Microchipping
Your Pets

As of January 1, 2022, it is Hawai'i state law that all pets get microchipped. Microchipping strongly increases the likelihood of a pet being able to be returned to their families, as long as the microchip information is kept up to date.

All of the kittens that we adopt out are microchipped...

To support their ability to stay connected to their adoptive families, even in cases where they may have been scared and run away, or are separated through some other type of situation.

Pet Microchip Basics:

A microchip is about the size of a grain of rice, and transmits an ID number when a microchip scanner is passed over the top of it. It doesn’t have a battery, but is able to transmit information when it’s activated by the scanner. The number can be used to look up contact details for a pet’s owners, as long as they have inputted their information into the chip database that is connected to that particular microchip.

This is why it is so important to actually register a microchip once your pet has one, and to update it any time your contact information changes. Missing or incorrect contact info can drastically affect the likelihood that your pet will be reunited with you.

1. Insert microchip
2. Register your information

Microchipping your cat (which is the law in Hawai’i), and keeping your contact info up to date, more than doubles the chances that your cat will be returned to you if they get lost or separated from you. Sometimes pets are reunited with their families even YEARS later, because someone was able to scan their microchip.

Registration:

What website you go to in order to register will depend on the exact microchip, so be sure to get those details from the rescue you adopt from, or the folks who did the microchipping (whether through a clinic or a vet's office).

While you can register your pet's microchip with multiple databases for lost pet identification, it is very important to, at the minimum, register the chip with the manufacturer's database. This is the first place that people will check when looking for a lost pet's owner information. Some microchip databases also allow you to store medical information, and other details that could be helpful for someone to know if they find your pet and it needs immediate medical attention.

How does the microchip work?

The information that you put in the microchip database is only used to contact you in the event that your pet is found. It is not public information that people can look up for other reasons. It’s up to you what you include, and most of the databases have opt in/opt out.Contrary to what some folks think, a microchip doesn’t transmit GPS or any location information for an animal. So it cannot be tracked in order to find a pet when they are lost. It’s only able to transmit the microchip number, and only when scanned with the right scanner.

Getting Your Pet Microchipped & Animal Safety:
Your cat or dog can get a microchip during any regular vet appointment, but they can also get it done when they undergo spaying or neutering, as they’ll be under anesthesia. The microchip is small enough to be injected using a hypodermic needle that is a little thicker than those used for normal injections. It is usually placed between the shoulder blades.
Microchips are not a replacement for collars and tags:
Cats should always wear breakaway collars, for safety. Keep your contact information on your cat’s tags up to date as well. Just like updating your microchip info, pets are much more likely to make it home if their tags have your up to date information. If someone finds your pet, they can quickly contact you by reading their tags, but their microchips are the backup in case their collar and tags get lost. It is always with them, and fairly tamper-proof. In addition to keeping a record of the chip number, it is very helpful to keep a record of when the microchip was implanted, along with your pet’s other medical records. Microchip databases are accessible 24 hours a day either by phone or online, which means someone can always get the info they need to reunite you with your furry family member.
The Scanning:
If you’re not sure if your cat has a microchip, most vets and some community members have scanners to check for one. You can get the chip’s number, and then make sure that it is registered with your correct information. Microchips also show up on x-rays, so if your pet has recently had one, your vet will be able to tell if there is a microchip present. It’s good to have your vet scan the chip once a year, during an annual checkup, or any required vaccinations. Adverse reactions to microchips are uncommon, but they do happen, which is another reason it’s a good idea to have your vet scan for it each year.

Different Types of Microchips:

Not all microchips have the same frequency, meaning that there is not one universal standard. In order for a chip to be read by a scanner, the scanner needs to be able to emit the frequency that a particular chip is designed for.

There are scanners that are “universal,” meaning they can read all types of microchips. It is always helpful to use a universal scanner when checking for a chip, otherwise it is possible that an existing microchip won’t be read. If you are taking your pet or an animal that you’ve found to be scanned, then it’s a good idea to ask if they are using a universal scanner, especially if a chip isn’t found.
There is a particular microchip frequency that is considered the ISO approved standard. The ISO standard microchip frequency is 134.2 kHz. This chip is a globally approved chip variety, and is required if you are traveling with your pet or moving with your pet to certain countries. Before traveling anywhere with your pet, it’s important to check the requirements of your destination countries & states, to see what they require.
If you learn that you may need an ISO approved chip for the sake of travel or moving, and your pet already has a different microchip, then the existing microchip will be left in place, and an additional one can be added by your vet. Just remember to keep BOTH databases up to date with your correct contact information!