I have 10 cats. In 7 years of cat ownership only 2 of them have ever managed to escape out the door, and neither were out for more than an hour. So my cats are totally indoor. Which vaccines are necessary, if any? What about rabies? I know you're legally supposed to get it, but does everyone here get it?
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So what vaccines are REALLY necessary?
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I say rabies simply for legal issues. Personally, I do give my kitties the FVRCP vacc. Some believe it isn't necessary or effective, but I disagree. As long as your vet uses HIGH QUALITY feline specific vaccinations, the side effects are very minimal and worth the risk in my opinion. None of that awful 2 cents a mL Fort Dodge canine rabies. If your babies don't go outside I see no reason to vaccinate against FIV/FELV. And I'm very anti feline bordetella and FIP vaccine. They aren't effective at all in my opinion. Just a way for vets to make more $.
Curious, Why is Ft Dodge bad & what is better? I think that is what my vet uses.
I only give the basic ones (3 in 1 - distember, rhino, calisvitis)(know they are not spelled correctly
) and the rabies.
I do NOT give the FELV or FIV ones - in fact, both of my Ocicat breeders do not give them and in the contract will nullify the health guarantee if they are given the shots. One of the breeders is a vet and he's seen too many problems with the FELV vaccine.
I do NOT give the FELV or FIV ones - in fact, both of my Ocicat breeders do not give them and in the contract will nullify the health guarantee if they are given the shots. One of the breeders is a vet and he's seen too many problems with the FELV vaccine.
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My cats get the annual PureVax rabies vaccine and the three year distemper (RCCP, aka FVRCP or some other variation) vaccine.
Rabies is law in most places, but I would get it for my cats regardless. I have bats here. My cats are low risk as they do not roam free outside so will never have contact with wild animals or strays (unless, heaven forbid, they got out somehow) but a bat can get into the house.
The Pure Vax rabies vaccine is a one year shot because it contains no adjuvant. The adjuvant in the three year shots is what is thought to cause vaccine site sarcoma.
Even indoor cats can be at risk for certain things, distemper, and herpes can be tracked in on your shoes. Sounds like a far reach, but it's possible.
FeLV should be given only to cats who roam free outside, and the FIV should NEVER be given. It's basically useless, and any cat who receives the FIV vaccine will test positive for FIV forever after. This is a very bad thing.
Should your cat get lost, and brought to a shelter, when they test and he tests positive for FIV, there is a good chance that he would be euthanized. Again, may be a far fetched situation, but why take a chance?
here is a link with some good info on vaccines
http://www.vas-awareness.org/vaxreccs.htm
Rabies is law in most places, but I would get it for my cats regardless. I have bats here. My cats are low risk as they do not roam free outside so will never have contact with wild animals or strays (unless, heaven forbid, they got out somehow) but a bat can get into the house.
The Pure Vax rabies vaccine is a one year shot because it contains no adjuvant. The adjuvant in the three year shots is what is thought to cause vaccine site sarcoma.
Even indoor cats can be at risk for certain things, distemper, and herpes can be tracked in on your shoes. Sounds like a far reach, but it's possible.
FeLV should be given only to cats who roam free outside, and the FIV should NEVER be given. It's basically useless, and any cat who receives the FIV vaccine will test positive for FIV forever after. This is a very bad thing.
Should your cat get lost, and brought to a shelter, when they test and he tests positive for FIV, there is a good chance that he would be euthanized. Again, may be a far fetched situation, but why take a chance?
here is a link with some good info on vaccines
http://www.vas-awareness.org/vaxreccs.htm
Mine also get PureVax 4 (FVRCP + Chlmydia) and Rabies non-adjuvant yearly. Magnum is older and down to just Rabies, which I didnt get for a few years but after a quarantine scare with Autumn I do. Most of mine are older and had yearly shots which should give them enough of an immunity but with foster animals coming home I want to be careful.
I spend enough time at the vet to know that cats who have never been outdoors still manage to get most of the 'outdoor cat illnesses' and they swear their cat never got out.
I spend enough time at the vet to know that cats who have never been outdoors still manage to get most of the 'outdoor cat illnesses' and they swear their cat never got out.
My cats are all indoor. There is no question whether or not to get rabies vaccine. YES! Both my daughters live in older farm houses. Both have had a bat get in. The one daughter didn't worry, her cats were utd on rabies. The other daughter's cat was not and she and her family were mortified until the bat tested neg. Don't fool around with rabies.
Mine do not get FLV or FIV vaccines. But they do get distemper shots.
Rabies is such a problem here in New York State, it's the law and the health departments hold about 4 free clinics per year. A few weeks ago, a cat was found with rabies. So all the people who fed it now have to get the shots.
Hope this helps.
Mine do not get FLV or FIV vaccines. But they do get distemper shots.
Rabies is such a problem here in New York State, it's the law and the health departments hold about 4 free clinics per year. A few weeks ago, a cat was found with rabies. So all the people who fed it now have to get the shots.
Hope this helps.
Mine get Purevax rabies yearly and distemper every 3 years now.
That seems really strange, unless they were bitten by the cat. The virus in the cat's saliva would have to get in the persons body somehow. I don't see how just having fed the cat would be a concern.
Anyway, our cats get annual Rabies vax, FVRCP boosters every 2 to 3 years.
No FeLV, FIV or FIP
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Ok, that sounds pretty much how I was thinking. I agree with rabies, but don't see any use in the FIV/FeLV vaccine. Also, is it true that cats who get the FIV vaccine will test positive for it? A stray cat who showed up at my dads last year tested positive for it and they had him put down...could he have really just already been vaccinated for it?
Any one who "comes into contact" with a rabid animal is how they phrase it. Now maybe in the end, they will find people who had "limited contact" and may not have to get the shot.
But they are pretty thorough in their investigations, thank goodness.
But they are pretty thorough in their investigations, thank goodness.
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Yes it is true. This from the link I posted in my previous reply:
All cat owners need to know that if you consent to vaccination of your cat using this vaccine, your cat will test positive for the infection. If your cat should be picked up by Animal Control and taken to a shelter, it is likely that your cat will be tested for this infection. Most shelters will euthanize stray cats that test positive for FIV. There is no way for a shelter to tell the difference between a cat that is actually infected with the virus and one that is vaccinated against it. In our view, this is a significant drawback to this vaccine and something that you will need to seriously consider before you consent to this vaccine for your cat.
The Ft. Dodge rabies can have a LOT of side effects and a much higher risk of vaccine related reactions (vomiting, respiratory issues, etc.). The feline Purevax is what mine get and the side effects are very minimal.
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Agree with GK, too many issues from anything above 3 in 1. We don't have rabies here so of course don't have that vaccine.Originally Posted by GoldenKitty45
I only give the basic ones (3 in 1 - distember, rhino, calisvitis)(know they are not spelled correctly) and the rabies.
I do NOT give the FELV or FIV ones - in fact, both of my Ocicat breeders do not give them and in the contract will nullify the health guarantee if they are given the shots. One of the breeders is a vet and he's seen too many problems with the FELV vaccine.
I get mine rabies vaccine. And I wouldn't do that either, they're strictly indoor cats, but the law says that if they bite someone they can be quarantined or euthanized. Even if they bite ME in the vet's office, they would have to be quaranteened. When we take Swanie in we talk to him and comfort him, but the vet is always cautioning us not to touch him in case he might bite us. She uses the PureVax, I wouldn't get them the other kind.
Same here... I also signed a contract with the rescue that prohibits me of giving the FeLV and FIV vaccines; my vet is also against them, unless your cat is an outside cat. He doesn't vaccinate against FIV, period.
Thanks for the warning! Are the other Ft Dodge vacs bad too? Just curious, as of right now I have only done rabies, but they are all past due. Not sure if I will get them updated though. I need to do some serious research about vacs and make up my mind. I may start doing some of the vacs mentioned.
I've had cats my whole life and never got them vaccines, and they've all been fine - but then all my cats (aside from one) have been country cats who don't get ill so easily - also living in the country you don't really find rabid or diseased animals like you might in the city.
I only do rabies for any and all of my animals I legally do not need any other vaccine and my vet gets MAD at me because according to them I need to have every vaccine imaginable to bring them in to get checked or if I want to use their groomer services. Well tough cookies I wont do it. I did however get the distemper vaccine for Hercules I got him from my moms farm when he was abandoned by his mother and then she eventually passed away, my step dad had told me about him having an animal once who got distemper and once I heard that I got him vaccinated because I was worried about it I heard it can kill young kittens. I only get the once a year Rabies vaccine just to add that in too.
