To not want to get my cat microchipped

[Geriatriccatowner]

My cat is 18. She’s an indoor cat and spends most of her days curled up on a bed.

She won’t attempt to go outside.

Why should I pay for this invasive procedure on a cat that doesn’t need it?

If you're confident she won't get out, then there's probably no need.

I think there is a new law that we have to or face a £500 fine

If you're certain beyond doubt she is never going to get out, then don't do it - how might you get fined otherwise?

Because it's the law. It's responsible ownership and you've presumably had many years where you could have done it voluntarily. She must have visited a vet at some point.

Because it's not 100% guaranteed that she couldn't end up outside and lost.

Agree with others. If she won’t be going out, no one will know anyway.

I agree, however she might need vet pain relief as she ages. If youthinkthatyour vet would check for a chip, then on the local FB moggie pages and ask about mobile chipping, someone will know who does it. My vet wouldn't so I wouldn't get her done in your circumstances.

They will when she next needs the vet

It's not an invasive procedure in any serious sense - merely an injection. I'd do it, both to avoid the fine and for security in case she should somehow get lost. My two girls, both solely indoor cats, are microchipped and registered, but the laws in Australia seem to be stricter than in Britain.

My cats are both indoor cats but are chipped incase god forbid they escape.

It will be the law from June 10th

https://deframedia.blog.gov.uk/2023/03/14/coverage-of-new-microchipping-rules-for-cats/

If you're certain beyond doubt she is never going to get out, then don't do it - how might you get fined otherwise

With dogs, the vet would scan for a microchip at routine appointments, to check for compliance, so if OP has her cat vaccinated or she needs to see the vet for other reasons, it's likely to be checked.

Our dog's microchip had migrated from his neck to somewhere in his thigh, so we always had to explain where to find it.

Is this just a law in England then? Certainly isn't the law in NI. Weird legislation bearing in mind it's hard to enforce and I doubt vets will be touting on people especially those that own 18 year old moggies!

Same.

It's hardly invasive. Honestly, I'm amazed in 18 years you've never got it done whilst she's been at the vets for some other reason.

Book an appointment and stop being quite so melodramatic about the whole situation.

So are ours , they were done as kittens

Just England, according to the gov.uk guidance.

I am guessing it would be down to the devolved administrations in other countries of the UK whether they bring it in or not.

Most cats don't even seem to notice when they are being microchipped. Mine are indoor only, they were chipped by the rescue before I brought them home but I still would have had them done myself. What if you had a break in or a fire, and the cat ran away? For the same reason I have my indoor only cats vaccinated every year, plus it's a requirement of every decent cattery if something happens & they need to go to one - and don't say you never go away, you may end up in hospital or something!

There's also as said above the point that it will be illegal not to have them chipped. As I and others have said, it's just like a quick injection & they barely feel it if at all. You should be having check-ups at the vets at least once a year anyway, so it shouldn't even cost much extra to get chipping done at the same time. Typical cost is around £10-20, and if you're that short of money a charity like the PDSA may do it for you.

Once the law comes in next month, I expect most insurers will start having that as a condition of insurance as well, especially if they include payment to help with finding a cat if it's lost.

I wouldn't worry. It's been compulsory for dogs for years and my friend never had her little dog done (not laziness, she made a conscious decision) and the vet has never said anything about it.

What conscious decision could lead to someone choosing not to microchip their dog? It sure sounds like laziness to me. Why wouldn't she want her pet found if he got lost?

Vet?

YANBU to not want it. Your feelings are yours to have

YABU to not do it. The law is the law

Just to say it's not invasive. My foster kittens had theirs done at home, done by the founder of the rescue. It's like an injection and done in seconds.

This iv had multiple cats both indoor and outdoor cats all have been microchiped none of them were bothered at all by it and it's definitely not an invasive procedure 😒
Plus one of my indoor cats managed to get out when I lived in a 4th floor flat he must have fallen from a window
Luckily he was just down there and I saw him if he'd run off I may never have got him back
He's now 11 and I'd not dream of risking it

I have 2 chipped cats age 5 and 8 months.
I know it's the law but but with the age of your cat and the unlikelihood of her going out I probably wouldn't bother.

What conscious decision could lead to someone choosing not to microchip their dog? It sure sounds like laziness to me. Why wouldn't she want her pet found if he got lost?

She read up on it and saw something about a small risk of death. I'm not saying I agree with her but she definitely has strong feelings about it. She's not lazy about her dog at all, she's devoted to her.

My car was chipped but he did go out until he was around 18

He absolutely hated going to the vets and the older he became the more terrifying it was for him

if it will cause her a lot of distress I wouldn’t bother if she never goes out or attempts to at her age she is unlikely to want to wander if she never has

My cat 🐈‍⬛
not car 🚗…