What is the appropriate procedure for microchipping a cat?

Question

Hi! My cat was microchipped yesterday and I was surprised to hear later that a friend's vet used anesthesia and shaved the area behind her cat's neck before putting in the microchip. Now, I'm worried that my vet did it the wrong way. (He literally stabbed my cat with the big needle without anesthetic.)

If you know anything about this, please advise me. Was my vet in the wrong? I love my cat dearly and it breaks my heart that someone might have hurt her unnecessarily.

Thank you very much in advance!

Answer 1

OMG the poor cat was shaved?? They put it under anesthesia to micro chip did it have another procedure that it had to be under anesthesia?

Microchipping is a much bigger needle but it take just a second to do. My 14 year old daughter has been microchipping for two years. Most of the time the pets don't know but occassionally you get a puss.

Answer 2

The microchip is a tiny computer chip or transponder about the size of a grain of rice. It stores an identification number and transmits that information through radio waves to the appropriate scanner. Typically, the microchip number contains 10 characters, making available 275 billion separate codes. This makes it highly unlikely that the same identifying code will be used more than once. Rest assured that your pet will have a unique microchip code.

Microchips are composed of a silicon chip and tiny antenna encased in biocompatible glass. The microchips come pre-loaded in a syringe, and the needle is inserted just under the skin between the shoulder blades where the microchip is implanted. The entire procedure takes less than 10 seconds and is only as painful as a vaccination injection.
After injection, the tissue surrounding the microchip reacts to this new substance and forms a casing. This helps prevent migration of the microchip. Since the microchip is made of biocompatible material, rejection is uncommon and infection at the site is very rare.

Answer 3

I have 3 cats, the three of them have microchips, and the way it works is they put the microchip which cost me 12 dollars each 5 years ago, then they send your information to whichever microchip company they have a contract with and then you recieve the information in the mail. They all have websites and every time you move you can update your information. If your cats runs away the only way you can recover him is if someone picks him up and takes it to the vet, then they scan the microchip that they put on their back and your information pops up. It is painful for the male cat to have the microchip put in but female cats have thick necks so it is not too painful for them, anyway it is the best thing you can do for your pet, it hurts only when they stick the niddle for it is only for a second, ater that they are fine. Sometimes when i pet my kitties, i can feel the microchip, it is cute!

Answer 4

You might ask your friend if when her cat was microchiped it was also spayed. At the clinic I worked for we usually just inserted it the way your vet did, but we did offer people the option of waiting until their pets were fixed so that they wouldn't feel it under the anesthesia. Most people felt better about microchiping them if they knew they wouldnt feel it. But if it was only coming in for a microchip we just pulled out the needle and gave them the shot quickly. Most of the time (if you do it right) they dont even flinch.

Answer 5

While it is a big needle, it doesn't justify the risks of general anesthesia unless the cat needs to be anesthetized for another procedure (for instance, to be spayed). General anesthesia dramatically increases the costs and the risks to your cat. It hurts for a minute, then it's over. The cat who had anesthesia probably endured a lot more pain from the injection given to anesthetize her than yours did from the needle for the microchip, so don't worry about it. Be sure you register your chip-- if you don't, you put your cat through it for nothing, and if she does get lost, the chip won't help get her home. Good Luck!!

Answer 6

there is no need to use anestesia to microchip a cat. There is also no reason to shave their neck.
I set microchips all the time for our rescue and have done puppys as small as a 6 week old Jack Russell and not had any problems other than the fact the baby Jack cried.
I have set them in horses and cats and dogs and we never have used anesthsia for doing it.
When I was taought to set chips there was nothing said about using it or shaving the area. We we taught by several vets and a vet tech.
I have seen my vet set several chips and he did it the same way I was taught.
I do not think your vet did anything wrong. I would not want to subject any animal to anesthesia unless I was doing surgery. They can get sick from it and even die so unless you realy need it I would not want to see anyone use it.

Answer 7

Each vet handles procedures differently.

We do not need to anesthetize a dog or cat before microchipping. It's dependant on the animals fur thickness whether he will shave or not.

I doubt that your vet would cause your pet any undue hurt.

Answer 8

Both of my cats were microchipped without any anesthetic and they didn't mind at all. The microchip is so tiny that the cats don't really even feel anything!

So you don't have to worry at all about your baby. She's fine : )

Answer 9

Every vet does the procedure differently, the more inexpensive, less invasive way is the way your vet did it. My first cat had it done while under anesthesia and the second didn't, they are both happy, healthy and microchipped, but one cost almost double the other.

Answer 10

The needle that is used is the same size as the ones that body piercers use for tongue piercings....there is NO NEED for anesthetic, especially with the risk involved with putting an animal under.

It's a quick poke and that's it. Your friend's vet probably charged an arm and a leg for the procedure and put the animal under to justify it...