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Updated 25 March 2003, 16.48 

Cats in Britain could soon be allowed to have organ transplants.
But it's not cheap! Do you think animals are as important as humans, or should the owners' money be put to another use?
Are vets just prolonging an animal's suffering by keeping them alive through painful operations?
I think pets should be allowed organ transplants, however I think the price to carry out such treatment is far too expensive. How can the elderly splash out on a £8000 operation!! That's a VERY expensive cat! Tim, 15, Manchester
We think that animals have just as much right to live as humans and if an organ transplant can save an animals life, they have as much right to the operation as humans. We also think that if it is the owner's money they can do what they want with it. Vicky, Trixy & Fleur, 13, Nottingham
I don't think that pets should have transplants as it is an extremely stressful process for humans who are aware of what is happening to them. For an animal who doesn't understand it must be terrifying. Also there are health risks for the donor animal. For example if an animal had a kidney removed it might need dialysis for the rest of it's life which would make the animal even more stressed. I own two cats and although I wouldn't want one of them to die but I wouldn't want the other to live a horrible life as well because they don't have all of their organs. Felicity, 15, Nottingham
I think that if humans can have a transplant to save their life animals should be able to, save their life. Marcia, 10, Burnley
I think animals have just as much right to have transplants as us humans. Especially if it can save a life!  Sophie, 11, Darlington
I don't see why animals shouldn't be able to have transplants. After all, humans do. Animals have the same right as humans to live so why not? Katie, 14, Godmanchester
Animals have a right to live. Why can't they have transplants like us? Lauren, 12, Invercargill
It is a good Idea, because I really would like my adorable cat to live if he had a disease or heart problem and I wouldn't mind paying thousands of pounds for his safety! Callum, 11, Maidenhead
I think pets should have transplants because if humans can have them then pets should be allowed them to so they can live a few years more. Rachelle, 12, Leeds
It is a very bad idea to put your pet at risk just to make it live longer. It is better just to let nature take it's course. Frances, 13, Teynham
I think it is OK as long as the owners don't dump the doner cats on the streets after the operation. Laurel, 14, Solihull
It's awful how pets are abused and it would be even more awful if they died. I have a cat and if he died it would be the end of the world for me and my baby brother. Rachel, 10, Reading
I think it is a great idea, especially if the owners of the pet have to care for the donor as well. Tom, 15, Isle of Wight
I think animals should be able to have transplants as long as they are not from other stray animals, maybe they can have animal organ downers. Danielle, 12, Bournemouth
I think that it's a good idea. But that you shouldn't have to look after the donar cat because it costs a lot for the operation and it costs a lot to look after a cat let alone two! Elizabeth, 12, Suffolk
I can see why people would like it because many people adore their cats. However, I agree that £8000 is a lot of money, that could do a lot of good to a lot of people. Carys, 11, Mosley
£8000 is a lot of money and I think it could be put to better use than to prolong an animal's life for just a few years. Hannah, 13, Leeds
Even if the cat's really old, I think they should go ahead and do it, because the cat could go on to living really old and it could be in the Guinness Book Of World Records!!! Sophie, 10, Gosport
I think that if humans can have them, cats can. People say it's kinder to let them die and not go through an operation, so therefore is it OK to put a human through that? A cat can't say what it wants but don't you think they still have the strong will to stay alive like us? And animals are at the level of humans, YOU are an animal. Caroline, 14
I think animals should have the right to have transplants, they have just as much right to live as humans!!! Becci, 11, Stalybridge
I know this will sound terrible but I think that it isn't really right for animals to get transplants, I mean they're nice and I love pets but that's bringing them up to human level, I mean after all no matter how sweet they are, they're animals. Kelsey, 12, Texas, USA
£8,000 is a lot of money and if they're old and ill you should have them put to sleep and get a new cat from a rescue centre! Hannah, 12, Gloucester
If humans are able to have translants, I don't see why it should be any different for animals. They have just as much right to life as we do! Harriet, 16, Romford
It's not natural, when it's time for animal to die then let it die in peace and not have the trauma of an operation. Kerry, 13, Rainham
This may seem a bit harsh
but I think it's kinder to put the animal to sleep than extending it's life through painful operations. The money could go towards new medical equipment. Joanna, 13, Basingstoke
I think that organ transplants for animals is great, this now means that people's pets can live with them for longer, which I think will make many old people happy because, they find it sometimes very hard to cope if a pet of their's dies. Lucy, 12, Yeovil
It's an awful thing to say, but I think the owners should give the money to charity and get a new kitten. Carly, 14, Southampton
Unfortunately this topic is now closed but there are Comments pages on other subjects on the main Chat index.
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