Kittens may have a microchip implanted between the age of five and eight weeks old. The size and age of the cat is not what determines the appropriate time to insert the microchip. It is the health and stability of your kitten that is paramount. Although the insertion of the microchip is noninvasive and does not require anesthesia, kittens younger than five weeks old are still fragile and most likely still nursing. It's more common to wait until the kitten is eight weeks old (or about two pounds) to insert the microchip.

No, pet microchips are not tracking devices. They are radio-frequency identification (RFID) implants that provide permanent ID for your pet. Because they use RFID technology, microchips do not require a power source like a GPS. When a microchip scanner is passed over the pet, the microchip gets enough power from the scanner to transmit the microchip's ID number. Since there's no battery and no moving parts, there's nothing to keep charged, wear out, or replace. The microchip will last your pet's lifetime.

Yes. All pets should wear collar tags imprinted with their name and the phone number of their owner. However, only a microchip provides permanent ID that cannot fall off, be removed, or become impossible to read.

A microchip will last the lifetime of your pet because it is composed of materials that will not degenerate over time. Since microchips require no power source and have no moving parts, there's nothing that can wear out and need to be replaced. If you like the comfort of a safety check, we can always confirm it's working by scanning your cat's microchip during your next checkup.