Can You Track Your Cat with a Microchip?
Many pet owners wonder whether microchipping their cat enables them to actively track their furry friend’s location. The answer is straightforward: microchips do not have GPS capabilities. Instead, they serve as a permanent form of identification, ensuring that lost pets can be traced back to their owners when found.
What Is a Pet Microchip?
A pet microchip is a tiny electronic device, about the size of a grain of rice, that is implanted just beneath an animal’s skin, usually between the shoulder blades. This device contains a unique identification number linked to the owner's contact details stored in a secure database. When a lost cat is found and scanned by a veterinary clinic or animal shelter, the chip emits the ID number, enabling the contacting of the registered owner.
How Microchips Work
- Microchips are passive RFID devices, meaning they do not actively broadcast a signal.
- They require a handheld scanner to be read.
- The chip emits a unique ID number when scanned.
- Owners must register and maintain their contact details in a national pet registry.
This system supports identification but does not offer real-time tracking.
Why Microchips Are Important
While microchips cannot track your cat, they greatly improve the chances of being reunited if lost. Research shows that microchipped cats are more than twenty times more likely to be returned to their owners compared to unchipped cats.
Pros of Microchipping
- Permanently links your cat to you through ID number registration.
- Simple and safe procedure, similar to a vaccination injection.
- No batteries or maintenance required; lasts the pet’s lifetime.
- Accepted internationally, useful for pet travel.
- Helps avoid pet theft and misidentification.
Cons of Microchipping
- Does not include GPS tracking capability.
- Requires scanning to retrieve owner information.
- Pet must be taken to a vet or shelter with universal scanners.
- Low but present risk of minor complications.
- Ineffective if registration details are outdated.
Common Myths About Microchips
Myth: Microchips allow me to view my cat’s location at any time.
Fact: Microchips are not tracking devices and cannot provide live location updates. They only help identify a cat when scanned.
Myth: Only outdoor cats need microchips.
Fact: Even indoor cats can escape. Microchipping them improves their chances of a safe return.
Complementary Safety Measures
Since microchips don’t offer tracking, many owners supplement them with external identification:
- Collars with ID tags: Offer immediate identification on sight.
- GPS collars: Provide real-time tracking, though they require charging and may be expensive.
- Online lost pet databases: Helpful if your pet disappears — be proactive once lost.
Best Practices for Microchipping
- Have the chip implanted by a licensed veterinarian.
- Scan and verify chip function annually during checkups.
- Update your contact info in the registry after any changes.
- Retain microchip and registry details in your pet’s health record.
Conclusion
In summary, while a microchip won’t help you track your cat’s location in real-time, it is an essential, permanent identification tool. When combined with proper registration and identification tags, microchipping significantly increases the chance that your cat will be returned if ever lost. It’s a quick, simple, and largely risk-free procedure that could make all the difference in an emergency.
