Once a kitten comes into your home you may consider attaching some form of identification label on your new pet. However, there are a couple of problems with this. Firstly the standard cat collars needed to attach a disc or capsule will almost certainly be too large for a kitten to wear. Additionally kittens grow at a very fast rate and any collar could quickly become too tight around their necks. Another point is that kittens should not really be allowed to wander away from the home during the early part of their lives.
As the kitten grows so will its curiosity and it is then they will want to investigate the great world beyond your front door. This is the time to consider fitting your kitten with a means of identification. There is large range of options when it comes to choosing something to attach to your cats collar. Probably the most common is the engraved metal tag. These are available from pet shops and engravers and unless your cat loses the tag, (which does sometimes happen) or you move will last the cat's lifetime. Another popular option is a small metal or plastic cylinder in which you can insert and secure a piece of paper containing the important information. If you use one of the methods relying on paper written information you will have to ensure that the container will protect it from water. You should also use permanent ink that is unlikely to fade over time.
The next question is what information to put on the identification label. All that is needed is either yours or the cats name and a telephone number. If you are writing the information make sure that it is easy to read, possibly using block capitals is best especially if your writing is not always easy to decipher.
An alternative to a collar and tag is to have your kitten or cat implanted with an ID chip. This is a simply procedure which your vet can do for you. Quite often owners will have their cats micro chipped at the same time they are being neutered, ideally between 6 to 8 months. The details of all micro chipped pets are retained on a computer and should a chipped animal be found they can be quickly reunited with their owners. The major advantage of the micro chip is that once the chip is implanted it is for life and there is no fear of the cat losing its ID information.
. In summary there is no need for a kitten to be tagged while it is small and confined to the house and supervised in your garden. However, once it becomes a little more curious and brave you should seriously consider either giving your kitten a collar and tag or having them micro chipped.
