Microchipping is a quick, one-time procedure where a tiny, biocompatible chip, about the size of a grain of rice, is implanted just under your cat’s skin between the shoulder blades. Each chip carries a unique identification number that a scanner can read and, once registered with your details, provides a permanent link between you and your cat. Unlike collars that can break or slip off, a microchip offers a lifelong, tamper-proof form of identification recognised by veterinarians, municipalities, and international travel authorities.

In Dubai and across the UAE, microchipping is mandatory for all cats to comply with municipal regulations. Kittens can be microchipped once they’re old enough for their first vaccines, while adult, imported, or newly adopted cats should be microchipped or have their details updated as soon as possible. This legal requirement not only proves ownership but also makes it far easier to reunite you with your pet if they’re ever lost or stolen and streamlines travel and export procedures by providing official, verifiable identification.