Not sure if this vaccine is necessary?

I recieved a notice form the Vet that Pansy is due for his FDV/RT Distemper booster. My cats are indoors only, and after the initial vaccinations I do not do an annual vaccine. Pansy is 1 year and 7 months and I know he got all the initial shots and follow ups, but it has been so long since I had a cat this young, I am not sure if this one is considered necessary or not. I will never do the annual innoculation thing, if they are getting surgery, I will get the required rabies and whatever else the doc requires, but is this a major one, or can I forget about it?

I've always understood distemper to be a "core", i.e., necessary, vaccine, even for indoor cats. There's information about the disease and susceptibility here: http://www.avma.org/communications/b...a_brochure.asp

Thanks for the info jcat. It didn't address the booster shots though. It just spoke of the initial vaccines. still undecided if it is necessary. I mean aren't all those vaccines given every year boosters?

Boosters are now recommended every three yrs... every three yrs in most areas starts after the first non kitten booster

The distemper FVRCP shot is the ONLY one I give my indoor cats. In my opinion it is the only one TRULY necessary for indoor only cats. As distemper or URIs can be brought in on your clothes or shoes. We do the 3 year boosters.

I dont give them rabies or FEL Leuk.

Once they have had their kitten shots and their one year adult, I do every 3 years. I will not use the fip or feluek vaccines.

You can have a titer test done to find out whether your cat has immunity to the diseases your vet wants to vaccinate for. If he does, then the booster is unnecessary right now.

Originally Posted by momto3cats

You can have a titer test done to find out whether your cat has immunity to the diseases your vet wants to vaccinate for. If he does, then the booster is unnecessary right now.

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good advice but amazingly youll find few vets willing to do this

Just my opinion...so please don't jump on me everyone...but I do not vaccinate at all!! I have a total of 12...most of them have never been vaccinated.

I believe before you make a decision (in anything in life) just check out the other side of the coin:

http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/petvacc2.htm

Originally Posted by leesali

Just my opinion...so please don't jump on me everyone...but I do not vaccinate at all!! I have a total of 12...most of them have never been vaccinated.

I believe before you make a decision (in anything in life) just check out the other side of the coin:

http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/petvacc2.htm

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I wont jump on you cause there are VALID reasons not too but unless you live in a bubble I am going with my vet recommendation every three yrs till age 10 then stop... at my house I will have a note about Zoey due to her 48 hour weirdness after her last vac( note she was fine for all the kitten)

I think the distemper can be brought into the house on your shoes and clothes, so that vaccine at least should be given.

I think I am going to have an argument with my vet about vaccines in future - Radar had the full 5 combined vaccine kitten shots, including FeLV which I didn't want him to have as he's indoor only. The vet told me he needed all 5 and I didn't know any better. Sonic however has only had 3 vaccines (as done by his breeder's vet) and not the FeLV one as it wasn't necessary due to regularly tested and FeLV free cattery. So the last thing I want when I take him for his 1 year booster is for him to be given all 5 - just the ones he's already had, and then 3 yearly for distemper for both cats thereafter would be my preference.

I do the rabies and distemper vaccinations because that is what my vet suggests and my own research has backed it up.