Do ID Chips Make Cat Collars Not Necessary?

Many pet owners are now having ID chips inserted just under the skin on their pet in order to increase the chance of recovering them just in case they ever become lost from home. These chips do not cause the pet any harm and can be read by a reader much as the products in a grocery store can be scanned for their information.

Many cat owners feel that if they use an ID chip with their cat they will not need to use a cat collar as well. These owners hear stories about cats getting caught up by their collars and not being allowed to get free when they are running around outside. Not wanting their cats to be harmed by their collar many think that having an ID chip is the only guarantee they need to bring a lost pet home.

As effective as these chips are they are not fool proof and are actually only effective if the cat is taken to a vet or facility that can read the chip to get the information off of it. Still the best defense to getting a lost cat home is a simple name and phone number attached to a cat collar. Many lost pets are found by regular people who are animal lovers concerned with the safety of the animal and want to help them find their way home. These individuals do not have the ability to read the chip and may not even know it is there. Also many veterinarian offices are still not outfitted with the equipment to read an ID chip making them ineffective there as well.

While an ID chip is handy for helping a cat return home, still the best way to bring them home is with personal information on a cat collar. These collars are perfectly safe provided they are the breakaway style that will allow a cat to get free if they should get it caught on a branch or fence.