Microchips For Cats: Are They Mandatory?
First of all : microchips for cats are not mandatory. However, experts highly recommend this procedure. This is because a microchip is the most effective way to track down your cat if it gets lost.
Furthermore, this device does not cause any discomfort to the animal, while at the same time being of great benefit. For example, it contains all the basic and necessary information about your pet. So it’s no wonder that more and more people are choosing to microchip their pets, regardless of the species.
Microchips for cats: what exactly is it?
Microchips are electronic elements that look like small capsules and are about the size of a grain of rice. Despite their small size, they store all the necessary information about the animal. For example, they contain information such as current vaccinations, the name and contact information of the owner and the veterinarian. And the best part is that microchips do no harm to the animal. In fact, your cat doesn’t even know it has one.
When your vet inserts the capsule under your cat’s skin, they will almost always do so near the animal’s neck. However, your cat will hardly feel anything. Inserting the microchip can be compared to giving a vaccine. The procedure is quick and virtually painless for your cat!
Another advantage of the microchip is that you only have to have it inserted once. Then you can register your cat and the vet will have all the information about it too. This is very useful, especially when it comes to tracking your pet if it runs away from home or is lost. At the same time, it is also important to keep an eye on your cat in general; because cats are adventurous and tend to go on excursions on their own.
Fortunately, in the event that your cat runs away, you can use this device to track it down and find it again. Best of all, this is an extremely inexpensive procedure.
Are microchips required for cats?
In some countries, the insertion of a microchip is mandatory for pets. However, this is not the case in Germany, Austria and Switzerland, unless you are planning a trip to another European country with your cat. In this case, your pet must be chipped and registered.
However, we recommend that you purchase a microchip for your cat, as it offers many advantages. In addition, it is an extremely economical and harmless method for pets.
However, many cat owners do not opt for a chip because their cats never leave the house. Also, some people mistakenly believe that if cats escape, they will adapt to life on the street much more easily than, say, dogs.
Cats do not adapt well to life on the street
It is important to resolve this myth. Domestic cats that live in houses or apartments have a very difficult time running away from home. This is true even if we do not take into account their indirect effects on local fauna.
A microchip is essential to find a runaway cat. In fact, runaway cats tend to react very differently than runaway dogs. Usually their first impulse is panic. For example, they might be hiding, which in turn makes them much more difficult to find. Depending on where they are, they may have a hard time finding their way home.
In addition, runaway animals are often hit by cars and injured. Given these facts , it’s a myth that cats are better at adapting to outdoor life than dogs. Consequently, it is the primary duty of every animal owner to protect the welfare of their animal.
Microchips and updating information
It is important to keep the information on the microchip up to date. Sometimes you may have the microchip inserted but then forget to register your cat in a database. Note, however, that the microchip is useless if your cat is not registered. It is therefore very important to register your cat and, if necessary, update your contact information such as phone number or address.
Although microchips are not required in cats, we strongly recommend that you opt for them. The reason for this is simple: you make sure your cat is protected and identifiable. If your cat is lost, you’ll be glad he got a chip. In addition, it is a painless and inexpensive procedure.
