Your vet (or the place where your cat was chipped) will log your details with an approved database at the time of implantation. There are approximately 20 databases in the UK that register the different brands of microchip. The registration details will be passed to the owner, who’s responsible for ensuring the contact information is correct.
The best way to think about a microchip registration is to liken it to the number plate on a vehicle – it’s simply a unique ID number that can be used to identify the registered owner. However, just like with cars, it will be a legal requirement to keep the owner’s details up to date, including when owners move house or if a cat is rehomed.
Indeed, failure to update owner contact details is a major reason why cats who have been microchipped aren’t reunited with their owners. According to the UK’s Chief Veterinary Officer Dr Christine Middlemiss: “Microchipping is by far the most effective and quickest way of identifying lost pets. As we’ve seen with dog microchipping, [cats] who are microchipped are more than twice as likely to be reunited with their owner.”