Should I Microchip My Indoor-Only Cat?

It’s tempting to think that you don’t need to microchip about your indoor cat. After all, a cat that doesn’t go outside isn’t likely to get away from you and get lost. In reality, there are several reasons why it’s a great idea to microchip your indoor-only cat.

1. It only takes a moment for a cat to slip outside.

Imagine that you’re holding the door open to sign for a package or take the pizza from the delivery driver. There’s a gunshot on the TV that startles your cat, and she bolts out the open door. It can happen that quickly. Or imagine that your kids run outside to play and don’t latch the door properly. A curious cat pushes the door open and slips outside, but no one sees it. How long might she be gone before someone realizes that she’s missing?

2. Collars and tags can get lost (if your cat has one at all).

Many indoor cats either don’t wear a collar or have a collar with only a bell or bow. Neither of those will help someone identify you as your cat’s owner. Even if your cat has ID tags, they are likely on a break-away collar, which is designed to come apart if it catches on something. (Your cat’s collar should be a break-away so he won’t accidentally strangle himself if the collar gets caught on something.) A lost collar means that the tags are lost as well. A microchip is permanent and doesn’t get lost.

3. Most cats that enter an animal shelter are never reunited with their owners.

According to a study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, less than 2% of cats entering a shelter are reunited with their owners. With a microchip, that goes up to 38% of the cats finding their way home. That’s a 2000 percent improvement.

4. Microchipping is quick and easy.

A microchip is a tiny device, smaller than a grain of rice, that is injected under your cat’s skin. The doctors at Andes-Straley Veterinary Hospital can implant a chip during an office visit, as it requires no anesthesia and takes no longer than a vaccination shot.

Once the microchip is implanted, don’t forget the most important step: updating your registration information if your address or contact details change. A microchip is meaningless if the registration doesn’t lead the person who found your cat back to you.

Visit Andes-Straley Vet online for more information about if you should microchip your indoor-only cat or call us today at (423) 378-4443 to schedule an appointment.