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?

Eh, why do you think it's invasive?

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

My cats has moved so it's a bit of a hunt for the chip when she's at the vets. They always check for it.

It is not invasive, ( at least not for dogs) but at your cats age & the fact it’s 100% indoor, I understand why you might not want to take her to the vet just for that.

I cannot see any decent vet ever withholding treatment such as pain meds in an animal - they are all about the animal welfare.

Our local rescue shelter often has dogs handed in with no chip, or false details, so despite it being law, it’s not exactly enforced.

It’s so uninvasive that my eldest cat is chipped twice because I forgot I had him done and then when he got neutered the next year I asked the vet to chip him and the vet forgot to check he wasn’t already chipped! 🙈😆

You can't 100% guarantee that the cat will never get out or get lost. It's pretty irresponsible not to chip them, it's not an invasive procedure - it's an injection. Isn't it against the law not to? What if she needs to go to a vet for treatment? Won't they insist on her being chipped?

Mine were done when they were kittens. It’s peace of mind for me. The one left doesn’t really go out now but they can be quite curious when they’re following their noses.

If you live in a 10th floor flat it isn’t necessary, but if your cat could get out then I’d do it.

My little one is 19 now and I worry about cat dementia and getting lost.

Our vet won’t see you without microchip details (maybe they would in an absolute emergency but they won’t for the purpose of regular appointments like dental checks, immunisation appointments etc). It’s also necessary for insurance.

It isn't invasive, it's no different to giving a cat an injection. It's also the law now.

Had cats for 40-odd years, every one was microchipped.

I wouldn't. At 18 she is in her autumn years and I wouldn't be putting an elderly cat through a trip to the vets unless necessary.

I think probably vets might pick it up when you visit. It's not any worse than an injection though, does your cat get vaccines? If not because they are indoor then I guess you could get away with not doing it and if you ever need a vet in an emergency you could just day you rescued the cat from an elderly neighbour or something to explain the lack of chip.

It's not unusual to hear stories of people taking in other people's cats and keeping them - at least with this you can prove your cat is your cat.

'Invasive' 😂it's hardly a major operation!

I would try to avoid it if I were you and if your vet insists do it then.

I wouldn't do it at your cats age. If the vet says anything next time you go, then perhaps consider it but vet has never asked if my pets are chipped.

It's hardly invasive, but if one of mine was 18, indoors-only and un-chipped I don't think I would bother either.

The vet won't do anything about it either way - loads of people don't chip their dogs even though it's been the law for years.

I'm planning to do this. I only heard of the law change very recently.
We have 2 cats that are 18, neither leave the back garden and spend the majority of the time indoors.
I'm not upsetting them with a trip to the vets to be chipped at their old age. If they are there for something else and the vet mentions it, then yeah I'll have it done!
We don't have insurance or use catteries.

We have plenty of elderly cats get brought to the vets as reportedly lost. People leave doors open by accident, the cats wander out and are a bit doddery or potentially senile/poor vision/hearing. The cats are totally bewildered outside and have no street sense and end up at the vets.

It's really sad because you know they have a cosy home somewhere.

It's like a finding a lost and confused granny and not being able to help them 😔

If you genuinely confident they’d never go outside, fine. But your risk if she does.

She may not go out, but what there's been several cases locally of cats getting out of their carriers while going to the vets and being lost miles from home. If they're chipped they're normally reunited with their owners in a couple of days.

We’ve had two very ordinary tabby moggies simply go missing (years ago, and about a year apart), both were microchipped. Healthy neutered young adults, one male, one female, no reason to think the cat seen in the garden at 5pm would never be seen again. Stolen? That tends to be particularly pretty or valuable pure breeds? Hit on the road? Perhaps, but no sign of an injured or dead cat for 2 miles in either direction - and obviously not taken to a vet, as both were chipped. Very rural location so not moved in with neighbours. Whatever happened to them will always be a sad and unexplained mystery, but microchipping certainly didn’t help them.

DEFRA are just on another one of their stupid missions and I doubt a single cat will benefit from another ridiculous law. Do they actually realise how many feral cats there are? Let’s start microchipping pet rabbits, just in case. And babies, why not? Solve all those missing person problems, no?

If she never goes out and she's 18 I wouldn't do so either. I'm not keen on getting mine done, as they have enclosed outdoor space with no access to the street. It seems unnecessary trauma on them and expense.
I guess next time I get a kitten I will do it though, as part of the vets visits I'd do anyway when I first re-home them. I feel the only reason is if they were able to potentially have a road accident then I'd want them to be found/identified. I've never been worried my cat would run away. Maybe I'm naive in that respect?!

My dog has never been scanned at the vets, I’ve never even been asked if he is chipped. We used at least 2 vets over the years.

Mine was scanned as a 12 week old puppy but has never been scanned since and he's now six. Most vets don't care whether your pet is chipped - it's only really an issue if they get lost or hurt while not in your care and they need a way of contacting the owners.

Why would a vet check the chip? The only time they did for mine was when they put the chip in to check she didn’t already have one.

They should check chips periodically , ours does it at vaccination time and they should definitely check if it’s a new patient to check the animal is not stolen .