I used to have my previous cats cats always wear collars with bells and tags on them all the time. One of them was a big-time flight risk as she loved the outdoors, even though she was only allowed in the fenced in backyard. But there were times that she got out, either from the yard, or from the front door (when someone visited and left the door open etc). Having the collars with bells were a HUGE help in such cases. In fact I think a couple of times I simply wouldn't have found her without the bell.
I'm also pretty skeptical of the microchips. Even assuming that they worked 100%, it's just such a huge ask to expect someone to see a lost cat, catch the cat, put her in a carrier, drive her to a vet/shelter, get the chip checked, and potentially drive her back. I'm sorry, but that's just not a very realistic scenario imo, except for the hardest core of cat lovers, who also have the time to do that. Very different proposition to see a cat, read the collar, and dial a cell phone. If my cats went outside, they'd definitely all be wearing collars with tags and bells.
Although my cats don't wear collars now, when Serafina and Gaga were kittens, I had them wearing collars with bells. BIG help! Really hard to keep track of the tiny kittens. They'd get into closets, cupboards, under cabinets and in all kinds of strange places that you'd never think to look. Plus just hearing the "tinkle tinkle" was re-assuring. It was when things went 100% silent that I'd start worrying.
_________________ The little monsters 3
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