Cat chipping - costs, technology and information for more security
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Contents:
- Why are cats chipped?
- Technology: what exactly is the chip?
- What information is stored on the chip?
- How does cat microchipping work?
- Can microchipping cats cause complications?
- How much does it cost to get a cat chipped?
- Individual regulations: Do cats have to be microchipped?
- Do I have to have my indoor cat chipped?
- Where can I have the cat chip read?
- Where can I register the cat chip?
- Bonus: open door for your tiger
Why are cats chipped?
If a pet is lost, responsible owners pull out all the stops to get the furry companion back in their home as quickly as possible. Dogs usually wear a collar to which a sticker with a contact address or even a GPS tag can be attached in addition to the tax stamp.
Cats are far less likely to wear a collar. Many cat owners do without it because the risk of injury and strangulation when foraging through fences and bushes can never be completely ruled out. Apartment kitties hardly ever wear collars anyway. They cannot be tracked if they accidentally get into the "wild" (e.g. due to a badly tensioned cat net on the balcony) and do not have a contact address on their body.
Luckily, there's a modern way to mark a cat's "home address" without any annoying or dangerous appendages. Tiny implanted chips, in conjunction with registration with a relevant database, ensure that a found animal comes back home. Animal shelters and veterinary surgeries (common places for finders of missing cats) have readers that can query the information from the chip and quickly identify and contact owners.
Due to the individual coding, this potentially even works worldwide. A comforting thought when you consider that your handler could also get lost on a long-distance haul. This cannot be ruled out if he gets into a car or train unnoticed and travels as a stowaway.
Already knew? In principle, all pets can be chipped. However, the chip does not replace ringing for birds or ear tags for livestock. Chips are generally useful for pets kept in enclosures where escaping into the open or theft is conceivable (e.g. rabbits or valuable koi in the garden pond).
Technology: what exactly is the chip?
The technical component of animal identification, abbreviated to “chip”, is a so-called RFID microtransponder. The abbreviation RFID stands for "radio-frequency identification", roughly translated as "identification via radio frequency". This is a transmitter-receiver system that can be used to identify objects or animals with a chip.
The chip itself is a "passive transponder". This means that it does not need its own power supply in the radio system, but draws its energy from the electrical field of a receiver unit. In the case of the pet tag, this is the reader. The chip picks up its signals and automatically sends an answer there. However, this only works over short distances.
The transponders are manufactured in different sizes so that suitable formats are also available for very small animals. A typical cat chip is slightly larger than a grain of rice (about 12 millimeters). The miniature transmission unit consists of the actual transponder and a tiny coiled-up antenna, embedded in a tissue-compatible, anti-allergenic, airtight plastic or bioglass casing.
Worth knowing: Exactly the same technology is used (in a modified design) for card reading systems. A typical example are key chip cards that can be used to unlock doors.
What information is stored on the chip?
The passive microchip itself contains a single record in the form of a 15-digit number. This number is divided into three groups containing the following information:
- a three-digit country code (e.g. 276 for Germany, 040 for Austria, 756 for Switzerland),
- the manufacturer number of the chip producer and
- the actual code number.
Reputable manufacturers follow binding ISO standards for this information. Each code is unique. A tagged animal is thus clearly identifiable. There is no other cat anywhere in the world that has the same identification number. The chip is also largely secure against manipulation or counterfeiting. The chip usually includes barcode labels for error-free identification of the documents associated with the pet, such as the pet or vaccination card.
How does cat microchipping work?
The veterinarian carries out the identification of the pet by injecting the chip under the skin; usually in the area of the nape of the neck on the left side. This requires some practice and may therefore only be carried out by qualified persons.
The tiny sleeve with the chip is injected under the skin with a syringe. There the transponder grows together with the tissue and remains fully functional throughout the animal's life. The procedure on the animal can be performed without anesthesia. Your cat only feels a short prick like a vaccination.
Can microchipping cats cause complications?
As a rule, chipping is completely harmless for the cat. It very rarely happens that the chip does not remain in the intended place on the neck, but "migrates" to other parts of the body. But even then there is no risk of damage to health, since the transponder material is absolutely tissue-compatible.
Occasionally, local swelling or inflammation can occur at the puncture site after the chipping. This also sometimes happens after blood draws or other injections and is not specifically related to the chip implant. As a follow-up, you should keep an eye on the puncture site for a few days in case the animal scratches there.
By the way : If you have concerns about radiation and data security, you can breathe a sigh of relief. The chip is only activated when the reader is stopped, so it does not constantly emit radiation on its own. The information is only transmitted in the immediate vicinity of the reader; it is not detectable by satellite, GPS or other tracking devices.
How much does it cost to get a cat chipped?
The price for having your cat microchipped is made up of two components: the material costs for the chip and the vet fee for the procedure.
Pet chip: The chip itself costs between 30 and 60 euros depending on the manufacturer. To be on the safe side, ask your veterinary practice in advance whether you have to get him or whether chips are available on site.
Implantation: The fee for inserting the chip is regulated by the GOT (Fee Schedule for Veterinarians). It is currently (as of May 2023) 19.23 euros plus VAT.
Reading the chip: If you want the chip to be read by the veterinarian, there will be additional fees of between 3 and 10 euros.
Overall, chipping your cat will cost you between 50 and 80 euros.
Tip: Chip and vaccination in one package
If your cat is not yet chipped, it is a good idea to have the vaccination and chipping done at the same vet appointment. This means less stress for you and the animal because you only have to lure it into the transport box once.
In this case, the costs for the cat's microchipping and vaccination come together. The vaccination costs for the complete basic immunization (a one-off series of vaccinations and boosters within a short period of time) are around 120 to 160 euros. Annual follow-up vaccinations (apart from the rabies vaccination, which is only required every two to three years) cost between 30 and 40 euros. The rabies vaccination itself costs about 20 euros and only makes sense for people who are outdoors. (All prices quoted vary depending on the vaccine used and the manufacturer.)
Individual regulations: Do cats have to be microchipped?
For dog owners, chipping is much more complicated than for cat lovers. An obligation to identify dogs is regulated at the state level so that each state has its own regulations. In some places a tattoo is sufficient, other countries require a chip, and elsewhere the chip requirement is limited to certain breeds, such as listed dogs.
But the regulations are also changing when it comes to cats. A while ago, as long as your kitty didn't leave the state borders, there was no federal legal obligation to have her chipped.
In the meantime, however, various federal states and municipalities have switched to decreeing a labeling requirement, at least for free-ranging cats, combined with castration– and registration obligations. This now applies in more than 800 municipalities across Germany. Cat microchipping is compulsory in Lower Saxony, in more than 300 places there. In North Rhine-Westphalia, there is currently an obligation to chip cats in over 200 communities. In Schleswig-Holstein and Hesse, too, numerous municipalities have joined such ordinances, and in most other federal states at least a few places are involved. Due to these incredibly detailed, location-dependent and ever-expanding regulations, you should definitely inquire about the handling that applies to you locally. The contact person is the regulatory office.
Your kitty is generally obliged to wear a chip when traveling to other EU countries. The pet passport, which the animal needs to cross the border, is only valid in connection with the transponder. Is your pet roaming around in border regions and possibly crossing green national borders? In this case, too, it should be equipped with a chip to be on the safe side.
Do I have to have my indoor cat chipped?
If you do not travel with your velvet paw and it is not an outdoor cat, you are not obliged to identify it. But you should still think about it because even an indoor cat can end up outside as a result of a chain of unfortunate circumstances. She could be locked out unnoticed if she slips past you out of the apartment, or climbs through a cat-barred window. Unexpectedly outside the usual home territory, the animal could panic, start running aimlessly and get lost. If it has an identification chip, there is a good chance of bringing your mini lion back to the sofa at home.
Digression: Are there alternatives to microchipping the cat?
Due to the ongoing miniaturization of technology, the pet chip has become established as an identification method for dogs and cats. Previously, the usual method was to tattoo an animal. The identification number is transferred to the inside of the ear using tattooing pliers and special ink. Tattooing, while still occasionally practiced, has a number of disadvantages. Because the procedure is painful, the animal must be anesthetized. The numeric codes are not a forgery or duplication proof and if the tattoo fades over time and becomes illegible the whole promotion becomes void. Since 2012, a tattoo has no longer been permitted as an identification method for EU trips with a pet.
On the other hand, the plus side of the tattoo is very clear: no electronic device is required to read it. In addition, the visible number in the ear is a sure sign of recognition, even for laypeople, that you are dealing with a pet that belongs to someone. Some supporters of tattoos also argue that they cannot be removed (operated out). In the case of stolen pedigree cats, this is quite a valid argument. In addition, there is always the possibility (albeit extremely small) that the cat chip could be damaged or defective.
In some communities, the obligation to identify cats does not necessarily require microchipping, tattooing would also be permitted. Find out what is the best solution for where you live and for your kitty.
Where can I have the cat chip read?
If you have a cat and you want to quickly trace its owner, you need a special reader that activates the RFID chip so that it reveals the stored data. Such receivers are available in every veterinary practice and are part of the standard equipment of most animal shelters. Attention: If you want to have the number read out "privately" in order to bring the animal back personally (e.g. in the event that a finder's reward has been offered), a fee may be charged.
Contacts such as the police, fire brigade, road maintenance depots and building yards often have readers available to identify animals that have had an accident. You can now compare the issued chip number with the various pet registers. If you get a hit, you get the contact details of the owner and can establish the connection.
Where can I register the cat chip?
Unfortunately, one often reads in the context of found animal reports that the animal in question is chipped but not registered. The chip alone is therefore of little help without subsequent registration. You must also enter your fur nose in a pet register with its chip number. This is not automatically part of the scope of the veterinary service, but they may be able to help you there on request.
When registering, your contact details will be saved. You can be reached immediately when your animal has been found and the chip has been evaluated. It is important that you remember to update the data accordingly in the event of a move or if the animal is given to a new home. Information about the cat, such as breed, gender, age and appearance, is usually also required.
The best-known German-language pet databases are:
Tasso eV: This is the largest domestic animal register in Europe. You register your cat with its chip or tattoo number on Tasso. Found animals are recognized and assigned in a number query by comparison with the Tasso database. The special thing about Tasso is the international network and a range of additional services, such as a generator for search posters, a hotline and even an app that sends search reports as push messages in the area in which a lost animal was reported. Tasso's services are free of charge, the association is financed by donations.
Findfix : The Findfix search animal register is part of the German Animal Welfare Association and, in addition to a 24-hour hotline, offers the option of reporting animals that have run away or come in via an online form. This includes a reporting portal with a proximity search. Similar to Tasso, Findefix also has an online generator for search posters - a practical help for pet owners so that, despite all the excitement about the lost animal, they don't make any mistakes and forget important information. Findefix is also funded by donations and can be used free of charge.
ifta : The ifta portal, which is based in Schwabach in Bavaria but operates internationally, is subject to a fee. In fact, this organization, which was set up in 1990 on the initiative of the Federal Association of Practical Veterinarians (BPT) in cooperation with ifta (Institute for Animal Health and Agricultural Ecology), is the first register for animals marked with transponders. Services include registration and repatriation of animals tagged with a chip, transponder, ID tag or tattoo, as well as GPS tracking of pets. The annual fee is currently 10 euros plus sales tax.
Tip: If you have a pet, you should not just check a single pet registry, as not every owner may use all portals. As a pet owner, it is best to use all available registration options.
Bonus: open the door for your tiger
The cat chip is not only a repatriation aid for your lost kitty. You can also use the function of the transponder in everyday life. There are electronic cat flaps that recognize your cat's transponder chip as soon as it approaches. The practical cat doors can be programmed in such a way that they only open for "authorized" tigers, as explained above in connection with the key card technology. Thanks to this clever function, you prevent the velvet paw from bringing a flock of conspecifics with it from its free run. The door remains closed to foreign cats.
Some sophisticated automatic feeders work in a similar way, using the chip to recognize whether the house cat or a strange visitor is waiting for its meal.
Conclusion: The costs for chipping the cat are only incurred once and are manageable. In an emergency, registration can quickly put an end to the horror. Good advice is not that expensive when cats are lost: by tagging the animal and having it entered in the relevant databases, there is a high probability that it will find its way back to you soon. In any case, the cost of having your cat microchipped is a worthwhile investment. The small transponder gives you and your tiger more security on excursions.
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