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

[kimlovescats]

Since this question has come up in another post, I am curious as to how most of us feel about this!

I too have battled with the same questions .... do we "overkill" ourselves and our pets with vaccines, or do we go for anything that is medically available? Several of my cats have gotten sick (fever, lethargic, etc.) after having a vaccine. Then there is the risk of VAS (the vaccine related cancer)... and of course the fact that one of the worst killers (FIP) is not even effectively treated with vaccine. Soooo .... if we have our cats tested prior to introducing them to other cats, and we KEEP THEM INDOORS ONLY, then are the vaccines really necessary? I have always had my cats vaccinated, except the last two ... because I knew my others were, and the babies tested negative.

What are you ideas, thoughts, opinions???

Kim

[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

[neko1]

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

Couldn't have said it better myself!! Many of our clients also vaccinate for leukemia if their cats go outside. But the majority of people's kitties stay inside-yay!!

[jenluckenbach]

yes, my parents' cat was indoor/outdoor and he also got FeLV vaccine.

[slick]

When I first got Max and Specks I took them for routine vaccinations for the first 4 yrs even though they are indoor only kitties.

2 yrs ago when they had their shots, Specks was sick for 3 days. She hardly ate and slept most of the time in the same spot. She finally recovered but she hasn't had any shots since. Max handled it OK but was not his usually self for a day afterwards. They do not come in contact with any other animals (dogs or cats) so I figure why put them through the misery. Hope you don't think I'm a bad mom but at the ages of 10 and 16 I just can't justify making them feel bad.

Fortunately I will never have to board them because no one would accept them without the shots. I have a catsitter that comes to my home if I need to go away, which is very rare.

Good luck!

[rosethecopycat]

FeLV DO NOT vaccinate
FIP DO NOT vaccinate [/B][/QUOTE]

Whya no FeLV, Jenluckenbach?

I am up for fostering, they require it, anyway mine already got it, as they were rescues.
Is FeLV a recurring vaccine? How manay will they need?

rose

[purplecat]

both of my kitties were vaccinated when they adopted me . they NEVER go outside - i lost my first one to a rattlesnake in the dunes of st. augustine beach, a hard lesson to learn - so since then, they are spoiled rotten inside kitties with HUGE windows and french doors to sit in. once a year i vaccinate them for rabies because it IS the law, but other than that, they are happy, healthy, content kitties!

[kimlovescats]

I really wasn't referring to the Rabies vaccine ... that IS the law... LOL! I wasn't aware that some vets wouldn't hospitalize a cat without a distemper vaccine. Hmmm .... will have to check specifcally with MY vets office on this one! Thanks for the info!!!

[krazyaboutkatz]

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 also do this too.

[Nomilynn]

It's interesting about the rabies thing. It isn't law up here.. only if you will be crossing the border with your pets (which I do, so they all are vaccinated).

Because I travel across the border, I vaccinate all my cats with all the vaccines. when I'm in the states, they are allowed outside (in an enclosed yard.. netting all around..) so I would rather be safe than sorry.

Bassett also has horrible vaccine reactions. After she reacted so badly, the vet decided to give her a shot of cortizone first, to help offset the allergic reaction. It totally worked - she was not sick at all. It was more expensive, but worth it to keep her comfy.

[jenluckenbach]

to answer about no Felv vaccine, once they are tested and are negative, They won't be coming into contact with animals or situations that would put them at risk. Since it is not airborne, they would not even get it at a hopital (unless of course they were IN WITH another cat, and you know they would not be)

My cats got the required vaccinations agaist cat-sickness & cat-sneezing ! Nothing more !! They have to because otherwhise they won't be admitted at the cat pension this summer !!
For other illnesses , I am taking the risk not to vaccinate! I regurly de-worm them myself , and put "frontline" in their neck once a month . I LOVE MY CATS !!!!!

[smokey the elder]

On the vaccination angle, at least one vet in the area is now offering three year distemper shots once a cat has had its kitten series. The next year, he can get a 3 year distemper and 3 year rabies. This will cut down the possiblity of VAS or other reactions. Also, the manufacturers are modifying the formulas. Often, it's the stuff other than the active vaccine ingredient that causes the reaction.

FeLV vaccines should only be given for indoor/outdoor cats, in my opinion. Did you know that this vaccine is only 70% effective? Same with the new FIV vaccine. Also, the FIV vaccine will cause the cat to test positive for FIV, a problem if you'r trying to rehab a feral and place it for adoption.

Probably the single most important vaccine is distemper, because of its contagious nature. Rabies is so low probability, it's required because of its potential danger to humans.

I read someplace (did a search on vaccines + feline on Googol) that many vaccines are active for 7 years or more. You can have a "titer" done to analyze for antibodies in the animal.

[moosmom]

I agree with everyone here. I do vaccinate my cats for rabies because it's the law. But I definitely do not believe in over-vaccinating. Especially since all my cats are indoor cats.

When I took Eli in for his neutering, they wouldn't even admit him unless I had him vaccinated for Feline Leukemia. He had all his kitten series and I was a little pissed that they required the FeLv shot. But then they tried to sell me on Feline Aids vaccination (even after I told them my cats are all indoors). They told me that all that has to happen is a stray cat coming to my screen door on a nice spring day, hissing at my cat (since it's spread by bodily fluids). I told her I lived in an apartment on the SECOND floor (DUH!!!) and doubted that was going to happen. She was quite embarassed. Needless to say, he was vaccinated only for FeLv.

[AdoreMyDogs]

I still vote not to vaccinate if they are strictly indoor kitties, although I really should give my Min his rabies since it's required by law. I'd hate to get into legal trouble by not vaccinating him.

I do vaccinate the dogs, but they go almost everywhere with me, so they are exposed to tons of different things. I would opt to vaccinate them every other year, instead of every year, but every training school & club requires yearly boosters in order to participate, so I have no choice other then vaccinate them yearly.

I actually read this interesting study:


Article of interest.


> VACCINATION NEWSFLASH [CIMDA support] Re: J Dodd's vaccine protocol
>
> I would like to make you aware that all 27 veterinary schools in North
America are in the process of changing their protocols for vaccinating dogs
and cats.
>
> Some of this information will present an ethical &economic challenge to
vets, and there will be skeptics. Some organizations have come up with a
political compromise suggesting vaccinations every 3 years to appease those
who fear loss of income vs. those concerned about potential side effects.
Politics, traditions, or the doctor's economic well-being should not be a
factor in medical decision.
>
> NEW PRINCIPLES OF IMMUNOLOGY Dogs and cats immune systems mature fully at
6 months. If a modified live virus vaccine is given after 6 months of age,
it produces immunity, which is good for the life of the pet (ie: canine
distemper, parvo,feline distemper). If another MLV vaccine is given a year
later, the antibodies from the first vaccine neutralize the antigens of the
second vaccine and there is little or no effect. The titer is not "boosted"
nor are more memory cells induced.
>
> Not only are annual boosters for parvo and distemper unnecessary, they
subject the pet to potential risks of allergic reactions and immune-mediated
haemolytic anaemia. There is no scientific documentation to back up label
claims for annual administration of MLV vaccines.
>
> Puppies receive antibodies through their mothers milk. This natural
protection can last 8-14 weeks. Puppies &kittens should NOT be vaccinated at
LESS than 8 weeks. Maternal immunity will neutralize the vaccine and little
protection (0-38%) will be produced.
>
> Vaccination at 6 weeks will, however, DELAY the timing of the first highly
effective vaccine.
>
> Vaccinations given 2 weeks apart SUPPRESS rather than stimulate the immune
system.
>
> A series of vaccinations is given starting at 8 weeks and given 3-4 weeks
apart up to 16 weeks of age.
>
> Another vaccination given sometime after 6 months of age (usually at 1
year 4 mo) will provide lifetime immunity.