Chipping cats: what is it and what is it for?

In the age of urbanization, people do not have many opportunities and time to travel to nature and communicate with animals. Therefore, keeping pets (cats, dogs, hamsters) for a modern person is increasingly becoming the only affordable alternative to life in the countryside. Safety considerations and the convenience of the owner require that each animal be chipped.

Electronic identification of animals is called chipping. This procedure is implantation of a small electronic circuit with personal data under the skin of a cat. Information on it is presented in the form of a code, which is unique and consists of 15 digits. The decoding of this designation, including information about the owner and his animal, is entered into a special electronic database.

In the database, in addition to the belonging of the animal to a specific owner, indicate:

• breed;
• gender;
• nickname;
• date of birth;
• color;
• personal distinguishing marks;
• past illnesses;
• vaccinations;
• a photo of a pet.

The structure of the code is by no means random, but strictly verified. The first three digits make up the symbol of the state. They are always separated from the three-digit manufacturer designation by zero. And only after that do eight digits go inseparably. They designate just this particular animal, allowing it to be accurately identified.

After completing the procedure, the owner is left with a passport with all the data, the date of the operation, the name of the veterinary clinic, the signature and seal of the doctor. Also, all information is entered into the international electronic accounting system in the form of an animal passport. But here you need to understand that not all countries have such advanced technologies. For example, in Russia, the introduction of such identification is at an early stage of development and is carried out mainly by the capital's clinics. As for foreign countries, there are two main databases: the European Union and the United States.

Chipping an animal looks like a small injection. It runs fast enough. This procedure is considered completely safe and painless; it does not cause much inconvenience to the animal. To do this, use a syringe-like applicator with a needle through which a capsule with a microcircuit is inserted.

Before injection, the shell of the chip is disinfected to eliminate negative health effects.

It is also worth noting that during this procedure, use only disposable syringes, which prevents the transfer of diseases between animals. In addition, each pet is checked for the presence of various diseases before the chip is inserted. If they are found and during the treatment period, chipping is not done. A weakened cat's immune system is also a contraindication.

The set for the procedure includes a plastic card similar to the one issued by banks. Chipping is performed without anesthesia. It is no more painful than vaccination. In any serious veterinary clinic, it is performed without any problems. It is not even necessary to pre-apply.

Since the chip is small, it does not cause discomfort to the pet. Its length can be compared to two grains of rice. This device is the best option - the cat or cat will not lose it. Usually, the injection is made at the withers, since there the chip will not move arbitrarily under the skin.

There is a common myth that a lost cat can be found by GPS location of the chip. However, the principle of operation of this device is not at all the same as that of a mobile phone, and therefore remote search is not possible. The chip is activated only in one case - when there is a scanning device in the immediate vicinity of it. The rest of the time, it does not transmit any signals and therefore cannot be tracked.

However, there are several other situations in which chipping is indispensable:

• registration in a veterinary clinic;
• identification of the owner of the found animal;
• a controversial situation (it is unclear which of the outwardly similar animals belongs to whom);
• pedigree pet insurance;
• travel abroad.

It is worth considering the following points:

• in the CIS countries, a very small number of veterinary hospitals are equipped with equipment for reading information from a chip;
• there are low quality and fake chips;
• With the advent of this device, entry into the territory of some countries with animals without chips is prohibited.

It is quite easy to eliminate possible problems for yourself and your pet. To do this, before starting the procedure, you must ask the doctor for quality certificates for the products. They also check the compliance of the chip with international standards. Being interested in this moment is important not only for confidence in the quality of electronics. Lack of attention to him can turn into problems when traveling abroad.

There are other precautions that can be taken to minimize the risks of chipping a cat or cat. It is undesirable to call veterinarians for home chipping. Often, such a specialist is not competent enough.In addition, the provision of this service at home can lead to the absence of chip data in the necessary accounting databases. It can also turn into an infection of the pet. In this case, his health will be in jeopardy, and the treatment will cost much more than the money saved at first.

It is also worth remembering about the receipt of all documentary evidence for the service provided:

• certificate;
• a plastic card;
• pedigree stickers;
• stickers in the passport.

Modern electronics:

• will help to exclude the theft of the animal;
• prevents substitution at exhibitions and other similar events;
• lasts long enough;
• is very reliable.

Chipping is considered by veterinarians to be harmless. If the procedure is performed correctly, then:

• there is no risk of infection (when performing the procedure in the clinic);
• low likelihood of infection;
• there is no risk of displacement of the device in the body;
• the age of the animal does not matter.

It should be noted that the location of the injection point at the withers is not accidental. This prevents the cat from reaching the injection site on its own. Therefore, she will not be able to infect him by combing. The newest modifications of the chips are equipped with a thermal sensor, the information from which is also displayed in the computer during reading. This function allows the doctor not to waste time on additional temperature measurement.

Before you go on a trip with your pet, you need to know in advance the rules for transporting it across the border. And it is no longer possible to limit ourselves to just vaccinating the same cat. The veterinary rules of the main states, in addition to the list of vaccinations, also mention the presence of chips. And not just chips, but those that meet certain requirements. You cannot enter the EU with a cat without a microchip, complying with the ISO-11784 standard.

You also need to pay special attention to the correspondence of the information in the chip and in the animal's passport. If the data is even slightly different, the error must be corrected before departure. It is worth making a request to the international animal registration database. There are two main databases of this kind - Petmaxx and EuroPetNet. When all the conditions described above are met, crossing the border will not cause any obstacles.

To find out if chipping is necessary, see below.