Microchipping cats is a modern way of identifying an animal. The chip is implanted under the skin, so the cat will not lose it, as often happens with name collars and tags. In addition, the chip contains important information about the owner and animal - name, vaccinations, diseases.
- 2 Microchip structure
- 3 How is chipping carried out?
3.1 Video about the pros and cons of microchipping, opinions of owners, veterinarians and lawyers
What is chipping
A chip is a microcircuit with a unique 15-digit code, a receiver, a transmitter, a multi-turn antenna and a code memory unit. The microcircuit is contained in a sterile biocompatible glass capsule. The size is slightly larger than a grain of rice. The length of the device is 13 mm, diameter 2 mm. The unique number remains assigned to the cat for life; this original passport is entered into the database of the world electronic system (ISO 11784, ISO 11785 standards).
What information does the chip carry?
- Date of Birth;
- gender of the animal;
- breed;
- color;
- owner's personal data;
- owner's phone number.
This information will be enough to clarify the “personality” of the cat.
If you are constantly afraid of your cat’s whereabouts, you can additionally purchase a Glonass GPS beacon for microchipping.
How data is read from a microchip
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//data-ad-slot=”2475549904″ $ads_google = empty($ads_google) ? false : true; ?> if ($ads_google == false) {?> $ads_google = true; ?> } ?> The chip itself does not transmit any electromagnetic waves, just as it cannot be a GPS device, although such a nuance of chipping would significantly facilitate the search for a missing cat without an additional Glonass-GPS system card.
To read all the information, use a scanner designed for this purpose. The implanted device is passive until it encounters the scanner. There is no radiation from the microchip.
If the scanner shows the owners of a lost cat that kind people took to a shelter or veterinary clinic, then specialists call the grieving owner back and tell him the good news about the found pet. Although this is an excellent development for the loss of a cat, it sometimes happens that the animal does not end up in a facility with scanners that can read such information. In this case, you need to continue searching using all available methods.
Do not forget that all changes regarding the phone number or owner's name must be updated in the microchip database. The service life of the product is at least 25 years and does not require replacement.
The essence of the procedure
What is cat microchipping? This is the electronic identification of cats or any other animals. The essence of this procedure is that a miniature microcircuit, or chip, with a unique fifteen-digit digital code is inserted under the animal’s skin, containing all the information that the cat’s owner considers necessary to provide - name, gender, breed, date of birth, special features, information about vaccinations, past illnesses, often - a photo of the pet, as well as information about its owner - name and exact address (telephone, website and other data are optional).
Immediately upon completion of the chip implantation procedure, the animal owner receives a registration certificate, which contains full information about the manipulation performed, and a note is placed in the international veterinary passport of the cat, certified by the seal of the institution in which it was carried out and the signature of the veterinarian who performed it.
Why is it better to microchip a cat?
The benefits of microchipping cats are just beginning to be appreciated in different countries. The procedure itself was introduced not so long ago, and debates around its significance are still ongoing.
Advantages of introducing a microchip into cats:
- the chances of returning a lost animal are high;
- in good veterinary clinics, a scanner quickly reads information and simplifies the procedure for accepting an animal;
- a chipped cat cannot be replaced, and a stolen animal cannot be used at exhibitions.
It is worth mentioning that scanners for reading information from a chip are not yet available everywhere. But this is good protection for seals of rare and especially valuable breeds that attend international exhibitions.
If you want to take your cat abroad, you should know that not all countries accept animals without a chip.
Is it possible to find an animal using a chip?
Many cat owners whose pets belong to rare, expensive breeds are interested in whether it is possible to find a missing or stolen animal using a chip.
This is quite possible, but only if:
- the microchipping procedure was carried out according to all the rules, and information about the animal was entered into a single database;
- a person who found a lost cat assumed that it had an identification device and brought it to a veterinary clinic in order to find out the place of residence of its owner;
- in the event of a pet loss, its owner placed information in the database that he was looking for the loss;
- the cat will be found in a populated area where at least one veterinary clinic is equipped with a scanner to read the information encrypted on the chip.
In any other case, the chip will be useless. Alas, this device is not intended to transmit a signal about the location of a missing animal and does not respond in any way to devices other than a special scanner. Thanks to this feature, the chip does not pose a threat to the health of its carrier, but in the absence of a reading device it remains, figuratively speaking, deaf and dumb. If you were interested in the issue of microchipping, you probably came across information that a lost or stolen cat can supposedly be found by satellite or other means. Unfortunately, we have to disappoint you: today this is impossible.
Those who are quite skeptical about microchipping animals like to speculate that it is not difficult to remove the chip from under the skin and install a new one. Of course, in theory this is quite possible and even (if a professional takes over the matter) not so traumatic. But there are a few caveats.
Firstly, an operation of this level can only be performed by an experienced practicing surgeon, and such surgeons will never agree to such an unseemly act.
Secondly, after such an operation, a scar will inevitably remain on the skin of the animal undergoing it, which in itself is a very serious piece of evidence. Of course, no one will take a risk for the sake of a purebred cat, and if a purebred cat worth several tens, or even hundreds of thousands of dollars has been stolen, both the kidnapper and the surgeon may end up behind bars. Therefore, despite the fact that it is, in principle, possible to remove a microchip, it is unlikely that anyone will commit such a crime.
Is microchipping a cat necessary?
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//data-ad-slot=”2475549904″ $ads_google = empty($ads_google) ? false : true; ?> if ($ads_google == false) {?> $ads_google = true; ?> } ?> It’s good that technology does not bypass our smaller brothers: created databases operate in the same way as human ones. Additional features include the ability to find out about vaccination dates with all related information through a mobile application. The appendix indicates the nearest veterinary points. There is also an information block about missing cats and dogs.
So far, chipization is happening on a voluntary basis, but the law on introducing this procedure began to be developed in 2011. It is expected that mass microchipping of domestic cats and dogs will begin in 2020. If the law is adopted, all livestock of both legal entities and individuals will be entered into the database, which may also affect taxes. If the procedure becomes mandatory, animals whose owners find it financially burdensome to pay for chip implantation may end up on the street.
Microchipping of cats for traveling abroad
Let's say a family is going to visit EU countries and take their favorite cat with them. It is worth checking in advance about the laws governing the transport of pets. Europe is in a hurry to adopt new technologies and takes a responsible approach to the issues of keeping pets, which is why the cat must have a chip. Chip certificate - ISO 11784.
The veterinary passport and pedigree must not contradict the information indicated on the microchip
That is why, if you plan to travel abroad, you should ask the embassy of the host country whether the animal is required to be microchipped.
How is a cat microchipped?
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//data-ad-slot=”2475549904″ $ads_google = empty($ads_google) ? false : true; ?> if ($ads_google == false) {?> $ads_google = true; ?> } ?> The chip insertion process is quick. This does not cause any pain or inconvenience to the cat. Before the procedure, the animal must be checked for diseases. If the disease is detected, then treatment is prescribed - at this time the cat cannot be microchipped , as in the period after it. The animal's immunity should not be weakened.
An injection is made using a special sterile disposable syringe with a device under the withers between the shoulder blades, implanting a microchip. This will not cause any discomfort to the pet: the device is too small and almost imperceptible.
After the chip is implanted, a sticker is added to the animal’s veterinary passport confirming the microchipping procedure.
No additional measures are required, the animal continues its normal life.
Reviews from veterinarians about microchipping
Veterinarians evaluate the procedure from a medical point of view: since the implanter is disposable and sterile, there is no risk of infection. Also, the device is implanted into the withers, the animal will not be able to comb this place, so there is no risk of infection either. However, veterinarians warn that the microchip will finally take root in 6-7 days, and there is no threat of movement throughout the animal’s body.
An animal can be microchipped at any age, even a kitten, as long as it is healthy.
Cost of microchipping a cat
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//data-ad-slot=”2475549904″ $ads_google = empty($ads_google) ? false : true; ?> if ($ads_google == false) {?> $ads_google = true; ?> } ?> Now it's time to discuss how much it costs to microchip your beloved pussy. The cost of microchipping a cat depends on several factors. The manufacturer brand, the type of microchip, as well as the location of the procedure play a role - the doctor can come to your home along with the necessary equipment. This will significantly save time, but also raises the price of the service.
If a chip is implanted in a clinic, the average price is 2,000 rubles both for the procedure itself and for processing all the data on the animal and registering information.
How it works?
Without delving into theory: a GPS tracker is a small chip that receives data about its location from satellites and transmits it to the owner of the beacon. If satellites are unavailable, the tracker determines the location using cellular networks (operator towers). For maximum accuracy, some models use several positioning modes at once.
Communication with the owner of the collar is carried out via GPRS or GSM channel, in other words, using the mobile Internet. To do this, the tracker requires a SIM card that supports the 2G standard or higher. The user is required to go to the manufacturer’s website or download the tracker application to a smartphone, enter the device ID and observe the marks on the map.
Depending on the polling frequency of the GPS tracker, you can not only find out the current location of an object, but also track the trajectory of its movement. The error in determining the location depends on the terrain (dense forest, field, urban areas...) and ranges from 2 to 150 meters.
With a GPS collar, you can track where your pet walks and how much time it spends on your neighbor's lawn. It will not be possible to let your pet go completely free: the trackers operate on batteries or a rechargeable battery, and in any case you will have to monitor their charge level. However, energy can be saved: the less often location data is requested, the longer the device operates. The polling interval is set in the tracker application or web interface.
Many GPS collars allow you to set up geofences: limit the space that is safe for your pet. If the cat runs too far, a notification will be sent to the owner's phone.
There are many models of GPS collars, but they differ only in secondary functions: in some places the water resistance is higher, in others there is a speaker and microphone, in others the receiver supports 4G... All this, of course, is good, but all models perform the main role in approximately the same way. The main thing is that the chip supports GPS and works with your cellular operator. Here are two popular gadgets in the market.
