Preparing for a move takes hours of planning and preparation. One important item on that list should be to provide ID protection for your cat(s) should they accidentally become separated from you.

The whole process of packing up belongings and hoards of strangers traipsing through the house is upsetting to any indoor-only cat that watches from the sidelines or from beneath a bed. Even kitties with outdoor access become worried as happened with my neighbor’s pet last month.

All during the packing-up and selling of furniture one very worried cat came crying to me every day for reassurance. I volunteered to keep an eye on Sugar for several days until the owner had settled into her new home. The day of the reunion was sweet, as Sugar purred loudly and drooled all over her owner when she came to pick her pet up.

Felines are creatures of habit, and to suddenly have their world rearranged puts them on edge. Sometimes the flight instinct kicks in, especially when an open door beckons. This can happen before the actual move or afterwards at the new home when you are distracted with unpacking and moving furniture in.

Going “missing” in their own territory is one thing, but felines finding themselves in unfamiliar surroundings will not know where to find food or shelter. They will also not have knowledge of local dangers or other cats that claim the turf. They live fearfully in the shadows as they attempt to find their way back home.

New cats often show up at our feeding sites, many of them friendly. They arrive hungry and scared and thankfully some have been microchipped and/or have an ID collar. Sometimes it takes weeks before the animals allow the feeder to get close enough to touch them. Most of these cats have been missing for weeks, sometimes months. It is the lucky ones that are reunited with their human families.

Microchipping and ID collars are very affordable and highly recommended to ensure the safety of your cat. Every animal that is picked up by Animal Control is scanned for a microchip, including those found dead in the road. Veterinarians also scan injured strays that are brought in by good Samaritans for treatment.

While collars are good, they do come off due to the quick release clasps built in to prevent a cat from hanging itself. Do yourself and you pet a favor and microchip them as well.