by (Livin' La Vida) Mocha
"Me-ow. Merrph"
English Translation:
I am primarily an indoor kitty. My owner only lets me out
when is she is able to watch me, but I never leave the
backyard. However some cats do. So, all pets should wear
identification in case they get lost. Currently there are
four primary forms of proper ID: Microchips, ID Tags, Ear
Tags, and Tattoos. For an extra precaution, it is best to
combine any of these methods. I have 2 of the 4.
I wear an ID tag around my neck attached to my Safety
Collar. It gives my name, owner’s phone number, and
my Avid microchip number. My Safety Collar is great. It
will “un-clip” if I get caught on something.
Which is why I also have a microchip.
The chip is only about the size of a piece of long grain
rice; it was injected between my shoulder blades before
my owner adopted me from a local animal shelter. When I
went to the vet for an exam shortly after, we found that
their microchip scanner did not read Avid numbers. So we
had the number placed on my tag as well. I feel really
safe now.
Some other cats I know have ear tags. An increasing
number of pet owners are using this form of ID, however
it isn’t appropriate for kittens younger than 4
months old. The tag is just like a pierced earring --
it’s removable for cleaning and it rotates during
grooming. The surgical quality, stainless steel tag is
inserted at the base of the ear in a relatively painless
procedure. And as a safety feature it is highly
reflective.
As a permanent option, tattooing is the best form of ID.
At age 6 months or older, a cat can get a tattoo inside
their ear (where hair will not obscure the markings). The
code is kept at a registry, just like the microchip. When
someone finds a cat with either a tattoo or microchip,
they can call a toll-free registry number and obtain the
owner’s information. The registration fee to owners
is minimal (between $20 - $40 for a lifetime), and worth
every penny.
If your pet does get lost, visit http://www.arkinc.org/lostpet.htm for several very
handy tips on ways to find them.
HOT OFF THE PRESS
congratulates the winner of our February drawing:
MadisonF21
She won a fabulous cat care package
filled with goodies valued at $10.
WTG Madison!
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