I considered for a time, having my cats microchipped. In the end I decided against it because they are very loyal and loving cats who have never wandered off in five years of ownership, and the area that I live in is not bad for pet theft.

But I think there are many merits to it. Still, it worries me that in time we will find out that (like vaccinations in cats) that something in the chip causes cancer in them, or some other disease.

Do you have your pet chipped? What were the deciding factors?

I don't think I'd ever get an animal chipped. It seems sort of dangerous, and also very expensive. My dog runs off sometimes, but we live quite a ways off the main road so it's pretty safe. The cats come and go as they please, but they know where they get fed so it keeps them around.

I don't really have any reason to do it.

I also hear that it is becoming increasingly required by law for pet ownership. I fear that somewhat because I hate being forced to do things by the government. Interference in small issues isn't what they are there for.

I can soon see it being a legal requirement, I am not sure that it is of benefit, it’s a good idea, but it only takes a few seconds to locate and cut out a microchip on a pet and if the pet has been stolen and this gives the extra cruelty factor for the pet if they need to get the microchip out.

There are benefits both ways for and against micro chipping pets.

Lets face it, for expensive pets, like Siamese cats it might make sense. But the only thing my moggies might get stolen for.....well lets just use our imagination.

i am all for micro chipping and we have had two of our horses implanted with a microchip. It is surprising how many horses are stolen, not as many as cats and dogs but it causes the same distress all round so its worth doing.

luckily we have never had one of our horses stolen and they do not go missing like cats or dogs do.

I really can understand the need for horses to be implanted, because of the cost. Few can afford a horse and so they become nice targets. I don't mean to play down the upset surrounding the loss of a pet such as a cat or a dog, but I do think the risk is lower.

I can see all your points of view on this topic and have to agree that there are plus and negative points about microchipping.

In the case of straight forward lost cats it is a blessing to be able to locate the owner quickly and easily so as to reunite owner and pet. This of course being the main benefit behind microchipping.

There may well be a move this year to enforce more stringent measures on microchipping as part of the new animal health and welfare bill that is due to come into affect from the start of April (if memory serves me correctly). This bill has a lot of benefits for the animals we call pets to help protect them. It may mean a few extra changes to us but the major point being the bill is there to protect our pets and that (for me) is the more important aspect.

I think we also have to remember as well that there are a large number of cats and dogs that go missing every week, let alone a month. The lucky cases are those where they have just wandered off and are found and reunited quickly.

What we also have to remember though that the cruelty in stealing our pets for their coats isn't just happening in Europe and the far east but happens here on our doorstep too. There are many gangs that operate all over the country who steal cats and dogs for drug money and much much worse with their coats sent abroad.

Cats and dogs taken aren't just pedigree animals but any animal with a distinct coat... i.e. brown tabbys, white, semi or longhairs. many of these animals never venture far and are friendly with strangers so are simply plucked from their garden by the thief.

We now advise everyone to have their cat as a house cat only and if they must let it out only through the day and not at night as this is when most of them go missing as there isn't anyone about to witness the act.

An interesting topic that I doubt everyone will ever agree on. It is (for now) down to us as owners to decide whether or not the benefits outweigh the negative aspects of microchipping.

From your point of view, working in the missing pet business-what would you see as the downsides to this procedure? As I said in my original post, I fear that ultimately the materials used may prove to cause problems, just like the aluminium in rabies jabs.

The problem is that tests on new procedures such as this generally have only a short follow up period. They are not followed throughout the entire life of the test animals to see whether, over the lifetime of the animal, there is an increase in the risk of negative events. And so after just a short trial showing that there are no adverse effects, the procedure is put to use across the board.

Suddenly, 15 years down the line we may find that there is immune system hyper sensitisation to the device, or other effects caused by the body trying to remove it.

as you say... with no long term studies of this procedure there is a lack of evidence to support any theories that implanting the chip causes harm.

As with the NHS for humans... if the study hasn't yet been produced or researched veterinarians are not aware of any problems and as such nothing will be done until there is evidence to support this theory.

Your only other option is to place a click collar on your cat. However if it goes missing and gets the collar stuck on something and unhooks it... should someone find your cat how are they to know how to contact you??

Personally I believe this is another of those instances where technology has introduced a viable option to help trace stray pets. Without it... it does make tracing owners very difficult.

Can we really come up with a better solution for now? It's definately a controversial issue and whilst endorsed by vets and large charity bodies I don't think that anything will change regarding the procedure in the short term.