check ups/exams

i am just curious how often you take your cat(s) to the vet for a check up. i never thought about it before unless a cat was sick, but i did take ed yesterday to have him checked over and get his vaccinations. i plan to take coco next week or the week after.

i just wanted to know if you took you cats yearly, every couple years, or only when they are sick.

I know we are supposed to bring them once a year. but if there is no problems i go every other year to keep their rabies vacc up to date. Hooda is 10yr and i bring her in more.

I take our cat every year, which I have to because only the one-year rabies vaccine has been approved here. If he were older I'd probably take him twice a year for a checkup.

according to the vet papers and local regulations, the rabies vaccine is good for three years. would this make a difference in frequency of visits?

Asim and Isha have not been into the vet for a check up or shots since the late summer of 2001. Though I will probably be bringing them into the vet sometime this year once I can decide on one that I like. We just moved to a new town about 5 months ago.

I take my cats in whenever they need their shots, or if they fall ill, or just any other concern I might have where they will need to be seen by a vet.

Some people only bring their cats in for shots every 3 years, some people only bring their cats in PERIOD every 3 years. And don't do the yearly check up.
I was a very bad momma last year by not bringing my cats in for a check up, but they are still so young, they don't have problems which are more likely to develope as they become seniors. However they will be seeing a vet this year.

I would say, that most people, your average pet owner brings their pet cat in once a year, and gets all the shots, once a year.

I only go when i need to update vaccinations,or if there is a problem. lately i have been wondering about the safety of vaccinations and if they are nessisary every year for an indoor cat.

tbird: There are discussions on that, some say yes, some say no.

I personally feel that indoor animals SHOULD get vaccinated, specially with rabies, in the case that a wild animal ever gets into your house some how! I mean you just never know, and it would be good to have your animals defended against rabies.

I personally feel that if the rabies vac stays true for 3 years, then there is no need to get it done every year. Though one of my past landlords felt it needed to be done.

Study up on it, talk to your vet, even if your vet belives in yearly vacs doesn't mean he's right, or it doesnt' mean he's wrong. Educate yourself and go with how you feel.

Originally posted by tbird
I only go when i need to update vaccinations,or if there is a problem. lately i have been wondering about the safety of vaccinations and if they are nessisary every year for an indoor cat.

Click to expand...

i asked the vet about that yesterday and his reply was "if your cat bites somebody and you can't prove he's vaccinated, they may have to destroy him".

needless to say i immediately had him vaccinated.

thats why i think the rabies is important. Tbird is the most mello cat but if he bites the vet because of some unforseen painfull procedure(of which i hope to never have) i dont want to have to worrie about it.
I heard recently that the all in one vaccinations may cause seizures. any one read about it?

I haven't heard that the all-in-one vaccines might cause seizures, but a lot of people feel that they might be more conducive to vaccine-associated sarcomas. Our cat vomited after receiving one of those shots. The vet felt that it may have been nerves (he freaks out at the vet's office) rather than an allergic reaction, but nevertheless got another "brand" for him the following year, to which he had no adverse reactions. Separate shots are almost impossible with him - he bites, scratches, sprays, takes flying leaps, etc.. As far as I know, most areas in the U.S. have approved the three-year rabies vaccine, and other vaccines are often given at three-year intervals.