Indoor Only ... To Vaccinate or Not????

[HoUsEkaT]

If you go to http://www.fabcats.org/, then look under "vaccinating you cat", they suggest that annual boosters are overkill.

[Fuzzy317]

Originally posted by jenluckenbach
Rabies is the law. (so I vaccinate)
Distemper is required IF the cat is to be admitted to the hospital (so I vaccinate, or else when they get a sudden illness, it will be too late and they will need to be "quarrentined" and that is EXPENSIVE)
FeLV DO NOT vaccinate
FIP DO NOT vaccinate

I agree. Our cats are vaccinated for all except FeLV and FIP.

[HoUsEkaT]

Yes, rabies is not an option but the law. Need to point out that older cats can come down with sarcomas from all those shots. If it's near the spine, there is nothing they can do . Lately, some vets give the shots away from the spine.

[rosethecopycat]

Originally posted by jenluckenbach
Rabies is the law. (so I vaccinate)
Distemper is required IF the cat is to be admitted to the hospital (so I vaccinate, or else when they get a sudden illness, it will be too late and they will need to be "quarrentined" and that is EXPENSIVE)
FeLV DO NOT vaccinate
FIP DO NOT vaccinate

Well that made me think.

I now believe that mine were TESTED for FeLV and FIV
NOT vaccinated.

I'll have to check the records.

[kimlovescats]

Thank you for that article! Just as I suspected ... like every other "business" in the world.... alot of vets are in it for the mighty $$$$$$ . God gave us all ... humans and pets alike an immune system for a reason!

[kimlovescats]

Here is another good article to read ....
http://www.holisticat.com/vaccinations.html

[krazyaboutkatz]

Originally posted by kimlovescats
Here is another good article to read ....
http://www.holisticat.com/vaccinations.html

Wow! I read the article and if all of this information is true then none of us should be vaccianting our cats.

[jenluckenbach]

I did not read the article (yet), but please remember that it is possible to "prove" ANYTHING with the proper survey. We can't jump to conclusions based on any one article. (and I know how hard that is, especially when it is something we WANT to believe). I guess the reason I have NOT read this article is for the fear that I will start to believe it and some how it will change what I do, and what I do has worked for me through 20 years and just as many cats.

[tomkatzid]

Last year our vet decided not to give Kelcee the Leukemia shot any longer. Is that the FeLV? And to go to every 3 years for the Upper Respiratory shot. Is that the FIP? She is due for her exam in March or April. She is and always has been a INDOOR ONLY kitty.
Have you or anyone you know had problems with the shots, or is it just the articals that are published that caused the concerns?
Thanks Katz
I have not read it yet, but I will before our appt.

[Fuzzy317]

Originally posted by tomkatzid
And to go to every 3 years for the Upper Respiratory shot. Is that the FIP?

An Upper Respiratory shot is not for FIP. Here is Merck Vet Manual's take on FIP . I think there is no cure for FIP, and the vaccinations for it aren't 100%, some may even cause it in some cats.

[tomkatzid]

Do you think cats, INDOOR ONLY, need the Upper Respiratory shot?? Even every 3 years?

[tomkatzid]

bump up

Has anyone one had trouble with shots, or just concerns??

[krazyaboutkatz]

Originally posted by tomkatzid
bump up

Has anyone one had trouble with shots, or just concerns??

I personally haven't had any problems but I think that others are concerned about sarcomas that can develop from the injections of many shots given over a period of time. If you have indoor only cats that don't travel any where, then most of the shots aren't necessary. You can talk to your vet for more information on this too.

[kimlovescats]

Several of my cats have run fevers and been lethargic and even had to have IV fluids after having their "kitten shots". My vet finally said he would not give that one anymore to those cats! I read another article this week that suggested only ONE distemper shot ever! No FIP or Felv shots, and of course rabies is the law (but it is actually effective for four years)!

[ScantyNebula]

Hmm....I don't know much about this vaccination stuff ... all I know is that Toby had 2 shots , booster shots I assume. The vet told us he had to get 2 shots then we gave him some deworming stuff that he had to eat. I guess thats it? They did mention the leukemia shot, but for the price, we didn't do it because he's an indoor cat and it seemed unncessary