Suppose you are not familiar with a microchip. In that case, it is a small implant with an identified integrated circuit placed subcutaneously or under the skin—often placed between the shoulder blades of various animals. Should they become lost, any veterinary hospital or shelter has “microchip scanners” that allow detection of the microchip and its associated number. From there, they would contact the owner of the pet so they could be reunited with their furry companion!

Though many dog owners know the benefit of microchipping their dogs, as they tend to get loose easier than our kitten companions, microchipping is also just as beneficial for cats!

According to the American Association of Feline Practitioners, despite research showing that cats represent the largest owned species group in the US, many cat owners still lose their cats each year. They report that once a cat reaches an animal shelter, they have a less than 5% likelihood of ever being reunited with their owners again! If a cat presents to the shelter with a microchip, it can be reunited with its pet parent (assuming the owner gave their information to the microchip company).

Despite the research, people still have concerns if microchips pose any adverse side effects to cats. The good news—there is plenty of research to show that cat microchipping side effects are all extremely mild! The most typical side effect is tenderness and slight inflammation at the injection site.

Though there have been some questions raised regarding whether the microchip implant causes cancer, there has been no clear association between cancer risk and microchip implants in dogs and cats. The consensus is that the potential for such an event exists but cannot be associated one way or the other.

Overall, most veterinarians believe the benefit of having a microchip outweighs the small chance of your cat having any severe microchip side effect. Curious, is a microchip right for your fur baby? We recommend that you make an appointment with us at San Marco Animal Hospital at 904-399-5557 to discuss further cat microchipping and its side effects!