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Computerized collar keeps kitty's information

Posted: Tuesday, November 20, 2007 6:42 PM

By Anna Chan

What it is: PetSafe Micro I.D. Rescue Collar, $39.99 to $44.99 exclusively at PETCO

Carissa Ray / msnbc.com

What it claims to do: Stores your pet’s vital information on a USB flash memory card attached to a collar for instant access to contact, medical and care information.

Our experience: As an overprotective (some would say “crazy”) cat mama, I’m always on the alert for ways  to keep my cats safe. PetSafe’s Micro I.D. Rescue Collar seemed to fit the bill. If my cat ever got lost or was injured, whoever found him could plug in the memory card into a computer and find out not only how to return him to me, but who his vet is and about his medical conditions.

The USB collar comes in one size for cats and a small and large size for dogs.

The cat collar is supposed to fit necks up to 12”, but I was barely able to fit it snugly on my cat Michael, who is not particularly large. And with the collar fastened, the USB card was completely hidden by Mike’s medium-length fur. With long-haired pets, it seems unlikely anyone who found a lost cat would even know the USB card was there.

The memory card was easy to remove and plug into my PC (it also works with Macs). But, the program may pose problems for folks who aren’t computer savvy. After inserting the card into my USB port, the application didn’t automatically start on three of the four computers I tried. I had to browse to find the memory card and then open the .exe file.

Once the program launched, it was  easy to use. It took about 15 minutes for me to add photos and information. I particularly liked that the owner is invited to fill in information on  the pet’s medical needs and history, personality, and likes and dislikes. It would’ve been nice to have a few more fields, such as breed and weight. (After a few weeks on the run, pets might look different from their photos).

I also tested the company’s claim that the product is water resistant by blasting the collar with a spray of water for about a minute. Water did pool behind the card, but when I  towel dried it  and tried it in a computer the next morning, it still worked. But I wouldn’t recommend letting dogs swim with the card attached to the collar.

Bottom line:  If you’ve got an extra $40 to spend on peace of mind, go for it. Kari M. Johnson, a former ER veterinarian in the Seattle area, says that the more signs of ownership a stray shows when entering a clinic, the higher quality of care it’ll get. But she warns that although collars are accessible and affordable, don’t put all of your faith in them. “Many pets come into the ER with no ID, and at least half of the time, they left home with ID on,” she says. In the end, a microchip may be the best ticket home.

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Comments

That is interesting but every now and then, my cat loses her collar.  I have a magnetic kitty door and that means she loses her key.  That annoys me and replacements for those are only around $5 each. If she lost a $40 collar, I would be extremely miffed.  It's an excellent idea but if I were to do it, I'd go with the microchip.

Christina, Oklahoma (Sent Friday, November 23, 2007 2:41 PM)

Be exceptionally careful with collars on cats -- some cats are able to partially remove the collar but still get it stuck in their mouth.  One of my wife's past cats when she was still living at home had permanent neurological damage from having a collar get stuck for a couple days like this. (They were on vacation, the cat was told to the sitter to be a recluse, so it wasn't surprising when the cat was hard to find for a couple days)

I'd recommend just getting the implanted microchip and be done with it.  Be sure the brand chip you get implanted at the vet is in wide use at humane societies and vet clinics in the area -- some nationwide clinic chains are using a cheaper brand of chips, while not informing of the lack of readers in all local facilities.  I think its gotten worked out in some areas, but you'd want to be sure before getting a chip the humane society can't easily read.

Scott Dier (Sent Saturday, November 24, 2007 12:32 AM)

I'm not really comfortable putting a device carried by a stray cat onto my hard drive.  That's just asking for a virus to be loaded to your computer.  

Plus, I've already had to replace my cat's collar twice this year when she got it hung up on a tree or something.  This is one gadget I will skip.

Laura, Denver, CO (Sent Saturday, November 24, 2007 5:17 PM)

The BEST way to keep kitties safe and prevent wandering into harm's way is to keep them confined to house or yard. We have 4 felines in the family. 3 are content to remain within the fenced back garden. I say content because they could thumb their noses at the fence if they chose. The fourth, who clears the fence like an Olympic jumper, has limited access to the out-of-doors e.g.I must be home, cetain times of day are no-no etc. There are far too many dangers to cats in this world to think an e-device is safety.

J Vlcek Wisconsin (Sent Sunday, November 25, 2007 11:20 AM)

Make sure it is a break-away collar. Many animals, especially cats, are strangled by thier collars.

Jodi, Detroit, Michigan (Sent Monday, November 26, 2007 3:22 AM)

I work at a Petco and we just clearanced these. I don't think we sold even one and they looked like a waste of money to me, especially for cats as they need break-away collars anyway. Stick with the microchip.

ES, GF, ND (Sent Friday, December 07, 2007 12:53 PM)

There's an implanted microchip by Home Again -- a very reputable site -- that the vet slips under the skin between the shoulders of cats and dogs.  When in place, it feels kind of like a grain of rice under the skin. Shelters and vet offices have a wand that will pick up the info from the microchip so that the owner can be notified.   You go on the computer and enter the number assigned to the chip and enter the dog's info, including (if you want) a photo of the animal.   It costs about $40 for the insertion and about $12/year for the service.  No worries about the dangers of a collar.

marcie boroughs, Yuma, AZ (Sent Friday, December 07, 2007 2:28 PM)

Not sure if this is a good idea, also, I don't like the idea of embedded chips for identification.  I do like the fact that it is NOT in the body of the kitty.  Hmmm...there are ways to keep good control of your cats without the use of electronic ids, also I would recommend the reflective kitty collars (lightweight)

Phio, LA, CA (Sent Friday, December 07, 2007 3:19 PM)

It does not even look like it's a breakaway collar - so for safety reasons I would not get it - what good is all the I.D. if your cat chokes it self getting caught up on something - make sure any collar you buy is a safety breakaway collar

Roger Blank, New York, New York (Sent Friday, December 07, 2007 4:33 PM)

I just ordered something similar for my parents' dog, as they're always fearing she'll run out the door one of these days. Unlike the chips, the finder doesn't have to take the animal to the vet -- only to find out the vet doesn't read that kind of chip. I do agree that I wouldn't put one of these on a cat, though.

MikeInIndy (Sent Friday, December 07, 2007 8:53 PM)

hmmmmmmmmmm, what are you guys missing? Whenever we become comfortable with these devices, you know your own government is going to put them on you also. Why dont you just keep your cats in the house?

jesse (Sent Thursday, December 13, 2007 3:32 AM)

Having been a victim of Hurricane Katrina and losing my dog and my brother having to leave his dog at a animal shelter because the hotel would not allow it. All this electronic stuff that has to be hooked up to the computer or scanned, sucks. In a time of emergency all this stuff does not work. We could not get cell phone reception for 2 months after the hurricane and then it was another 6 months before it was back to normal. It did not make a difference what company you had.

Desi,Redlands,CA (Sent Sunday, January 20, 2008 12:27 PM)

Does anyone know if there is any type of collar or
harness for a cat who is put outside on a tie-on in
good weather that she can't escape from? She is a real
Houdini but has no front claws and is housebound most of the year.

Joan Kozich (Sent Monday, March 10, 2008 8:40 PM)

I just had my dog "microchipped";  and the Vet said that in the past chips were hard to read if you (the Vet) did not have a matching scanner.  But now apparentlly there is a univeral scanner for the microchips.  I will chip the cat, but NEVER put a collar on him.  I have seen a collar get stuck in his mouth when he was trying to get it off and it really stressed him out. Fortunately, I was there when it happened.  I like the chip much better than the idea of the collar for cats.

Debbie, Slidell, Louisiana (Sent Friday, June 20, 2008 4:57 PM)

Im sorry but if you find a stray animal most of us keep them. You hang up posters and maybe take them to a vet but most vets dont have that scanner thing yet so for now do both. and if your dog or cat eats the collar well then train them not to.  

Shae, Pittsburgh,pa (Sent Sunday, June 22, 2008 10:52 AM)



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