A North Ayrshire charity is emphasizing the importance of microchipping for cat owners after successfully reuniting two wandering felines with their families, one found a surprising 10 miles from home.
North Ayrshire Cats Protection stresses that microchipping can be crucial in reuniting lost pets with their owners, especially in complex missing pet cases. They recently shared on social media the heartwarming reunions of two cats, both swiftly returned home thanks to their microchips.
One of the cats had wandered from Dundonald in South Ayrshire all the way to Stevenston, highlighting the significant distance some lost pets can cover.
“We are hearing more and more about cats reported as possible strays. Some end up needing our care when we can’t trace their previous owners despite our best efforts,” a spokesperson for the charity explained.
The charity employs various methods like photo publicity, paper collars, and leaflet drops to locate owners, which can be time-consuming. However, when a cat is scanned and a microchip is detected, owners are often contacted within minutes through database checks.
Emphasizing the importance of keeping microchip registration details current, the spokesperson added, “If the microchip registration details are out of date, we have to do some detective work, and sometimes we can locate an owner, sometimes not.”
While microchipping is not mandatory for cats in Scotland, the charity encourages owners to consider the procedure for peace of mind. They urge cat owners to prioritize microchipping and updating registration details promptly, especially if they have moved or changed contact information.
“Microchipping and keeping the registration up to date is not yet a legal requirement for cats in Scotland, but it does give great peace of mind for owners. Why wait?” the spokesperson concluded, stressing the preventive role of microchipping in ensuring pet safety and swift reunions in case of separation.
