Age: By 12 weeks of age, or before being sold or given away (whichever happens first). What the registered implanter must do: Enter the microchip and owner details directly into the official NSW Pet Registry (managed by the government). If the registry is offline, they have 48 hours to forward physical forms to the local council. 1

Age: By 3 months of age, or before being sold or given away (whichever happens first). What the registered implanter must do: Collect specific data (including a breeder's "source number" if applicable) Submit it to a licensed commercial animal registry service within 2 days of the procedure. 2

Age: Between 8 and 12 weeks of age, or before being sold or given away. What the registered implanter must do: Submit the identification forms to an approved national microchip registry (such as the Australasian Animal Registry or Central Animal Records ) within 7 days of the procedure. 3

Age: By 4 months of age. Tasmania also requires desexing by the same age. 4 What the registered implanter must do: Submit the identification forms to an approved national microchip registry (such as the Australasian Animal Registry or Central Animal Records ) within a strictly mandated timeframe—usually within 7 to 14 days, depending on the specific state's animal management acts. 5

Age: By 12 weeks of age, or before being sold or given away. What the registered implanter must do: Ensure the information is recorded on an approved database directly following the procedure. 6

Age: By 12 weeks of age, before it is sold, or within 28 days of an owner taking possession. What the registered implanter must do: The microchip needs to be registered on the statewide Dogs and Cats Online (DACO) system within 5 days of the procedure. 7

Age: By 6 months of age. What the registered implanter must do: Within 7 days after the microchip is implanted, give notice to the microchip database company for that cat. 8

Does microchipping hurt my cat?

It is a quick pinch, similar to a vaccination, and most cats barely react. Anaesthetic is not normally required.

Will the microchip track my cat's location?

No. A microchip is not a GPS tracker. It is a passive ID that only works when scanned. If you want real-time location tracking, you will need a separate GPS collar device.

Can a microchip move around inside my cat?

Very occasionally a chip can migrate a small distance from where it was placed, which is why vets scan the whole body if the usual spot does not pick up a signal. It is not harmful.

Do indoor cats really need a microchip?

Yes. Indoor cats slip out more often than you would think, especially through open windows or doors held open by visitors. A chip is your safety net.

I rescued my cat and have no idea if they are chipped. What do I do?

Pop into your local vet and ask for a free scan. If your cat already has a chip, you can update the registration into your name. If not, you can have one implanted on the spot.

Last Updated: 26/05/2026

Microchipping Your Cat: A Vet Guide for Aussie Pet Parents

Is cat microchipping compulsory in your state? This vet-guide covers Australian microchip laws, costs, what to expect during the quick procedure, and how to use national registries to ensure your indoor or outdoor cat stays safe.

Author: Dr Gillian Hill BVSc (Hons)

Reading Time: 7 minutes - short read

If you have just brought home a kitten, or you are thinking about adopting a cat, you have probably already heard the word "microchip" thrown around. But what actually is a microchip, why does the law care, and what do you need to do in your state?

Key points

Microchipping cats is a legal requirement in almost every Australian state and territory, with NSW, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania and the ACT all making it mandatory by a set age (ranging from 12 weeks to 6 months), while the Northern Territory has no territory-wide rule and instead leaves it to individual councils.
A microchip is a tiny implant about the size of a grain of rice that sits under your cat's skin and links to a national pet registry.
Microchipping alone is not enough. You also need to keep your contact details up to date, and in most states, register your cat with your council.

What is a cat microchip, and how does it work?

kitten being held by owner and scanned for microchip

A microchip is a small electronic ID, roughly the size of a grain of rice, that a vet or authorised implanter pops under the skin between your cat's shoulder blades. It uses a quick injection, no anaesthetic needed, and most cats handle it very well.

The chip itself does not have a battery, does not track your cat in real time, and does not work like a GPS. What it does have is a unique number. When a vet, council ranger or shelter scans your cat, that number can be matched to your contact details from the registry the chip is linked to. That is how lost cats find their way home.

A microchip is for life. It does not need recharging, replacing or maintaining. The only thing you need to maintain is the contact information stored against it.

Is microchipping cats mandatory in Australia?

Short answer: yes, in seven of the eight states and territories. The Northern Territory is the one outlier.

The rules are set state-by-state, so the age cut-off and the registry you use will depend on where you live.

Microchip implanters (whether they are veterinarians or qualified, authorised implanters) are legally required to submit the microchip paperwork to a registry following the procedure.

However, animal laws are managed by individual states and territories rather than a single federal system. The exact timeframe and the specific database used depend entirely on where you are.

The Northern Territory is the only place in Australia without a territory-wide microchipping law. Instead, it is up to your individual council. The City of Darwin requires microchipping under its Animal Management By-Laws, but other NT councils may have different rules. If you are in the NT, your safest bet is to ring your local council and ask.

A note on exemptions: Most states allow a vet to issue an exemption in writing if microchipping would seriously affect your cat's health. These are rare.

How is a cat microchipped?

It is a fast, low-fuss procedure done by your vet or a qualified implanter. Your cat is gently restrained, the implanter lifts a small fold of skin between the shoulder blades, and the chip is injected through a needle that is a touch bigger than a vaccine needle.

Anaesthetic is not normally needed, though many breeders and rescues may choose to chip while a kitten is already under for desexing.

How much does it cost to microchip a cat in Australia?

Expect to pay roughly $60 to $90 at most vet clinics. Some councils, rescues and RSPCA branches run low-cost microchipping days, and most kittens adopted from a shelter or registered breeder will already come chipped (you just need to transfer the registration into your name).

Learn more about the Cost of Owning a Cat.

How to find your cat's microchip registry

Discovering which database holds a cat's microchip details is a straightforward process.

Simply visit the Pet Address website and enter the unique 15-digit microchip number. This search engine automatically checks the main national microchip databases to pinpoint exactly where the pet's information is housed.

Please note: Pet Address only searches approved national databases. If a pet's details do not appear, it usually means the chip is only registered on a state-based system.

What to do if a pet is not found on the national database

If a search on Pet Address yields no results, it usually means your cat is registered on a state based system in New South Wales or South Australia, which do not automatically link with national registers

To ensure complete peace of mind, especially if travelling or moving interstate, it is highly recommended to register the microchip on a national database, such as the Australasian Animal Registry (AAR) or Central Animal Records (CAR). This ensures the pet can be identified anywhere in Australia.

Microchip vs council registration

While the implanter is responsible for logging the microchip event (linking the 15-digit chip number to the owner's name and contact details with a state or national registry), pet owners usually still have a secondary job to do.

In most states, once the implanter logs the chip, the pet owner must still register their cat with their local council.

Learn the rules about Council Registration for Cats in Australia.

Keep your details up to date

A microchip is only as useful as the contact details attached to it. If you move house, change your phone number, or rehome your cat, you need to update the registry. It is usually free, takes about five minutes online, and is the single most important thing you can do to make sure your cat finds its way back to you if it ever goes missing.

A collar with an ID tag is a great backup, because it gives anyone who finds your cat an instant way to call you without needing to find a scanner.

Learn how to successfully Move House with a Cat.

Cat Microchipping FAQs

Microchipping is one of the simplest, cheapest and most important things you can do for your cat. It is legally required in almost every part of Australia, it is a one-off procedure that lasts for life, and it dramatically increases the chance of a happy reunion if your cat ever wanders off. The rules vary state by state, so check what applies where you live, and please, keep those contact details current.

References

NSW Government Companion Animals Regulation 2018 - https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/whole/html/inforce/current/sl-2018-0441#sec.21, accessed May 2026
Agriculture Victoria, https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/livestock-and-animals/animal-welfare-victoria/domestic-animals-act/registration-legislation-and-permits/microchipping-of-dogs-cats-and-horses/microchipping-for-authorised-implanters, accessed May 2026
Animal Management (Cats and Dogs) Act 2008, https://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-2008-074#sec.25, accessed May 2026
Cat Management Act (2009) -https://www.legislation.tas.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-2009-089 - accessed May 2026
Cat Management Regulations 2022 -https://www.legislation.tas.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/sr-2022-119 - accessed May 2026
Domestic Animals Regulation 2001 -https://legislation.act.gov.au/sl/2001-17/ - accessed May 2026
Dog and Cat Board SA -https://dogandcatboard.com.au/dogs-and-cats-online - accessed May 2026
Cat Act 2011 - https://www.legislation.wa.gov.au/legislation/prod/filestore.nsf/FileURL/mrdoc_48898.pdf/$FILE/Cat%20Act%202011%20-%20%5B00-l0-00%5D.pdf?OpenElement - accessed May 2026

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History

Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space and we update our articles when new information becomes available.

Tue 26 May 2026

Written by Dr Gillian Hill BVSc (Hons)

About the Author

Dr Gillian Hill BVSc (Hons)

Veterinarian

Dr. Gillian graduated from the University of Sydney in 2005 with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science. She worked in a number of small animal clinics, before joining the Pet Circle Vet team in 2020. Dr. Gillian has special interests in ultrasonography, surgery and behaviour. Her favourite part of being a vet is being an advocate for the animals. She loves helping owners to make the best, evidence-based decisions for their pets, and seeing the beautiful bond that people have with their fur-babies.