Have a qualified, locally permitted implanter microchip your cat, then make sure the chip number is registered with your current contact details. The implant and the database record are separate steps: a readable chip cannot help reunite you with your cat if its registry record points to an old phone number or address.
Rules depend on location. The legal requirements below are for England; a Victoria, Australia example illustrates why deadlines and registration procedures should not be treated as universal. Elsewhere, check your local government guidance and accepted microchip databases.
How do I microchip my cat?
- Choose a locally permitted implanter. In England, the rules allow implantation by a veterinary surgeon; a veterinary nurse under a veterinary surgeon’s direction; a veterinary student under that direction; or a person who meets specified cat-implantation training requirements. These are England-specific requirements, not a worldwide standard. The Microchipping of Cats and Dogs (England) Regulations 2023 set out the legal routes, and APHA and DEFRA guidance on implantation explains who may implant and how suspected problems are handled. Do not try to implant a chip yourself.
- Ask for the chip number and database details. After implantation, request the microchip number in writing and ask which database will hold the registration, how to access the record, and how to correct or transfer it later. Do not assume registration is completed automatically as part of implantation.
- Ask the implanter to scan the chip. Have them confirm that it can be read and that the number matches the paperwork. Scanning after implantation is included in Australian training competency criteria; England guidance also recognizes migration and chip failure as concerns that may need reporting. This is a sensible confirmation, not a substitute for following your local rules.
- Complete or check the registration. Make sure the record identifies the current keeper and has accurate contact details. If your cat came from a breeder, rescue, or previous owner, use the database’s process to put the record in the current keeper’s name.
The chip identifies the animal; the database entry provides a way to contact its keeper. A chip number attached to stale details may frustrate reunification, so keep the registry record accessible alongside your cat’s veterinary and adoption paperwork.
What does England require?
In England, cats must be microchipped before they are 20 weeks old, registered with up-to-date contact details on an approved pet microchipping database, and kept registered as required. The rules took effect on 10 June 2024. See DEFRA’s owner guidance and its 10 June 2024 announcement for the England requirements. Use the current approved-database information and local guidance when arranging registration; do not apply England’s age limit or implanter rules elsewhere.
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- 【Support Multipe Microchip Formats】Universal microchip scanner supports EMID / ISO11784 / ISO11785 / FDX-B（15 digit microchips）. Please note, the microchip reader CAN NOT read Avid chips, and the 9-digit ID can not be recognized. Only the 15-digit international standard protocol can be recognized. Please check the format of the microchip before purchasing.
- 【Easy To Operate & Fast Scan】Our pet microchip scanner is easy to operate, one button to read. Our microchip scanner adopt advanced RFID technology, responsive and fast scanning, it can better improve the efficiency of work. Please note, if no label is scanned, the device will automatically turn off after 180 seconds, or you can press and hold the button for 3 seconds to turn off the device.
- 【 Large Data Storage】Our pet microchip scanner can save 128 animal chips. It can be transferred to a computer or mobile phone via a USB cable connection. Our pet chip scanner also features a data-erase function, refer to the user manual for instructions.
- 【Rechargeable Battery】Our pet chip scanner supports USB charging, eliminating the need for frequent battery replacements, it can last for more than one year after being fully charged.
- 【Easy To Carry】Our scanners are lightweight and compact, making them easy to carry and ideal for both indoor and outdoor use. The package includes one scanner, a USB cable, and a user manual.
For context, DEFRA’s 2024 announcement described more than 9 million pet cats in England and gave an approximate £25 cost for microchipping and registration at publication. That is a historical government figure, not a current quote. Ask your chosen provider and database about today’s charges.
How do I change my cat’s microchip details?
- Find the database company holding your cat’s registration. Use the details supplied by the implanter, vet, rescue, breeder, or previous keeper if available.
- Contact that database company using its current account or customer-service process. England owner guidance directs keepers to contact the database company for updates.
- Update every relevant field, not just the postal address: check the keeper’s name, address, phone number, and email address, as well as any other fields the registry requires.
- Confirm that the changes have saved and keep the registry’s confirmation or reference with your cat’s records.
Procedures, fees, and response times vary by registry; the England owner guidance does not establish a universal fee or turnaround time. Contact the database directly rather than assuming a vet or microchip implanter has changed the record for you.
Rank #2
- [Support Multiple Protocols] - Support ISO11784(85)/FDX-B/EMID 10/15 digit microchips.Microchips in other formats cannot be read. Please confirm whether your microchip is compatible before purchasing.(Does not read AVID microchip).
- [Improved Recognition Performance] - Faster recognition speed and larger recognition range than older scanners. Upgraded the sensitivity of the scanner. It can better improve the efficiency of work.
- [Battery Performance Improvement] - Use high-capacity built-in lithium battery. With more battery capacity and faster charging speed. Greatly improved recognition range and sensitivity. Improved work efficiency.
- [Built-in Hardware Has Veen Fully Upgraded] - It uses the latest technology scanning chip compared to older scanners. Now the energy consumption is greatly reduced and the performance is greatly improved.
- [Data storage] - Storage capacity is equal to 128 sets of data.USB upload to computer.
How do I find out which database has my cat’s record?
Start with the veterinary practice, rescue, breeder, or implanter that arranged the chip. Ask them to scan your cat and provide the number and the database name. If you have paperwork or an adoption record, check there too. Then contact the registry holding the record to confirm the keeper details or follow its transfer process.
There is no universal lookup procedure established by the sources cited here. A national or local lookup service may be available in some places, but do not assume every country or chip can be searched through one portal. If the first organization cannot identify the registry, ask what local lookup route applies where you live.
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Rank #3
- [Important Notes Must Read] - Note that if you purchase this product without confirming the format of your pet's microchip, it may not be recognized. So please confirm whether this product is compatible with your pet's microchip. This product only supports FDX-B/EMID microchips. It cannot recognize any other format of microchips. The number of FDX-B microchips is 15 digits. The number of EMID microchips is 10 digits.
- [Improved Recognition Performance] - Faster recognition speed and larger recognition range than older scanners. Upgraded the sensitivity of the scanner. It can better improve the efficiency of work.
- [Data storage] - Larger storage capacity upgrade.Storage capacity is equal to 1000 sets of data.USB upload to computer.
- [Built-in Hardware Has Veen Fully Upgraded] - It uses the latest technology scanning chip compared to older scanners. Now the energy consumption is greatly reduced and the performance is greatly improved.
- [Fast Response] - If you find that the product cannot be used after purchasing it, we will assist you in resolving the problem quickly.
What if the chip number is missing, unreadable, or the record belongs to someone else?
- You do not know the number: ask a vet or the professional who arranged the chip to scan your cat and write down the number.
- The number cannot be read: ask the vet or implanter what should happen next under local guidance. England’s implantation guidance includes suspected chip failure and migration among issues to report; follow the applicable process rather than relying on an old number alone.
- The record lists a previous keeper: contact the registry and follow its ownership-transfer process. Requirements differ by database, so confirm what proof or consent it needs.
- You recently moved or changed contact information: update the database directly and confirm the new details have saved.
How does registration differ outside England?
Local rules can differ in eligible implanters, required information, registry arrangements, ages, and deadlines. In Victoria, Australia, Agriculture Victoria describes required identifying information for the owner and implanter and says authorised implanters must provide information to a licensed registry within two days of implantation. That is a Victorian requirement under its local framework, not a general deadline. Check Agriculture Victoria’s prescribed identifying information guidance and your own jurisdiction’s current rules.
Wherever you live, check that the implanter is permitted locally, the registry is accepted for your jurisdiction, and you know how to access, correct, and transfer the record. Ask about current charges directly; the historical England estimates in government policy materials are not guaranteed prices.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- ❤ Supports Multiple Protocols – Compatible with ISO 11784/11785, FDX-B microchips for seamless reading with one-button operation. Does NOT support FDX-A or AVID chips. The 9-digit ID CANNOT be recognized. Only the 15-digit international standard protocol can be recognized.
- ❤ Efficient Data Management – Built-in storage holds up to 128 tags, eliminating redundant scanning and improving efficiency. The USB transfer feature allows seamless data upload to computers or mobile devices for backup, analysis, and sharing, making it ideal for pet owners, farms, and research institutions.
- ❤ Portable & Durable Design – Lightweight and easy to carry, suitable for both indoor and outdoor use. The robust casing provides strong impact resistance, ensuring stable performance in farms, field research, and rescue operations, even in harsh conditions.
- ❤ Built-in Rechargeable Battery – Eliminates the need for frequent battery replacements, with USB charging for convenience. Includes an auto-shutdown function after 180 seconds of inactivity or manual shutdown with a 3-second press.
- ❤ Support turn on/off the pet reader prompt sound. The pet reader is equipped with a speaker, when you scan successfully, the pet reader will "di" to indicate that the scan is successful. If your pet is afraid of the sound of the card reader, please check the instructions in the package and follow the instructions to turn off the sound.
Rank #4
- Stores lost pets chip numbers
- Alerts the user that a pet is missing
- Rechargeable by plugging into a pc
- Reads most microchips in pets, dogs, cats
What to keep with your cat’s records
- The microchip number and, if provided, paperwork confirming it was scanned.
- The name of the database holding the registration and a way to access or contact it.
- Confirmation that the record names the current keeper and has working phone, email, and address details.
- Any confirmation or reference for a later detail change or ownership transfer.
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