What Should You Put on Your Pet's ID Tag?
Your phone number matters most. Here is exactly what to include on a pet ID tag, and what to leave off for safety.
By Tailswatch Team · 9 October 2026 · 1 min read
Quick answer: Put your phone number first. It's the one thing a finder needs. Add a backup number, a note if your pet needs medication, and your area or city. Leave off your full home address.
The essentials
- Your mobile number: clear and easy to read.
- A second number: family or a friend, in case you can't pick up.
- "Needs medication": if your pet has a condition, this tells the finder to act fast.
- Your area or city: helps the finder know they're close.
Should you put your pet's name on it?
It's your choice. A name helps a finder calm your pet down. Some owners leave it off so strangers can't call a pet away. Either is fine.
What to leave off
- Your full home address: your number is enough.
- Long sentences: small engraved tags get hard to read.
The problem with engraved tags
Change your number, and an engraved tag is out of date, and most people forget to replace it. A QR tag solves this: you update your details on your phone, and the next scan shows the new number.
A QR profile also has room for what an engraving can't: a photo, health notes and medicines.
Get a Tailswatch QR tag · Compare QR tags, GPS and microchips
FAQs
What is the most important thing on a pet tag? Your phone number. Without it, a finder has no way to reach you.
Should indoor cats wear an ID tag? Yes. Indoor cats that slip out are often the most frightened and the hardest to identify.
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