According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), there are approximately 60 to 62 million cats in the U.S., and about 26 percent of American households have at least one cat. Nearly 2.3 million pets go missing each year, and that’s just the number of animals reported. The actual number is undoubtedly much higher. However, this is the most compelling reason why cats should be microchipped or collared.
Outdoor life can be very dangerous for felines, with only one in four surviving to six months old Many factors threaten these animals, from traffic to predators to disease. In addition, outdoor cats are 2.77 times more likely to contract parasites, including toxoplasmosis, which can be transmitted to humans. You may think that pets that only stay indoors don’t need identification, but some felines do escape, leaving their owners heartbroken.
The Sobering Truth
Cats escaping usually doesn’t end well. The reality is unfortunate. An estimated 860,000 cats are euthanized each year Unfortunately, these facilities can’t take in all cats or provide shelter for animals that can’t find homes. Equally disheartening is the fact that losing a pet is an all-too-common occurrence, with about 15 percent of cat owners experiencing it over a five-year period
Unless you’ve been there, it’s hard to describe the pain and sense of helplessness one endures when losing a pet. For those cats that do make it home, the span of time in between before they are reunited with their owners is an agonizing 5 days A microchip or collar can shorten that time considerably.
Veterinarian scanning a cat’s microchip
Lost pets
A study conducted at Ohio State University has revealed the reactions and outcomes of cat owners when searching for their lost pets. Many will search the neighborhood for their cat or post signs with pictures of the animal. Others may contact their local animal shelter or veterinary clinic. Sadly, the recovery rate was not even more than 12 percent, especially for those cats without identification.
The researchers also found that neutered pets were 2.28 times more likely to be reunited with their owners than sexually intact animals. However, cats are extraordinary creatures. Studies have shown that they can find their way home from as far as four miles away. Not surprisingly, outdoor cats can travel up to 1 mile more than indoor pets.
While most felines will stay close to home, the truth is that your neighbors can help you find it. They may be able to recognize your pet more easily than if your kitten had traveled farther. While outdoor cats have street smarts, they are also more difficult to spot in unfamiliar surroundings.
Cat Identification
Whether it’s because they seem wilder to us or we think of them as free roaming animals, we often add identification to our cats. It certainly doesn’t help that cats are little Houdini’s when it comes to wearing collars and collars. However, it’s still important that your pet is somehow identifiable if the worst happens.
Collars.
We recommend skipping the dog supplies section and getting a collar designed for cats. They’re smaller and lighter and more feline-friendly. We recommend getting one with no barriers and a breakaway feature. These animals often go to places where the collar could become a hazard, such as trees. Of course, it’s also important to customize it with your phone number.
The advantage of going this route is that collars are relatively inexpensive. You can choose a hairstyle that reflects your pet’s personality. The downside is that a determined cat could slip out. Another concern is theft. It’s not as common as with dogs, but it does happen. One of the first things a thief might do is stamp someone’s name or phone number on the collar. Nonetheless, this is still a viable option.
Munchkin cat wearing a collar
Implanting a microchip
You can also implant a microchip in your pet as a permanent form of identification. It has a radio frequency or RFID to identify your cat. It is very small, the size of a grain of rice. Your veterinarian will implant it under the skin with a needle and syringe. The microchip has a number unique to your pet. After that you must register it with the company.
For veterinary clinics and shelters, scanning stray dogs to find owners is a routine practice. However, registering and keeping information up to date is necessary. Another study from Oregon State University found that 35.4 percent of pets found had outdated or incorrect owner information on their microchips. The good news is that 86.2% of lost pets taken to shelters are reportedly reunited with their owners.