Getting 2nd kitty - what shots to get?

[lizzielou742]

What do I need to make sure both of my cats have to keep them healthy and safe?

What is the difference between FIP and Feline Leukemia? Do cats in multi-cat households need to be vaccinated for this?

Thanks!

[Craftlady]

FIP (http://web.vet.cornell.edu/public/fhc/fip.html)


Feline Leukemia (http://web.vet.cornell.edu/public/fhc/felv.html)

Every cat needs to be vaccinated for these.

[Cataholic]

Single, double, triple cat households doesn't make the vaccination schedules any different. Regular vet care is a must.

[lizzielou742]

I think my vet is a crackpot. He told me I only needed to get Tito the FeLV, FIV & FIP if I decided to let Tito outside or if I got a 2nd cat.

Time to change vets!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Craftlady]

Your vet isn't a crack pot. Depending on certain situations etc. it may not be necessary to have them vacinnated for these every year after the first round of shots. In our case (we now have younger vet) this option was presented to us but now it may or not be an option since we have had FelV with one of our cats.

[lizzielou742]

But he never had the first round, the vet didn't give them to him, that is what I mean. I brought my kitten in at 11 weeks to this vet. He was a stray, picked up by a local animal shelter. At the shelter he had the first two FVRCP shots, was dewormed and given Frontline for fleas, and had a FeLV & FIV test (both negative). So I took him to the vet when I got him and said, "Give him everything he needs" and took the records from the animal shelter with me and showed him. All the vet did was give him a rabies shot and his 3rd FVRCP shot. So he's never been vaccinated at all for FeLV, FIP or FIV and now he's over six months old. I trusted this vet to give him the shots he needed. Am I right here?

[Craftlady]

All my cats came to us at an older age (not kittens). I cant comment with knowledge about feline shots being done as a kitten. I do know they were given to my animals at the time of their first visit but they weren't kittens at the time.
My advise is to call you vets office and ask why it wasn't given at that first appt. and are they waiting until your kitty is older?


Here's a link to a site that describes shot schedules. Hope this helps.

shot schedule (http://universityanimalhospital.com/felinevaccinations.htm)

[lizzielou742]

Thanks, Craftlady! I took Tito to a feline specialist and he got his final set of shots. Both vets I have been to now recommend not vaccinating my cats for FeLV since they don't go outside. I don't know what I think about this. I can't afford a third opinion - these vets are expensivo!!!

[Craftlady]

As long as first round was given and your kittys are going to be inorder only, I would follow advise of your vet. You've gotten 2 separate opinons from vets and both concur with one another. So much has changed in vet medicine it's amazing. Personally, we just changed from a vet who we adored (he is 70+) to a more younger (30 yr old) vet in 2 man practice. Skinny had allot of tummy problems and this younger vet figured it out. :)

Good Luck :)

[lizzielou742]

What does that mean, first round? Tito had like 4 FVRCP shots & a rabies shot and that's it. Is that first round?
Thanks!
I DO NOT understand this stuff...but I'm trying! :p

[Craftlady]

First round, initial shots all the same wording. Sorry for the confussion.

[lizzielou742]

Aha, I see. Thanks! I am just overprotective :-)

[ScoobyDoo-Doo]

Cats need shots once a year for chlamydia and rabies. Usually given at the same time. The feline Luekemia shots are also I believe yearly or every 2 years. Not sure. However, if your cats are NOT exposed to other cats then skipping the luekemia shots are okay. They are quite expensive. I think they were about $35 per shot.
The FIV shots and such may be important if you are planning or are pregnant. Pregnant women should NOT clean out litter boxes. Some diseases are transmittable to humans. Getting these shots are important.
I don't think your vet was a crackpot. Some shots are not given until kittens are atleast 6 weeks to 6 months old. It really depends. They may have already been given the shots at the shelter and he already knew that.
Ps. If your going to get your cat fixed I would wait until after it's first heat. You can do it earlier but my cat had problems and I wish I had waited. Her "boobs" are low and it makes her look fat. Cats who get fixed after their first heat also are maturer. Good luck!

[smokey the elder]

FIV and FLV are NOT transferrable to humans!! The disease humans can get from litter is called toxoplasmosis, and while pregnant women are at some risk, using good hygiene while cleaning the litter box will prevent one from getting it, pregnant or not.

[PayItForward]

Originally posted by ScoobyDoo-Doo
Ps. If your going to get your cat fixed I would wait until after it's first heat. You can do it earlier but my cat had problems and I wish I had waited. Her "boobs" are low and it makes her look fat. Cats who get fixed after their first heat also are maturer. Good luck!

NEVER wait until after a cats first heat to spay a cat.

Every heat cycle a cat has, increases the chance of developing cancer in latter life. A vet proven fact. !!!

The sag you mention happens in all cats due to the operation, it would have happened anyway.

The whole point of spay is that it is meant to happen before full maturety.

Cats should be spayed BEFORE first heat cycle at around 6 months old.

[PayItForward]

Originally posted by smokey the elder
FIV and FLV are NOT transferrable to humans!! The disease humans can get from litter is called toxoplasmosis, and while pregnant women are at some risk, using good hygiene while cleaning the litter box will prevent one from getting it, pregnant or not.
And a pregnant women is more likely to get toxoplasmosis by handling raw meat, than litter trays.

Also cat poo needs 24 hours to 2 days to develop the toxoplasmosis germ, so if the lady scooped regularly and wore gloves, there should be no risk.

[lizzielou742]

I go to a feline specialist here in town and they spay females at 5 months. I just got her home tonight, about 2 hours ago, so look for pics in Cat General tomorrow!!

[leslie flenner]

All an indoor cat needs is distemper and rabies. Period. Don't worry about those other vaccines! Good for you getting her spayed right away!!!! BTW, i didn't know there was an fiv vaccine? If there was, then it would have been altered to suit hiv... right? Anyone? and luekemia vaccine? I think they are quite expensive and if i remember correctly, one of mine got it and was deathly ill from it for a good 24 hours...

[leslie flenner]

i know there is a nasal spray vaccine for fip but i don't know how effective it has proven to be. QSAL used to use it but not anymore so she'd be the one to ask. But you really ought not be concerned about fip vaccines!

[Craftlady]

Originally posted by leslie flenner
All an indoor cat needs is distemper and rabies. Period. Don't worry about those other vaccines! Good for you getting her spayed right away!!!! BTW, i didn't know there was an fiv vaccine? If there was, then it would have been altered to suit hiv... right? Anyone? and luekemia vaccine? I think they are quite expensive and if i remember correctly, one of mine got it and was deathly ill from it for a good 24 hours...

You have to worry about the other vaccines when the animal has been a stray and is going to be in a multi cat family. Unfortunately there are always risks to animals having reactions to vaccines. I've had animals have mild reaction to a rabie shot.

[leslie flenner]

I didn't know the cat was going into a multi-cat family! So the cats at home are untested? and so, yes. that would be cause to vaccinate a newbie against luekemia. I wonder if shes planning on having her other cats tested?

[Craftlady]

Originally posted by lizzielou742
What do I need to make sure both of my cats have to keep them healthy and safe?

What is the difference between FIP and Feline Leukemia? Do cats in multi-cat households need to be vaccinated for this?

Thanks!

[QUOTE]Originally posted by leslie flenner

I didn't know the cat was going into a multi-cat family! So the cats at home are untested? and so, yes. that would be cause to vaccinate a newbie against luekemia. I wonder if shes planning on having her other cats tested?

__________________




This is her second kitty. I would assume the first kitty has been tested and properly vaccinated, she (Lissielou742)seems to be a very responsible pet owner.

[QueenScoopalot]

http://www.geocities.com/~kremersark/newhope.html

[sasvermont]

I would stock up on the liquor for when the kitten destroys all of your china etc.

Ask you Vet...at least that is what I would do, rely on the Vet.

[Cataholic]

Originally posted by ScoobyDoo-Doo
Cats need shots once a year for chlamydia and rabies. Usually given at the same time. The feline Luekemia shots are also I believe yearly or every 2 years. Not sure. However, if your cats are NOT exposed to other cats then skipping the luekemia shots are okay. They are quite expensive. I think they were about $35 per shot.
The FIV shots and such may be important if you are planning or are pregnant. Pregnant women should NOT clean out litter boxes. Some diseases are transmittable to humans. Getting these shots are important.
I don't think your vet was a crackpot. Some shots are not given until kittens are atleast 6 weeks to 6 months old. It really depends. They may have already been given the shots at the shelter and he already knew that.
Ps. If your going to get your cat fixed I would wait until after it's first heat. You can do it earlier but my cat had problems and I wish I had waited. Her "boobs" are low and it makes her look fat. Cats who get fixed after their first heat also are maturer. Good luck!


Scooby,
Please don't take offense at this, but, your post contains several 'theories' that don't seem supported by the mainstream vet care here in the USA. The toxo/litter box is one issue I can live with...though, PIF clarified the issue, but, the spaying after a first heat is not generally accepted vet practice.

[QueenScoopalot]

One other thing I'd like to add is though there are now shots to protect for FIV, they will cause a cat to test positive for the virus! therefore if your cat escapes, and has the luck of being rescued, it will test positive for this virus, and most likely euthanised as this is the way our world is. *sigh*:(

[Cataholic]

Originally posted by QueenScoopalot
One other thing I'd like to add is though there are now shots to protect for FIV, they will cause a cat to test positive for the virus! therefore if your cat escapes, and has the luck of being rescued, it will test positive for this virus, and most likely euthanised as this is the way our world is. *sigh*:(


I didn't know this. Is there some link/support you can provide me on this?

[QueenScoopalot]

Originally posted by Cataholic
I didn't know this. Is there some link/support you can provide me on this? I don't have any links now, but I can post on a vet run board I subscribe to, and I'll probably be able to get ahold of some links there. ;)

[Cataholic]

Thank you, QS. I would appreciate reading more about that topic.

[NoahsMommy]

Vaccine Schedule for Kittens:

8 weeks: FVRCP (Feline combo)

12 weeks: FVRCP

16 weeks: FVRCP & Rabies

Spay/Neuter: 4 to 6 months

*This is what we all go by at work...some people don't vaccinate their indoor cats and some vets are OK with that if they don't have any other pets.

:)

[QueenScoopalot]

Originally posted by Cataholic
Thank you, QS. I would appreciate reading more about that topic. Just by doing a quick search, I've come up with a large number of sites discussing this topic. http://www.aafponline.org/fiv_info_brief.htm http://www.amcgltd.com/archives/000884.html http://www.realpagessites.com/eastlincolnanimalhsp/newsarticles/ Some good info here! http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=1313&S=1&SourceID=42 There's a few thousand more.:) I typed "FIV vaccine" into the search engine, and was rather overwhelmed by the wealth of info on this. Happy reading! :D

[lizzielou742]

Ah, yes. thank you all so much. Here's the story: I have two kittens, one 7 months and one 6 weeks. Both kitties were strays. Both will now be inside only. Both have been tested for everything and were negative. I was misinformed, there is no such thing as a FIV vaccine (duh). Older cat has already been neutered, younger cat will be spayed at 5 months. They have not met yet - we're keeping one at my boyfriend's house and one at my house for now. I followed the vet's advice about shots. Tito has all his shots - FVRCP, rabies, etc.etc. Sophie is younger but has already had her first round of shots. I decided not to get them the FIP/FeLV shots since they both tested negative for it, the vet said there were more risks than benefits in my situation since neither will be allowed outside (I live an apartment complex by a busy road and there's no way I want my kitties out there). Thank you all so much for all your help. As a first time pet owner, I was getting confused by all the information out there and felt a little overwhelmed! By changing vets and getting lots of imput I feel a lot better now.

Thank you!