Important Changes to the Microchipping Regulations for Cats

20 Nov 2017

From the beginning of 2018, the Wellington City Council is looking to introduce policy requiring all domestic cats over the age of 12 weeks to be microchipped and registered. If your cat’s details have changed, please call the clinic on 04 385 7773 so that your cat's file can be updated with their microchip details.

Bring your cat in before December 15th and we will microchip and register your cat for $25.00

If your cat is not microchipped and is visiting the clinic for another reason during this time, including a health check, or surgical procedure, we will add a microchip and registration in for $20.00. All microchipping at the Tasman Street Vet Centre is performed by a qualified Vet Nurse; and they will check your pet's weight, teeth, skin and nails at the same time. Registration is a crucial part of the microchip procedure. Unlike other microchipping campaigns, the registration fee is included.

Why is microchipping your pet so important?

It helps to locate a lost pet.

• Following the Christchurch earthquakes, over 80% of microchipped cats were quickly reunited with their owners after the quake, compared with only 15% of non-microchipped cats.

• In addition to animal shelters, vets can also check lost pets for the presence of a microchip. The sad truth about any lost cat ending up in a shelter is that, if shelter employees can't identify it, there is a chance someone's beloved pet could be put down. If you microchip your pet, there is a greater chance of successfully reuniting you with your pet. In order to check for the presence of a microchip, staff members use hand held scanners. This simple and relatively inexpensive device could save your cat's life.

• You may have read about Getti, a Wellington cat who was recently reunited with her loving family after being missing for 9 years. This couldn’t have happened without a microchip. The SPCA was able to identify Getti by scanning for a microchip.

• Cats are “Houdini like” at slipping out of collars. It could be intentional, if your kitty doesn't like the way a collar feels, or accidental, if its collar gets caught on something and slips off while your cat is exploring the outdoors. If the collar is not lost but your cat gets a leg caught in the collar, it can cause a lot of damage to delicate structures in your cat’s legs. But if the collar is lost, a microchip is a good backup ID. Although someone who finds your cat might first look for a collar, if it's taken to a vet or a shelter, your cat will likely be scanned for a microchip. To best protect your outdoor cat, you should use both a microchip and a collar for identification.

• Even if your cat stays indoors, it's still a good idea to have it microchipped. Indoor cats often get out of the house by mistake, and many of them don't wear collars. If your cat doesn't have a lot of experience with the outdoors, it's unlikely that it will be able to navigate through unfamiliar territory. As a result, many strays in shelters may be indoor cats that got out and couldn't find their way home.

• Once a microchip is implanted, as long as it is working, it will never need to be replaced!

• Imagine your beloved tabby cat gets lost, and you go to your local animal shelter to see if it's been found. Luckily, you find your pet; however, another distraught pet owner who's lost a cat claims that the animal belongs to him. His cat is also a tabby and looks remarkably like your pet. How can you prove ownership? Microchipping can prove pet ownership if your cat is lost or stolen. The shelter that finds your cat can scan its microchip and validate your claim of ownership, allowing your furry friend to return to its rightful home.

• If you move and your cat gets lost in its new neighbourhood, microchipping is the best way to make sure it will be returned to you. It's also important to update your contact information with the microchip database if you move or get a new phone number. Registration is quick and easy and we can complete it online for you.

• Microchips are a compulsory requirement for any pet travelling overseas.

If you are currently a member of our Best for Pet program, a FREE microchip is included in your membership. If you are not a currently a Best for Pet member, please give our clinic a call on 04 385 7773 or visit bestforpet.co.nz for more information.