MinouIn short
- A tag can be read right away: call the number, or your city for a city tag.
- A microchip can't be seen: a vet or a shelter reads it with a scanner.
- A notched ear, usually the left one, means: a street cat neutered and released.
- Keep your details up to date with the microchip registry: otherwise the chip leads to no one.
The tag and the licence
Many cities require a licence for cats, with a tag. It's the fastest way to find an owner: no device needed, anyone can read it. In Montreal, a City tag is reported by calling 311.
Rules change from one city to the next. In Laval, the City requires the tag AND the microchip, because a microchip, being invisible, doesn't on its own keep a cat out of the pound. In Longueuil, the licence is required, but cats don't have to wear the tag. The details are on the city pages.
The microchip
It can't be seen
It's a small chip under the skin that carries a number. The number is read with a device that vets and shelters have.
It points to a registry
The number is recorded in a registry, with the owner's details. If you moved or changed your number without telling the registry, the chip no longer leads to you.
It's required in some cities
In Montreal and Laval, a microchip is required for cats over 6 months. Elsewhere, check with your city.
To find out which registry a chip is recorded in, AAHA (a North American veterinary association) offers a lookup tool. It gives the registry, never the owner's name or address: the registry makes the link.
The cut ear
A notch at the tip of the ear, usually the left one, is the mark of a street cat trapped, neutered and released by a program. Some programs add a small green tattoo on the belly. This cat lives outside: they're not a lost cat. More on street cats.
The microchip in Minou
The owner can add their cat's microchip number to the card. Minou only checks that the number has the right format, and only shows the last four digits. Minou queries no registry, on purpose: a chip number anyone could look up would give anyone an owner's address.
Frequently asked questions
Who can read a cat's microchip?
A vet or a shelter, with a scanner. In Montreal, Proanima reads a found cat's microchip.
Is a microchip enough without a tag?
Not always. A microchip can't be seen: the person who finds your cat has to think of having it read. A tag can be read right away. Laval requires both.
What if I moved?
Update your details with the microchip registry and, if there is one, with your city's licence.
Sources
- City of Montreal, report a lost or found animal, cat permit (in French).
- City of Laval, animal permits and tags (in French).
- City of Longueuil, animal info (in French); Town of Boucherville, pets (in French).
- Proanima, community cat program.
- AAHA, microchip registry lookup tool.
Checked on October 16, 2026.