Microchipping a Kitten: Age, Cost, Registration and Why It Matters

By Tailwisp Editorial TeamUpdated October 20, 20264 min read

Cats are escape artists. A kitten that bolts through an open door or squeezes out of a window can be gone in seconds. Collars slip off, tags get lost. A microchip is the one form of ID that stays with your cat for life.

What is a microchip?

A microchip is a tiny transponder, about the size of a grain of rice, with a unique number. It has no battery or GPS. When a scanner passes over it, the chip transmits its number, and the scanner displays it. The number is linked to a database with your contact details. A vet or shelter that finds a stray scans for a chip, looks up the number and contacts you. See cat microchipping and identification.

When to chip a kitten

Most vets implant chips from about six to eight weeks, once the kitten is large enough, or at the time of spay or neuter, when the kitten is under anesthesia. Many shelters and breeders chip before adoption. Check whether your kitten already has one, and ask your vet to scan at the first visit. See kitten first vet visit.

How it is done

The vet injects the chip under the loose skin between the shoulder blades with a needle slightly larger than a vaccine needle. It takes seconds, and most kittens barely react. No anesthesia is needed. Mild soreness is rare. Chips almost never cause problems. Occasionally, a chip migrates, which is why scanning the whole body matters.

The critical step: register

An unregistered chip is useless. After implantation, register the chip number online, with your name, address, phone numbers and an emergency contact. Pay any registration fee, if needed. Keep the paperwork. Update your details if you move, change phone numbers or rehome the cat. Many lost pets are never reunited because the data are wrong.

If you adopt a chipped kitten, transfer registration into your name.

Cost

Costs vary, typically $25 to $50, including registration in some cases. Many shelters include it in the adoption fee. Low-cost clinics and events offer deals. See kitten cost first year.

Collar and tag as well

A chip is not visible. A collar with a tag gives immediate contact information to neighbors. Choose a breakaway collar, which opens under pressure to prevent strangulation. See cat collars and breakaway safety. Put your phone number on the tag, and check it regularly.

Microchips and travel

Chips are required or recommended for international travel, and by many countries and boarding facilities. Check the standard, such as ISO 15-digit chips. See flying with a cat.

Checking the chip

Ask your vet to scan at each yearly exam. Chips can fail, or migrate, though rarely. Keep a record of the number.

If your cat is lost

1. Search the home and nearby places thoroughly, since cats often hide close.
2. Call local shelters, vets and microchip registries.
3. Put up posters, and use local social media.
4. Leave out familiar items and food.
5. Keep your phone number current.

See how to find a lost cat.

Microchip myths

• "It tracks my cat." It does not.
• "It causes cancer." Very rare reports exist, and the risk is considered extremely low compared with the benefit.
• "Indoor cats do not need one." Many indoor cats escape, and disasters happen. See disaster planning for cats.
• "It lasts forever." Chips last decades, but data must be kept current.

Rehoming

If you rehome a cat, update the registry with the new owner's details.

Choosing a registry

Many countries have several microchip registries, and some chips can be registered with more than one. Choose a reputable service, check whether there are annual fees, and confirm that vets and shelters can search it. Some universal lookup tools search several databases at once. Keep your login details in a safe place, and set a reminder to review your information every year.

Sharing the number

Tell family members and your pet sitter that your kitten is chipped, and keep a copy of the chip number on your phone. If your kitten is ever lost, the number lets any clinic or shelter identify and contact you quickly.

When chips need replacing

Chips rarely fail, but a chip that cannot be read, or that was never registered, should be replaced or re-registered. Ask your vet to scan at each yearly exam, and again before travel. If you adopted from a shelter, confirm that the registration was transferred to you, and keep the paperwork safe. A few minutes of admin protects your kitten for life.

When to see a vet

Ask your vet to scan and implant the chip at the first visit or at spay or neuter. Use the US vet directory to find a clinic.