Cat microchip: what it's for, how it's fitted, cost and limits

The microchip is the most reliable way to identify a cat… in the eyes of a vet. But it works in a particular way and has limits you're better off knowing before relying on it alone.

How it works

The chip is a tiny transponder, the size of a grain of rice, slipped under the skin of the neck by a vet, using a needle. It contains no GPS and no battery: only a unique 15-digit number, read with a special scanner.

Fitting it is quick and doesn't require anaesthesia. Many vets offer to do it during another appointment (a vaccine, spaying or neutering) to avoid extra stress.

How much does it cost in Tunisia?

Vets set their own prices, which vary between practices and cities. It's a one-off cost, for the cat's whole life. Ask your vet for a quote, and consider combining the microchip with spaying/neutering or a vaccine.

What is the microchip for?

• Proving the cat is yours in case of a dispute or theft.
• Travelling: to enter the European Union, a cat must be identified with a microchip implanted before its rabies vaccine, then pass a rabies antibody titre test (since Tunisia is not classed as "favourable" with regard to rabies). Plan several months ahead.
• Being identified if your cat is taken to a vet or a shelter.

Its main limitation

The neighbour who finds your cat on their terrace can't read the chip. They don't even know it exists. For it to be of any use, they'd have to think of taking the cat to a vet with a scanner — which rarely happens with a cat that seems to be "just out for a stroll".

Good habits

• Keep the chip number (the vet's document, the health record) as a photo on your phone.
• Have the chip checked from time to time during a vet visit.
• Add visible identification: a Homy QR tag on a breakaway collar. Anyone can scan it with their phone and alert you immediately.

What about rabies vaccination?

It doesn't identify your cat, but it is mandatory and free in Tunisia during the annual campaigns and at veterinary services centres. Its certificate and the vaccination booklet are valuable documents to prove that your cat is yours and that it's protected.

The big picture: how to identify your cat: microchip, tag, tattoo.