The Mundaring Shire recently introduced laws requiring owners to identify their cats. Although this has partly been brought about by concerns for native fauna, identification of cats through microchip implants can also save a lot of heartache when the family pet goes missing. “Mandy” the chocolate Burmese is a case in point.
She was found recently in Mt Helena, tied up inside a plastic bag. Dr Natalie Bowskill believes that “Mandy” is most unlikely to have been treated this way by her owners.
“She is an affectionate cat and has had one eye surgically removed. Her teeth and gums are in excellent condition and she is not at all shy of people or other animals. She may have been stolen and dumped a long way from home.”
Unless Mandy’s owners are found, she will become a permanent resident at the clinic. However, if she had been implanted with a microchip, Dr Bowskill would have been able to read her identity with a scanner and contact her rightful owners through a national database.
Microchips are 13mm long and 2mm wide and are inserted under the skin behind the ear using a large gauge needle. They are non-irritant and should last for the lifetime of the cat. Each chip carries a unique code which can be read by a scanner. The national database maintains pet ownership information for each microchip.
If your pet does not have a microchip, you can complete the registration form online here and save $30 on the regular fee.
ABC news story about a lost cat.