M -- Microchip

M is for Microchip. A microchip is a small computer chip that is injected, usually behind the neck, and serves as a permanent identification for domestic animals. When a lost cat is found, vets and shelters can scan for a microchip. If a chip is found, the chip registry has contact information for the last registered owner, with up phone numbers and text message numbers. There is also a place for veterinarian contact information, so if I get lost and someone finds me, and they can't contact my favorite human, they can contact my vet, so maybe my vet can contact my human. My human can add a description of me on that site.

My human was wondering about whether or not to get a chip for me. I don't usually go outside. Then, the tornados hit in Oklahoma, and a lot of inside cats became outside cats, and some of them did not have an inside to go back to. When I lived outside, I knew where I was out there; if I were to suddenly become an outside cat due to a weather disaster, I might not know where home is, or worse, I might try to find my way back to the farm (about 300 miles from here). If I lost my collar, they might not be able to tell I was a house cat.

In order to make things a little easier in case someone finds me, some of the information is on my collar tag. My tag only has room for four lines of information. The first line has my name; the second has my collar tag number. The third has the 800 number for the company that registered my chip. The fourth is my human's cell phone number. So even if someone finds me with my collar and they can't get to a chip reader, there is a chance I could still find my way back to my human.