This topic has been irritating me today. The more I think of it, the more annoyed I am. For many years , we used a military veterinarian for our animals. The fee was always minimal and of course the veterinarians were military and not working for profit. Their policy was minimal vaccinations for healthy animals. We did not even have to have rabies for indoor animals unless the current county of residence required it. The last military vet we used told us not to bother bringing in our geriatric cats unless they were ill because a vet visit was more stress than they needed. Even our current civilian (for profit) vet suggests yearly and no rabies unless the kitties go outside. No rectals are done - we just bring in a sample from the box and then when Emily had worms, he treated Eliot also without a test or visit fee because they shared food, bedding and litterbox. Why subject a baby to this procedure just to be cautious??? Besides being stressful, the place has germs and sick animals - no matter HOW careful they are! Doctor's offices are the perfect place to get sick! I have been called a noncompliant mother by my fleshkids' doctors and I guess I would be the very same for my furkids. It is good to bring Rizzo in as he is a year old - good time for a check up and to have the peace of a clean bill of health, but unless there is a concern - I think the six month check-up is not right at all. Maybe it is a good and careful vet, but I think it is excessive. End of rant.