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


Feline Leukemia

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

[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!

[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.