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Necessary shots for an all indoor cat

post #1 of 23
12/28/09 at 6:58pm
Thread Starter 
Tessie has been to the vet every year to get her shots. She is due for her rabies and FL shot. I was told by someone that this is not necessary because she is an all indoor cat with no contact with other animals. Is it necessary to bring her? Is it necessary for her too get all these shots? If not, It would help me so much in my wallet. It's going too cost me $100 to bring her to the vet this time around.

Also what shots are necessary for her too get and what ones does she really not need?

Thanks for the help!
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post #2 of 23
12/28/09 at 7:10pm
Mine only get the distemper3 in 1 shots.
Cleo gets the Purvax Rabies shot only because I show her.
Check the Rabies laws in your state.
You do not need any other shots besides Rabies and Distemper 3 in 1.
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post #3 of 23
12/28/09 at 7:11pm
I believe cats should have well visits at least once a year. Vets are trained to notice things we might not. (I take my cats every six months.)

A feline Leukemia vaccine is not necessary for an indoor only cat, in my (and my own vet's) opinion. Distemper every 3 years until about 10 years old, then not any more, but purevax rabies annually, without fail.

Rabies vacs are laws in many places, for one thing. and for another, heaven forbid something should happen where your cat bites you or someone else, and she is not up to date on her rabies (as another member is dealing with right now). Not to mention, if she gets out, or a (rabid) bat gets in.

In addition, if you are faced with an emergency with her, many places require proof of rabies vaccine before they will admit an animal.
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post #4 of 23
12/28/09 at 7:14pm
here is the thread of the kitty who bit a vet and is now in quarantine because he was not up to date on his rabies vac:

http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=209933
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post #5 of 23
12/28/09 at 7:16pm
My younger cats get
Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia (distemper), Rabies and more recently Chlamydiosis as there seems to be an outbreak of it locally in cats and I have been dealing with a lot of infected cats through the shelter.

The older ones are got the chlamydiosis this year and rabies (required by law and the shelter because I foster)

I personally do not vaccinate for FL or FIV, even with all the strays we have at the shelter, less than 2% test positive and thats on the first test

However, certain areas require certain vaccines by law, the recommended ones are also based on possible infection rates in your area and some vets will strongly advise for some vaccines - it depends on so many factors including the age of the cat.

Also, much of the vaccine cost is the office visit and not the individual vaccines, but if your vet is recommending a lot of vaccinations, ask about possible vaccine associated sarcomas. At 5 I would be asking my vet which vaccines they think are absolutely necessary as I tend to cut mine back off vaccines around then as long as they have a history of vaccines with me (Autumn will get several more years as she does go out for walks on a harness and her first known vaccine is 2007 when she was trapped)
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post #6 of 23
12/28/09 at 7:20pm
I also agree that regardless of vaccines, all cats should have an annual vet check up

For quarantine, they actually quarantine cats who have bitten and have up to date rabies vaccinations in most areas, Autumn has had two quarantines, one at the shelter before I adopted her and one after. However they are more likely to let you keep them at home for a quarantine if the rabies vacc is up to date
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post #7 of 23
12/28/09 at 7:47pm
As said, you must check rabies law in your state - and, don't forget, even an indoor kitty can be exposed to a rabid animal. I'm in suburban Chicago - last summer there were several reports of rabid bats entering homes.

I talk with my vet about what shots she recommends, and what she does with her own pets. And, I take into consideration what I bring in from the outside.

I go for annual wellness checks as well as get blood tests, etc., after talking with the vet. My kitties are approaching 7.
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post #8 of 23
12/28/09 at 7:51pm
Thread Starter 
How often do cats get the distemper shot?
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post #9 of 23
12/28/09 at 7:59pm
Depends on what vaccine it is.
If Purvax once a year.
The other one every 3 years.
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post #10 of 23
12/28/09 at 8:01pm
Thread Starter 
Thank you for the help!!
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post #11 of 23
12/28/09 at 8:08pm
Thread Starter 
I know this is prob a stupid question but on the vet websight this is what they give (4 in 1 – FVRCPC) Is this the distemper shot?
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post #12 of 23
12/28/09 at 8:11pm
That is but 4 in 1is not a good shot.
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post #13 of 23
12/28/09 at 8:12pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ~*Regina*~ View Post
I know this is prob a stupid question but on the vet websight this is what they give (4 in 1 – FVRCPC) Is this the distemper shot?
yes. the "distemper" shots, and what they protect against seem to vary from vet to vet.

Quote:
* FVR = Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis. This is a severe upper respiratory infection
that is most dangerous to young kittens and older cats. The virus is extremely contagious to cats, and is caused by a feline herpes virus. FVR can leave some cats with permanent respiratory system and optical damage.
* C = calcivirus. There are several different strains of calcivirus, causing a range of illness from mild infection to life-threatening pneumonia. The more dangerous strains can be deadly to young kittens and older cats. Calcivirus is transmitted through direct contact with an infected cat or an infected item. A carrier cat can pass the virus on for up to one year.
* P = panleukopenia, also known as feline distemper. Feline distemper is a highly contagious disease that moves very quickly through the system. It is caused by a parvovirus similar to the parvovirus seen in dogs. As many as ninety percent of young kittens (under six months old) with panleukopenia do not survive the virus. The disease is most severe in young kittens but can affect cats of all ages. Panleukopenia may remain active in the environment for up to a year without a host.

The FVRCP vaccine is very effective in preventing rhinotracheitis, calcivirus, and panleukopenia.
source:

http://pets.families.com/blog/what-is-fvrcp

PS the extra "c" in the shot your vet uses is for Chlamydia

Quote:
C Stands For Chlamydia Psittaci

Feline Chlamydia mainly causes conjunctivitis in the cat. Conjunctivitis may be defined as the inflammation of the delicate membranes or conjunctiva that cover the inner surface of the eyelids and over the white part of the eye (the sclera).
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post #14 of 23
12/28/09 at 8:54pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by mews2much View Post
That is but 4 in 1is not a good shot.
Agree, I would never give anything above 3 in 1. Would never use the 4 or 5 in 1. Vets advice and fellow cat owners/breeders, far too many complications with those shots for me to risk giving to my cats.

We don't have rabies in Australia, so that's a non issue.

My cats are on various vaccination schedules (breeders, show cats, non-show cats) but all go to the vet yearly for a check up even if not getting vaccinated. My vet agrees with how often I vaccinate, so has no issue just doing a check up.
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post #15 of 23
12/29/09 at 9:40am
Thread Starter 
What kind of side effects can they get with the 4 in 1? I have called 4 vets and none of them have the 3 in 1.
Thanks for all the great information!
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post #16 of 23
12/29/09 at 10:15am
That is odd all the vets here have the 3 in 1.
Some cats have died from the 4 in 1 shot.
I will never give it to my cats no matter what.
Both my sphynx that were shipped got the3 in 1 also.
Thevetcan order the3 in 1 shots.
My vet talked to Cleos breeder and got the Purvax for both my sphynx.
Ask the vet if theycan do that.
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post #17 of 23
12/29/09 at 12:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by lacscucub View Post
I use Scoop Away because it clumps very well and controls oder perfectly. No smell whatsoever. My father, who likes to carp about everything, would tell me if my home smelled like a cat lived here.
_________________
Devis comparatif mutuelle sante |
 Comparateur mutuelles sante |
 Comparer comparatif mutuel
did you read the thread? It is about SHOTs not litter
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post #18 of 23
12/30/09 at 5:12am
Thread Starter 
I wonder why they use the 4 in 1 if it's such a bad shot... Unfortunately that is what she has gotten before with no problems. I will look around some more but she may have to have the 4 in 1 again. I don't want too keep switching her vets.
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post #19 of 23
12/30/09 at 5:27am
I only give mine the 3 in 1 plus the rabies every other year now. NO on the FELV shot. My two Ocicat breeders (one is a vet) will never give the FELV shots - they only test their breeding cats. In fact, the health warrenty on the cats is voided if the FELV or FIV shots are ever given.

My cats are 100% indoor cats.
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post #20 of 23
12/31/09 at 4:46am
It should not be that hard to find the 3 in 1 shot, its just FVRCP if you ask for it that way you might have more luck.

While the 4-in-1 has risks, so does the 3-in-1 (any injection does, even the safer ones pose risks) and with the aggressive case of Chlamydia going around this area and the number of cats with it coming into the shelter, I have moved mine back up to a 4-in-1.

I have had a cat with an injection site cancer lump but I have also seen the mess of a cat losing its eye from Chlamydia.
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post #21 of 23
12/31/09 at 5:04am
The other thing to remember is that while people here, myself included, have had issues with vaccines (and mine had an issue with a 3-in-1) the complication rate (not the cancer rate) is less than 1 in 20,000. That includes inflammation at the injection site, allergic reactions etc too.

It also depends which type of vaccine you use, and if it has adjuvants. Modified Live vaccines have a higher risk of both cancer and autoimmune disease complications than killed vaccines
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post #22 of 23
12/31/09 at 10:05am
Quote:
Originally Posted by icklemiss21 View Post
The other thing to remember is that while people here, myself included, have had issues with vaccines (and mine had an issue with a 3-in-1) the complication rate (not the cancer rate) is less than 1 in 20,000. That includes inflammation at the injection site, allergic reactions etc too.
I've struck out 6 times with 3 different cats over the last 7 years. One has reactions to vacs (different ones and even different manufacturers), another had a lump + reaction, and another had so much pain after an vac that he refused to use his back legs. Guess the odds are against my bunch.
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post #23 of 23
12/31/09 at 11:35am
Yeah some of us just get lucky we vaccinate a thousand cats in the shelter and one gets a small lump, I vaccinate my own 5 and 3 have reactions, mild but there - they just get an antihystamine before their vaccines
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