Alternative to microchipping?!

[Bekki]

Thank goodness I just went through and organized all my cabinets


"Those who wander aren't always lost"

 

[NikkiA]

D, Jarvis and Mickey can all open closed doors with lever handles easily. D can open door knobs with effort and motivation (like chicken). Cabinets are opened in our house at will, as are drawers. We replaced our fridge over the summer because it was being raided every night. The new one has french doors, and a bottom freezer, which makes it harder for them to open, but not impossible.
We are in the process of installing child locks.

 

[Rafiki]

My baby gets microchipped on Saturday. I have put this off far too long as I rather freaked out when I saw the size of the needle. I looked into other alternatives but as my furkids only wear a harness when they come out on a leash and my greatest fear is door-darting, the GPS -type alternative won't work.

 

[Bekki]

Maybe the combination of the two would be almost ironclad if the cat doesn't have as big of a problem with a collar. ninja cats I better be super careful!


"Those who wander aren't always lost"

 

[Becki]

Nyah opens door. Kovu hasn't had too because Nyah does! I bet he could though. She opens cabinets too. We already had child locks on the cleaning stuff as I have a 2.5 year old. She turns on water faucets, too, with her sidekick sitting right by her! Wonder Kitty and Monster Boy!

Edited to add they are both microchipped as are my chihuahuas.

 

[John Campbell]

I have heard of the importance of microchipping your pets. And I agree it is important to have a backup plan if they were to get out of the house. but I've come across a lot of information warning of sarcomas cancerous tumors etc as a result. I don't want to risk my cats health for the security of having a microchip that could do more damage than good. Also I had seen they could migrate? Some places don't even check for chips. Ahh. So I have been doing research on a viable alternative. What do you think? the first I came across was an Id tag. There are a few on the market even with a GPS option. http://m.ebay.com/itm/FurCode-Pet-I...PS-Tracking-Alternative-Dog-Cat-/181011132914

My concern is some types of phones have issues opening the app to read it. And you can only locate based on if the persons phone whom is scanning it has locator options active. So if they don't want you to know or want to keep your cat then you're out of luck. But still a pretty cool concept right? And safer than a microchip?
The other option really has me thinking. it is a solar powered collar tag. no bigger than your average tag. also links up to an online profile if found. But you can use as a GPS. No batteries to worry about. No super clunky collar. And it's only 100$! No monthly subscriptions either. It is in the final stages of licensure and is to be released in may.... Finally! it notifies you via text message or email if your pet steps outside a certain range from your home. and doesn't monitor constantly unless outside of range. Compared to GPS trackers that run and drain battery life at all times. This seems like such an innovative option. I just had to share! And I wanted some feedback too of course.http://haytagstore.com/


"Those who wander aren't always lost"

The big problem is that it goes on the collar, on cats you need a breakaway collar... This makes a great tool to recover the collar after you cat gets home... If you cat doesn't get home, no other options unless you just get lucky... 2ndly, only works with an IPHONE.

 

[John Campbell]

The big problem is that it goes on the collar, on cats you need a breakaway collar... This makes a great tool to recover the collar after you cat gets home... If you cat doesn't get home, no other options unless you just get lucky... 2ndly, only works with an IPHONE.

I stand corrected... This is not the item I thought it was. It is a tag with a bar code.. Therefore someone has to find your pet and scan their tag with their phone to get their info.. If they are lost, hung up, or what ever.. No joy.. How many Savannahs are going to walk up to a stranger. However, the price is right at $7.99, but not an alternative for Micro Chipping, in my opinion.

 

[John Campbell]

Certain phones can't open the apps properly either. Which is a lol scary too. this was the closest I could get to what I wanted. plus it's also very cost efficient. I also discovered you can buy solar powered cell phone chargers for like 20$ what? Technology amazes me


"Those who wander aren't always lost"

This particular one only uses a scanner to scan the tag... This is not the transponder type.. I was fooled as well. Anyone with a Bar Code scanner can scan the tag and get the info via the web. On the other hand, you will keep the web updated with all your pets information.

 

[John Campbell]

My baby gets microchipped on Saturday. I have put this off far too long as I rather freaked out when I saw the size of the needle. I looked into other alternatives but as my furkids only wear a harness when they come out on a leash and my greatest fear is door-darting, the GPS -type alternative won't work.

Elsa is going to have it done when she gets Spayed as it won't hurt so much.

 

[Patti]

You will always find articles like that and risks for everything you do...what you choose to do is up to you...if I listened to all the risks for everything I do and take, I would be a pretty boring person

Hah - if we listened to all the risks for everything do we would not eat, we would not drink, we would not bathe, we would not sleep, and we would not breathe!!!!