Microchipping for Dogs and Cats in Nicosia
A microchip is a permanent ID for your pet. If your pet ever gets lost, it helps bring them back to you.
What is a microchip?
A microchip is a very small chip, about the size of a grain of rice. It goes under the skin and stays there for your pet's whole life. It has a unique number that is read with a special scanner. When the number is registered with your details, whoever finds your pet can find you.
A microchip is not a GPS tracker and does not show where your pet is. It is a permanent ID that cannot fall off, the way a collar can.
Why it matters
- Lost pets get home. Vets and shelters scan the animals they find and contact the owner.
- Travel. For the EU pet passport, the microchip must go in before the rabies vaccine.
- Safety when pets panic. During fireworks or storms many pets get scared and run off. With a microchip, the chances of finding them are much higher.
European veterinary organisations are calling for every dog and cat in Europe to be microchipped and registered.
How it works at our clinic
- Check. First we scan your pet to see if it already has a microchip.
- Placing the chip. The chip goes under the skin with a special needle, usually on the neck. It is quick, like a vaccine injection, and usually needs no anaesthetic.
- Confirm. We scan again to make sure it reads correctly.
- Registration. We explain how your details are registered, so the number is linked to you.
We use international standard (ISO) microchips, which can be read by scanners all over Europe.
Keep your details up to date
We also suggest checking the microchip with our scanner once a year, for example at the yearly check-up, and always before travel.
Which pets need a microchip?
All dogs and all cats, even cats that live indoors. An open window or door is all it takes for a cat to get out and get lost. Puppies and kittens can be microchipped young, often at their first vaccination visits.
Found a lost pet?
If you find a dog or cat that looks lost, bring it to a vet or a shelter to be scanned for a microchip. If it has one, the owner can be found through the database. Do not assume an animal is a stray because it has no collar. Many microchipped pets lose or slip out of their collars.
Frequently asked questions
Does microchipping hurt?
It is like a vaccine injection. Most pets only feel a quick prick and usually no anaesthetic is needed.
Does a microchip show where my pet is?
No. It is not a GPS tracker. It is a permanent ID read with a scanner, so whoever finds your pet can find you.
Does an indoor cat need a microchip?
Yes. Cats get out easily through open windows or doors, and a microchip helps them come home.
What if I change my phone number or address?
Update the database where the microchip is registered. If you are not sure how, ask us.
Related articles
Sources and further reading
The facts in this article are based on guidance from international and European veterinary organisations.
Book a microchip appointment
It takes a few minutes and can be done at the same visit as a vaccination. Give us a call.
📞 22 015979