I have a few pictures to make you smile. We have a catnip kicker toy. The young’uns love it.
It’s a straight, fairly stiff catnip-filled stick. The cats grab with the front paws and kick with the back paws. We have two but they always fight over the same one. What starts out simple and looks like sharing, ends up like this.
It has resulted in a brawl. If you look in the back, you can see Morgan viewing the debacle with no intention of getting involved. To complete the photos, Sasha wanted a new photo that shows off her cuteness factor.
This past week I looked deeper into pet chips. Three of my cats are microchipped. It’s a small rice-sized transponder that is injected under the skin. When a pet is lost, it can be scanned for a serial number which (hopefully) the owner registered with a database. It doesn’t hurt or bother the cats but I wondered if it worked. Most rescues automatically microchip before putting animals up for adoption.
When I adopted the cats, they were already chipped. The chip company charges an annual fee to “register” your pet. I have four and it would be over $100 annually for all. I searched and found a free registration site and used that (freepetchipregistry.com). Then I wondered if it was legit. There are different chip companies and different databases. Would a rescue group find my information by scanning my cat?
It’s all murky. There are many databases and until recently there wasn’t a “universal” scanner. The scanners use radio frequency (chip companies use different frequencies) to extract the registration number from the chip.
Things have improved a little bit. The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) has a search engine that can identify the chip number across many databases and refer you to the proper one. I checked and all three of my cats are listed on two different databases.
My cats are indoor only and have no interest in the outdoors. If a door is left open by accident, no one goes out. There is always a chance that one will freak out and escape but barring a disaster like a fire or home invasion, it’s unlikely.
The chip offers peace of mind for neurotic pet owners like myself.
Author’s note: These are my observations and I’m not at all an expert. I would recommend that anyone contemplating a microchip do research and ask your vet.
That is good information about how the chips work! My boys are also microchipped, but I have balked at paying the annual fee. If they ever went outdoors at all I wouldn’t grudge it, but they are strictly indoors also.
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You can register on the free site (url in post) and they will show up with your address. It shouldn’t happen here either since no one goes outside but it’s insurance. I balked at a yearly fee too, especially for 4 cats.
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That’s a stunning picture of Sasha – those eyes are mesmerizing. I don’t have any pets but the crime site I follow for our City often features posts of people who have found dogs and had them checked and their owners are discovered right away. Then there are the pleas by those with lost pets saying “he/she is microchipped” … in almost every instance, those pets are returned in short order.
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Microchipping is definitely the way to go is you own a pet. If I had a dog I’d go farther and also put a GPS tracker on the collar.
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I didn’t know you could do a GPS tracker – I would do that too if I had a dog. My yard is not good for a dog as you have to go out the side door and then open the gate – if you have one that takes off you’d be outta luck. If you love them, you don’t want to see them get lost. Here in Michigan our (stupid) governor passed a law about six years ago allowing large fireworks. This is because people crossed into Ohio to buy the big fireworks to shoot off 4th of July weekend (only) … he not only made large fireworks legal, but made them available all year around, even at the grocery store. We can shoot off large fireworks 12 days a year legally, but they start at Memorial Day and are still shooting them off in August … every night. That’s my neighborhood. (I wish the non-stop barking Doberman would jump the fence but no such luck.) The police don’t do a thing, the veterans have signs on their lawns stating they suffer from PTSD and people in the City Facebook Crime Forum say they have had large dogs jump the fence at night if the fireworks go off. The dogs are in their own yard, with their owners there if fireworks are going off, and the dogs still bolt as they are scared. Half the people in the Crime Forum have either had a dog bolt or the dogs are on tranquilizers for the noise as they are scared.
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Fireworks or any loud noise is bad for most dogs.
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A fellow blogger who friended me on Facebook lost his cat Rudy Saturday. I wanted to share this with you (Keith’s Facebook post is set to “public”) because there was a scan information that you could scan with your phone to read details about Rudy. I feel badly for him – he has had three family deaths the last 18 months, the last was a long-time girlfriend whom he lived with that died in her sleep. I hope he finds Rudy whom his daughter bought for Christmas for him and named for Rudolph.
https://www.facebook.com/keith.a.watson.56?__tn__=lC-R&eid=ARCg52Mp3LEjNLymL-l1sgg-dQGHo_s2_54Lz68i-okw1GDSuPxNJq3LH3mqGV0fuisVLcCio9d-4-VD&hc_ref=ARTNhkcCp2_5SUEV192bEngWK77paED83yWzn3DvEvX97_lvcHFa_QFsp4psvZDF-p8&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARC4lBR_InSFXNtBPmQ5e97E3BuHhdvK_Eraoq0aZ8wC24e9ntbYow63wApF2vfzel1xvJUu0F7O9jRFe2qEyGQvtUqRO8DtpKWLHT8bja2YZLKNdnzrOn2tnC-50Fyx3NjDT51Ybe-OZRXbKhtUFjBiSRyDEPTbhCr54AghPMyN43J6y8kX6QRCbVIaxiOsrSCCm6_1bw6ITvW2F-DasNNDMyKzewZ9Y2UqS5Gw4tyloBjm51Cm9ORrgJZiCTw7Ry3fmhKndi4OjZriDzzpJqEh6P3d5dOT1OLngYwELzG2JCi0EQTy0LtJcudLWKGSK1yHxen3yCQP1nuGS8I
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So sad.
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Update – Keith left the garage side door open a crack and he heard Rudy in there mewing. Scooped him up and he said he’s no worse for the wear, just hungry and making it know. Good ending.
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Thanks! I love good endings!
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Me too!
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There’s a lot more decision-making options going into the chipping process than I knew about, Kate. I didn’t realize there were so many different ways to go! I do think that it’s like all forms of insurance. We sleep better for having it and hope we just never need to use any of it! Good information here!
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Usually the rescue picks the manufacturer but understanding how it all works is good to know.
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WWC [World Wrestling Cats]? I think Morgan has the right idea. Both my guys are chipped (and have tags on their collars, too) but I had no idea the chipping biz was so complicated (i.e. expensive). It shouldn’t be so hard/costly. So much for benevolence. Our vet recommends it (many rescues do as well) and know it has reunited lost pets with their owners. I’m always touched by the happy endings. Freak escapes happen so reunification of beloved pet with family seems like a good thing in the overall scheme of life. Happy weekend.
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They are featherweights in wrestling (or is that only boxing?). Morgan, no interest. Her wrestling days are behind her.
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Reblogged this on Vijayagiri views.
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I sadly do not know anything about microchipping cats. Heck, I didn’t even know that there was such a thing as a catnip kicker toy. See what we can learn from blogging?
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My cats are appalled! They will be sending you “All you always wanted to know about cats but were afraid to ask!” It’s really a pamphlet! 😉
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Even those legit chip company sometimes make you feel like you have to register or update every year for a fee but in reality they are usually a lifetime service and that you don’t need to do that unless you change the cats name or your address or something like that. So make sure you get the real scoop on it before you waste your money. I found that out from the shelter that I volunteer at.
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That’s good advice. When I did a check on my cats’ registration, there are many databases. I thought I would add them to a few others but each time I tried, I was asked to pay a fee. I am comfortable that they will be found since they are on two and showed up just fine. Since my cats are indoor only, it’s unlikely I’ll need it but many years ago a friend’s house burned down to the ground. Her dog got out but they couldn’t find the cat. No one was home so they were hoping the cat left the house on it’s own. The local shelter gave them great advice and within a day the cat came back looking for the home. A neighbor alerted them and they were able pick her up.
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Oh, that is SO scary. I know there are always risks even when they are indoors only. Makes me nervous! BUT my cats are all chipped except maybe Pear, and I can’t put her through that now that she’s 19.
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That’s how I feel about Mollie.
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We have an older cat that we have not bothered to get chipped as she rarely strays outside our garden. We have got a kitten package for Heidi which includes chipping, vaccinations, flea treatment , worming and neutering. I am feeling poor already. I changed my profile picture so you can see her. She does look a bit like Mollie.
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A cutie for sure!
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It’s law here to have all dogs chipped but not cats I think…. yet. I think it’s a good idea.
We paid to have our address updated each time but later decided to pay the ‘for life’ fee which is however many times with no extra charge. Sigh, we are now in our forever home so I’ve only called upon it twice.. It cost £25 to have Maggie chipped at the vets, and that included registration onto the database. All vets we’ve signed on with have checked she’s chipped and the number coincides with us and our current address. Here they have remarked that the number is so old a sequence, they don’t recognise it (but the system does thank goodness!)
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It’s not required here but all the rescues do it. They won’t adopt an animal out without chipping first. The pricing from the 2 manufacturers were annual fees with no lifetime option.
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Amazing how things differ.
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Interesting about the chips. Teddy was chipped at the rescue place . Jack isn’t, he was a stray found by a friend who couldn’t keep him because her dog said no cats allowed.
As for catnip kickers…Jack has no interest in nip and Teddy just like to roll around in it then passes out.
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Gracie has catnip orgies that are amazing. Just her and the catnip. Happy cat!
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All the realm members are chipped as they were rescues. Actually we did search and even double chipped Molly as the one the rescue used wasn’t as widely used. There are so many options – some to cross check. People need to remember to update their contact info periodically (and make sure the company is still working). We just worry.
GPS probably will be added to Molly once we relocate/travel and she doesn’t know the area. The National Parks service has far too many stories of dogs getting lost and desperate owners.
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My Facebook is full of lost dogs. Seems that dogs go lost more often than cats. GPS sounds great and be sure to post on it when you try it.
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I’m not aware of an annual fee for a microchip. I paid for our first three stray cats to be chipped. Never paid for them again. The two I adopted came chipped and I didn’t pay for the chips. I did log in and transfer the chip info to my info instead of the rescue’s info. I’m pretty sure that once they’re chipped, your info is saved for life. There may be other services offered that cost a fee? Perhaps the ability to search for chips, but I’ve never heard of an annual fee and certainly don’t pay one. Btw, I just started using microchip pet feeders that recognize each cat’s unique chip. I’ll be blogging about it later!
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Both of my last pets required a fee to register them as the rescue chipped them but did not register them. I understand that they could track back to a rescue by the number but the owner has to submit info. Morgan was chipped and I transferred but kept getting notices that said I needed to pay an annual fee to maintain the service. I have no idea what that meant. That was when I went searching for a free database to register on. I’m intrigued about the feeders. I suspect (no, I KNOW) that Sasha cleans up everyone’s plate.
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I want a chip with GPS, too. Even though my cats mostly just hang out on the patio.
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The GPS is a bulkier device that they wear on a collar. An enterprising cat may figure out how to get it off. They may be smaller now but they resembled those gadgets for invisible fencing.
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Boss Cat has left multiple collars in neighborhood yards. Sigh.
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I gave up on collars decades ago. I friend’s cat got caught on a tree and it wasn’t break-away. Fortunately someone kind came along. I’m not sure my cats would tolerate them now. Maybe Sasha because she’s younger.
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Garnet, my schnauzer -mix was let out of our yard by an unknown person one day while my husband I were at work. I got a Couple of texts from the chip company and a Call from the veterinarian to whom she was taken by Good Samaritans. Within hours I had left my downtown office, collected Garnet, and taken her home. Without the chip, we may not have been reunited, and certainly not as quickly. I’m a believer!
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Awww! I love happy endings. I rescued a dog once but it had a collar with the owner’s phone number so it was reunited within hours. My cats thought I had a bad smell when I came in the house! 🙂
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I’ll bet they did! I often get confronted with the “you’ve been unfaithful“ look when I’ve petted someone else’s dog or cat!
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Exactly!
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It is amazing how cats are attracted to those kickers. I know it comes natural to kittens to do those “bunny kicks”… nothing cuter than tiny kitten legs and feeties kicking the heck out of a kicker. The nip is a bonus. Enjoy your weekend Sassy Cats and hoomins!
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Nothing is more painful than being on the receiving end of those bunny kicks!
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LOL! Don’t I know!!!!! They can do some damage!
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They sure know how to have fun!
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Yes we have to think like animals more. Less stress and more fun.
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So true!
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❤
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Those registered chips only “chip in” to help locate owners IF a pet is found wandering around and “captured” and scanned . . .
To find a missing pet, wouldn’t a GPS system be faster? Or are they cost prohibitive?
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GPS is faster and if you have a valuable easily-frightened dog, well worth it. You need cell reception and the distance is limited. At least those were the conditions when I last investigated it (which may be all different now). Also they weren’t small. Kind of clunky for a small cat. They are at least twice as costly as a chip but at least the owner can track the animal. Many owners don’t do anything themselves. That’s why rescues started chipping.
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Thanks, Kate. I like the idea of pets being reunited with their people. 😀
I expect it’s only a matter of time until humans are routinely chipped so that our heads can be scanned before boarding aircraft or entering a bank or our place of business. I think some companies already require it (or maybe just offer it) to employees. It’s all very big brother-ish to me
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I want to get it for my husband. He keeps getting lost at Home Depot.
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Theo isn’t a cat who cares much for toys – except those kick toys. He goes bonkers over those things. The first one I ever got him, he literally kicked the stuffing out of it. I laughed until I cried. It was so funny to watch. He was like a cat possessed!
Theo, being a rescue, was chipped before I got him. Being an outdoor cat, it does give me some peace of mind. I know it works because the first time I took him to a vet, one of the first things they did was check for a chip and whether it was registered to me. They actually commented on it (as in ‘glad to see he has a chip’).
I don’t pay anything to have Theo registered and was surprised to hear that some places do. Would I pay a fee to have him registered? Yeah, I think I would although admittedly $100 for 4 cats would give me pause.
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I like that your vet checked. When I adopted Morgan 5 years ago, she was chipped. Gracie and Sasha were chipped too. Only Mollie adopted in 2005 wasn’t. At this point she’s an old cat who rarely sits in the screened porch (preferring the bed in her bedroom) so I won’t bother. Now it’s standard procedure here with the rescues and the first thing my vet asks about at the first visit. I liked that I was able to track the number on-line. It didn’t give my info publicly but there was a process to let the owner know if I had found the cat. The kick toy is definitely a winner here (at least with the two young ones). That and catnip pillows I make myself which they all love. The feather on a stick works for the two younger ones too but that’s about it.
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Gotta love a cat fight!!!
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We call it a tussle. No blood, no guts! Lots of licks and love nips.
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I didn’t know any of this. I assumed once the animal was chipped it was registered in one large national registry. And there’s an annual fee? My goodness, this is much more complicated than it need be.
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Yes. Perhaps the chipping process doesn’t produce enough funds to keep the registry up to date.
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The shelter where we adopted Teddy and his predecessor Sammy chips their cats and dogs before allowing them to be adopted. The shelter registered Teddy while we were there doing the paperwork to take him home. Even though it would be some sort of disaster situation that would cause Ted to be out on his own, at least there’s some peace of mind that he could be found by someone who would take him to a vet to have him checked for a chip. It’s sort of dependent on the whole system “working” like clockwork I suppose. Better safe than sorry??
Hugs, Pam
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Locally our shelters do that too and I assumed the same thing. Since I didn’t pay the “fee” to the manufacturer, I wondered if I was covered. Initially there was no universal scanner so someone could take your chipped pet to a shelter but the scanner wouldn’t read the chip and you wouldn’t be notified. Most of that has been rectified now. How dumb is it that companies didn’t work together at the start? There are many databases and my cats are only in two but the search engine should find them.
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wea have one database now what works for all… but the mighty fine EU has different systems what cause trouble when you cross the borders… and a vet tech with no sense of directions who wrote left shoulder but the chips is at the right side >LOL
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Oh, that’s the other right shoulder! If I had a cat that went out (which I really don’t want again) I would investigate the GPS systems so I could track it.Too many sleepless nights with old cat Jake before he passed.
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