Ozzy the Ocicat darts through the open door as you're bringing in groceries. He disappears into the night and doesn't return. If someone finds him, will they know he's yours? Tabatha the tabby turned into Houdini and slithered out of her harness during your routine walk. Now she's been missing for two days. Was she mistaken for a stray? Did she end up at a local vet hospital or animal shelter? If you've ever lost a cat,you know how dreadful this experience can be.

Millions of cats are lost and find themselves at shelters every year and the statistics aren't good. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Animal Cruelty (ASPCA), as few as two percent of lost cats are ever reunited with their families. Those bearing some form of identification fare much better. Tags and collars work well but can easily break or slip off. Microchips by contrast, are permanent. The ASPCA states that when used with a visible tag or collar, a microchip provides the most reliable means of recovering a lost pet.

How They Work

A microchip is a tiny radio-frequency identification (RFID) device about the size of a grain of rice. The device has three parts: a tiny computer chip, some electronic circuitry, and a bio-compatible silicone capsule. The device is implanted under the cat's scruff (the loose skin between the shoulder blades). When activated by a specialized handheld scanner, the chip emits an alphanumeric code that uniquely identifies him or her.

As soon as the microchip is implanted, the owner can register the cat's code into a national registry maintained by the chip's manufacturer. This step is critical. If the cat is ever lost and brought to a veterinary hospital or animal shelter, the owner can easily be traced. When all goes well, a missing cat and owner can be reunited in a matter of hours.

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