Microchipping: A microchip is a small silicon chip that is actually a minature radio antennae that transmits a code when the animal is scanned. About the size of a grain of rice, this chip can be implanted by your vet in one simple plunge of a syringe, while your pet is fully awake. There has been no reported side effects for pets with these types of implants.

Microchips last for 25 years, they do not harm an animal and there are two currently on the market being used. The HomeAgain microchip and the AVID. The chip is inserted into the scruff of the neck of the feline, and houses all the pertinent information about who owns the cat.

This data is able to be accessed at any time, through one simple phone call to the data center. Your veterinarian will also keep the information on file, so if you are moving, please let your vet know your forwarding address so if your cat does become lost, he will know where you are. Look to spend about $40.00 for the procedure, not a lot of money to acheive peace of mind.

Do keep one fact in mind though. Both of these chips are not compatible with the scanners. What I mean is if your cat has an AVID microchip, and lands in a shelter where they use HomeAgain scanners, the chip will be missed. So be aware of which microchip is prevelant in your area and go according to that.  The scanners can be found in rescue shelters, animal shelters and vet offices. Pet groomers sometimes have them on hand as well and will use them if they have an alert that a pedigreed cat is missing and a new client's cat shows up needing grooming.