Should my kitties get the FeLV booster?

Since joining TCS I've read arguments both for and against giving the FeLV vaccination. Shareena and Miss Patchwillow have had the initial series and their 1-year booster because it is part of the routine shots my vet gives. I didn't know enough at the time to even ask questions.

My question now is, should I continue with the boosters since they've already been started? What would be the effect of stopping it now?

Have you talked to your vet about it? Obviously he/she isn't against the vaccine. Maybe you could call another vet in your area and ask for their opinion on it, since they obviously have more authority on the subject than most of us here.

My vet discourages against the vaccine. It can sometimes cause cancer at the injection site. She says that you have to weigh the pros and cons. Does your cat go outside? Does it come into contact with cats who go outside? If your cat stays inside and doesn't come into contact with cats who go outside and could transmit the disease, then I'd say not to get the booster. I doubt not getting the booster will have any effects on your cat, he simply won't have the protection against the disease anymore; however, you should probably talk to a vet about it.

I'll add a few more questions to the list. Is there a chance that you would adopt another cat in the future, or would you ever foster cats for a rescue group? If your cats will have contact with others, then I recommend the shot.

Just because they've had the vaccine before is not a reason to keep giving it if they don't need it. So you just have to determine whether they really need it or not.

I can only answer what I got when I posed the FELV vax to my vets... One said yeah you can but not something he did ( he was pro shot even for my them 16 yr crf girl) ... current vet said she would test but not vax and that was for a semi feral ... Different area s are also affected at different rates , here the vax is only rec for OUTDOOR ONLY cats

I'm not the fan of the vaccine and IMO it would be fine to discontinue. On a holistic website, I've heard many stories of cats stopping boosters in their late teens and showing no ill effects-and going on to live to 21-23 yrs old!

My vet will only vaccine that on Outdoor cats...

The breeders of my Oci's (one is a vet) will not give the FELV shots. In fact, they state in the contracts that if FELV shots are given, the health warrenty of the cats is void.

When the FELV shots first came out, I was very skeptical of them. I was breeding cats (rexes) at the time and my cats were tested every so often (negative) so I never did the shots then. Still would not do it today. They get the normal 3 in 1 shots and rabies every 2 yrs now.

SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF FELINE PRACTITIONERS



Feline Parvovirus/panleukopenia
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Vaccinate at initial visit every 3 to 4 weeks until 12 weeks old. One dose at initial exam. Booster at 1 year after initial vaccine, then at 3-year intervals. Highly recommended for all cats (not pregnant or young kittens

Feline herpes virus and calicivirus
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Vaccinate at initial visit every 3 to 4 weeks until 12 weeks old. One dose at initial exam. Booster - 1 year after initial vaccine, then at 3-year intervals. Highly recommended for all cats

FeLV
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Vaccinate at initial visit, again 3 to 4 weeks later (first dose at > 8 weeks, second at or > 12 weeks. Vaccinate at initial visit and again 3 to 4 weeks later. Booster - 1 year after initial vaccination, then every 2 years. Recommended only for at-risk cats


Rabies virus
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Vaccinate at initial visit (only one dose needed). Booster - 1 year after initial vaccination, then at 3 year intervals. Highly recommended for all cats.

Notice they only recommed the FELV for "at risk cats" and not all cats.

In my area it's recommended for outside only or indoor/outdoor cats.

When I was younger, didn't know any better, and went to a different vet; 2 of my cats got that shot. It is one of the vaccinations implicated in Fibrosarcoma, so that and the adjuvanted rabies shot that vet used may have caused the cancer that killed my Raven.

My cats are indoor only, therefore they don't get that shot. Any new additions to the household must be tested before I allow contact with my cats.

I recommend talking with your vet, as well as reading up on the current vaccine recommendations before making your decision.