Several identification methods are available that can improve your chances of recovering your lost cat. The more of these measures you take, the better, emphasize experts. The three most frequently used methods are collars with ID tags, tattoos and microchips.
Collars and tags that are worn around a cat’s neck should contain at least the owner’s name, address and telephone number. These tags are inexpensive, but they can wear out, break or be ripped off by a cat. Be sure that you update the information if anything changes.
Tattoos usually carry a number specifically assigned to a cat by a registry organization that maintains health records and ownership information for that specific animal. The tattooing must be performed by a veterinarian or a properly trained specialist. It is a painless procedure, typically done on a cat’s inner leg or on the inside of its outer ear. Unfortunately, a tattoo is likely to become illegible over time, and the procedure will have to be repeated.
A microchip is a tiny electronic device, about the size of a pea, which is quickly and painlessly implanted under a cat’s skin, between its shoulder blades. The device houses a memory circuit that contains a registry number specifically assigned to the cat and provides a permanent means of identifying that animal. Since the 1980s, this technology has risen in popularity as a means of identifying lost or stolen cats and returning them to their owners.
