Microchipping Your Cat is Important, Because Love Deserves Protection.
What is a microchip?
A microchip is a tiny metal device. It's this big. It is inserted into the skin of your pet, just under the skin, and it contains a 15-digit code that correlates to a database where the owner puts their information. If this pet is ever lost or stolen, all we need to do is scan the pet, and the microchip number will come up. We'll go to the database, find the owner's information, and reunite the pet. A microchip is implanted in your cat during a normal physical exam appointment. It doesn't require any anesthesia or sedation. It takes about 2 seconds and is relatively painless.
Why is microchipping important?
Microchipping your cat is really important, especially if they're an outdoor cat. Sometimes outdoor cats roam so far they get lost, or a family thinks that they're a feral cat and they kind of adopt the cat. They start feeding them, bringing them in, and think they're doing a good deed in adopting the cat. When they bring the cat into the vet for their checkup, the veterinarian will scan your cat and be able to see the microchip, check the registry, and reunite you with your cat. It's really important to also microchip your indoor cats. They can get out, too. If they're lost and microchipped, they're going to find their way home to you.
How to microchip your pet?
I'm going to demonstrate on my own little Frenchie here, Eevee. She's going to be our model today. Hi. We're going to microchip her today. I feel it's very important to microchip, and I'm going to microchip my own pet. This is my own puppy, Eevee. She's a French bulldog, 7 weeks old, and I want to protect her. We typically place a microchip in between the shoulder blades, under the skin right here. I'm going to clean the area, pinch the skin up a little bit, and clean the area. Then I take the microchip needle and insert it. Little pinch, but that's it. We're all done.
Thank you for watching this short video on cat microchipping. It is really important to microchip your cat, whether they're indoor or outdoor.
If you have questions, we would love to answer them for you. Please give us a call at the office at (703) 256-8414, or you can email us at [email protected]. Our staff would love to talk with you!
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Cat Microchipping — Frequently Asked Questions
Does microchipping hurt my cat?
The procedure is quick and comparable to a routine vaccine injection. Most cats barely react. No anesthesia is needed, and it can be done during any regular visit.
How does a microchip help if my cat gets lost?
Shelters and vet clinics scan found cats for microchips. Your chip number links to your contact information in a national registry, giving your cat the best chance of being returned to you quickly.
Do I still need a collar and ID tag if my cat is microchipped?
Both are recommended. A collar is visible and helps people contact you immediately. A microchip is a permanent backup that works even if the collar is lost — together they provide the strongest protection.
Can a microchip track my cat's location?
No. Microchips are passive radio-frequency devices, not GPS trackers. They only transmit your contact information when scanned by a reader. For GPS tracking you would need a separate GPS collar device.
When is the best time to microchip my cat?
Any time is fine — it can be done at any age. Many owners microchip during a kitten wellness visit or at the same time as a spay/neuter procedure to minimize stress and vet trips.