Microchipping is hugely important for the permanent & accurate identification of cats. A microchip contains a unique number that can be found with a microchip scanner. This number can then be entered on a central database that contains the owner’s address & telephone number. This process is frequently used in homing centres & veterinary clinics to reunite cats with their owners.
In order for microchips to work, it’s vitally important that the details attached to them are kept up to date. All that a microchip provides when scanned is a 15-digit number, if the information attached to this number on the database isn’t up to date, making contact is virtually impossible. If you move home or your contact details change, it’s essential that you update these on the microchip website. Informing your vet of a change of address will not update your details on a microchip database.
Microchips have other uses aside from reuniting lost cats with their owners. Having a unique identification number is important when veterinarians are submitting test samples for inherited diseases. They can be important in legal cases where a cat’s ownership might be called into question. They also allow owners to be contacted in the unfortunate case of a tragic event.