out * touches wood that it never happens! *, but by getting them chipped it's another form of security just incase their collars break off.

It's only the size of a grain of rice but has all their info on it should they get scanned when found.

I am going to get it done one of these days. I think its a good idea. My boys are inside only but oyu never know what can happen, better to be safe then sorry.

All three of my cats are microchipped and my neighbours cat is also microchipped! (all of them received their microchips whilst they were getting spayed/neutered, but it is no problem to have it done at any other time! )

I think it's a good idea, as it ensures that identification is always available!

Does anyone know if the microchips are standarized, like if I get a chip put in inNY but lose my cat in a different state, can they read the chip in different parts of the country?

I would imagine they could still read it?!. I know when i move i'll have to inform Petlog who keeps all the cats info on their database to get them to change the address on their file.

That can be done ok so if that can i would imagine a different state can be because when i move i'll be in a different town.

My cats are indoor only, they are microchipped as added security. They didn't seem to notice when it was inserted.

Touro1979, I'm quite sure they can be read anywhere in North America.

Please do microchip! A good vet can get it done in less then 5 seconds...according to some very good sources, after Katrina, all the animals that were microchipped were reunited with their humans!

These days the chips are fairly standardized.

Some shelters are still without universal scanners, but it's fairly common for a vet to have a universal, as well as shelters in larger cities.

All 6 cats, my dog and my parrots are microchipped.

Another consideration is theft.
In the US, animals are property, and the only means of positive proof of ownership in the court systems are microchips, tattoos and in the case of birds, closed bands.

Although there are several brands of chips a scanner can read any of them even internationally. Mine are all done, here in Bosnia, and the chips are necessary for them to enter the European Union, All you have to do when you move is get your new vet to read the chip and send a form off to the company with the new details..

I just read a story about a man in Washington state who lost his cat 10 years ago and was reunited because the cat (found in California) was microchipped.

Both of my kitties are indoor only and are microchipped for added security just in case they ever get out or something like that. When we adopted Hannah in November from Animal Control, her microchip was included in the cost of the adoption and they did it before we could leave with her.

Stephanie

Hi!
I am so glad that you are considering microchipping. All 5 of mine are microchipped-as a vet tech of 6 yrs I can only tel you that we have saved atleast 10 animals who came in from animal control thanks to the microchip. Years ago we had a kitty come in who had been stuck underneath a fence with dogs on both sides attacking it-thanks to the microchip we were able to find the owners(luckily our clients) and treat and save the kitty. Microchips are a standard implant placed under the skin by the shoulderblades-basically it works like an SKU number and records all your information. When found or scanned someone then calls the company with your kitties personal identification number and that pulls up all the information(where you live, phone # and also an alternative contact) to get ahold of you. It is also good as kitty gets older to record any important information regarding your pets health-in case of medicine that needs to be given daily or such. It is a nation/world wide system that works 24 hrs./day 7 days /week. *I only have one warning and that is that the Home Again microchiops lately have been having some issues with the numbers no longer being able to be scanned. In the hospital I work for alone we have reported 5 in the last 6 months as no longer functionable-not sure what the deal is but I talked with Home Again this last week and they are checking into the problem. Just make sure that the microchip is scanned atleast once a year with your yearly vaccines. There is my very long 2 cents worth, sorry I just had a lot to pass on.

Both of my cats are microchipped. They got it done at the humane society where I adopted them. They also wear the tag that came with the microchipping so that if the place can't scan them, then they can just call the phone number on the tag and give them the number.

Thanks for all the responses so far. I'm learning a lot. But, all of your great responses make it easy to come up with more questions! So if anyone cares to indulge me...

Does anyone know the technology behind the microchip? Is it RFDI?

Where are the chips inserted?

Is it possible for the chip to break?

What about these "migrating" ones? Won't that make it harder for them to scan?

Also, are chips widespread enough that if my kitten is lost I can be reasonably sure that if he winds up at a shelter or something that they will scan him before they adopt him or something worse?

All of my babies are microchipped! They also wear safety collars and are indoor-only. I see these measures as safety, especially considering where I live.

It's inserted in between their shoulder blades.

Unfortunately, the technology in the US isn't uniersal. There are a couple major brands and generally, areas use the same brand. In Europe, the technology is universal.

Chips are good for the cat's entire lifetime.

In this area, at least, every vet and shelter that I'm aware of are equipped with AVID scanners.

My three ARE microchipped, but I do not have them in collars. I want to though.

I would hope more shelters begin do it as it is becoming a more and more common to microchip animals. At my shelter I used to work at, it was just when microchipping first became known and at first we didn't scan every animal. I was a little annoyed about that and one day I just took the scanner and went around to almost every cat in the shelter and scanned it.

Originally Posted by PoisonedPenny

Does anyone know the technology behind the microchip? Is it RFDI?

Where are the chips inserted?

Is it possible for the chip to break?

What about these "migrating" ones? Won't that make it harder for them to scan?

Also, are chips widespread enough that if my kitten is lost I can be reasonably sure that if he winds up at a shelter or something that they will scan him before they adopt him or something worse?

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This site should be able to answer a lot of your questions!

In regards to a migrating chip, when I took Willow to the vet (when I took him in) they scanned his entire body to make sure that they couldn't find a chip!

Yes, if your cat goes missing, a shelter or vet will scan him to check for a microchip! Plus, the information is becomiing more known with people too now, so they are more likely to get a stray cat scanned too!

Puppy is microchiped, and that's how we found his original owners. Almost all vets have them, but not all shelters. Definitely call the shelter anyway. Also, the vet won't scan every cat that comes in, only those who someone brings in as a stray. If someone steals your cat and then goes to the vet, it won't help. But you could sue them and then have the cat checked if you were suspicious of someone specific.

Just make sure you get one that can be read by universal scanners. Puppy has a HomeAgain chip. I've been satisfied with the customer service.

As far as migrating, since it is RFID, there will be some distance at which the scanner can read it, probably a few inches. If the scanner gets anywhere in the area, it will work.

At my shelter I used to work at, it was just when microchipping first became known and at first we didn't scan every animal. I was a little annoyed about that and one day I just took the scanner and went around to almost every cat in the shelter and scanned it.

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Did you find anyone's pet?