Say no to vaccination??

According to the websites below, it's better to not vaccinate cats. What's your take on this?

http://www.rawfedcats.org/vaccinosis.htm

http://www.truthaboutvaccines..org/

http://www.dark-truth.org/okt19-2006-2.html

http://www.nccn.net/~wwithin/vaccine.htm

http://www.whale.to/vaccine/driscoll1.html

http://www.kaossiberians.com/health.html

http://www.vaccinetruth.org/animal_vaccines.htm

http://home.earthlink.net/~pawsreflect/vaccinosis.html

http://thinktwice.com/

http://www.consciouschoice.com/2005/...shots1803.html

http://rense.com/general62/inno.htm

http://www.stoptheshots.com/

http://leerburg.com/vaccinosis.htm

http://www.novaccine.com/about.asp

I changed vets last year and all 3 of my cats are indoor only. When i take them for their yearly checkup i make sure they have the flu/enteritis shot, but their new vet told me not to bother with them being indoors, plus he said he doesn't like giving them unless their necessary incase of cancer which has always been a heavily debated subject.

When i've questioned vets in the past about whether they should have them or not all of them have said "yes", but this is the first vet that's been open and honest with me on his thoughts without me even asking

My cats are inside too. I always get the rabies shots. Bats can get into houses and around here rabies is not uncommon. My daughters both had bats get in so, no debate on rabies shots. Always.

Distemper if I can afford it.

For me, it depends on their age. I get them a couple of years of shots to build up an immunity, but most vaccines last a lot longer than the vets tell you. Like rosiemac mentioned for hers, mine get FVRCP for a few years. They do get rabies vaccines because I have a feral cat and she has been in quarantine before. That being said, I have had a cat with a tumour at a vaccine site before so I know the risks of it too.

Under no circumstances do I think not vaccinating is an excuse for not taking them for a yearly checkup

Just in case there is confusion, distemper, flu and Panleukopenia (the P in my FVRCP) are the same thing


Last year when I was fostering and working at the shelter, they did get regular vaccines as well as Chlamydia vaccines as it was prevalent in the area

My cats get Purevax rabies annually, it is law here, but I would do it even if it wasn't. Rabies is a serious problem in the USA and rabies vaccines is the only way to keep it under control. I want my cats protected. Not just from rabies, but from the consequences should they ever bite someone. It's not likely that they would, but it has happened to other people, and you just never know.

They get the distemper (RCCP) every three years when they are younger, but I stop that one at about age 10, and then it is annual Purevax rabies only.

I bring my cats to the vet for well checks every six months. ( and to the vet if something is wrong, of course)

Originally Posted by otto

My cats get Purevax rabies annually, it is law here, but I would do it even if it wasn't. Rabies is a serious problem in the USA and rabies vaccines is the only way to keep it under control.

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In wildlife, yes. ~90% of the reported rabies cases are in wildlife now. Before the 1960s it was more of a problem in domestic animals.

I always keep up on vaccinations while they are young. My two are very much senior cats but we keep up on the rabies vaccination due to laws and also distemper. There are tons of strays around my apartment it is unlikely something will pass through a window screen but I'm not going to test that theory.

Rabies is a serious thing and I've seen it in enough strays growing up. I do agree that animals need to be vaccinated for their safety against rabies.

Originally Posted by strange_wings

In wildlife, yes. ~90% of the reported rabies cases are in wildlife now. Before the 1960s it was more of a problem in domestic animals.

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Rabies continues to be a serious problem in my area for wild life and domestic pets alike. ONE case is too many but there are usually four or five a year, (domestic) reported. That of course does not include any that are not reported.

I disagree with downplaying the seriousness of rabies, anywhere. Rabies is fatal, there is no second chance.

Originally Posted by otto

Rabies continues to be a serious problem in my area for wild life and domestic pets alike. ONE case is too many but there are usually four or five a year, (domestic) reported. That of course does not include any that are not reported.

I disagree with downplaying the seriousness of rabies, anywhere. Rabies is fatal, there is no second chance.

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Understand that I don't necessarily mean dogs and cats when I say domestic, but instead mean livestock. Look at cases reported in livestock in your area, they're the animals that most come in contact with wildlife.

I don't believe cats need to be vaccinated every single year for rabies. Modern vacs last for much longer. It's just a requirement caused by outdated ordinances in cities/counties - by officials that don't care if pets acquire vaccine related sarcomas, which very often are fatal, too. Hopefully, in the future, more states and counties will change this at their level to at least 3 year.

Originally Posted by strange_wings

Understand that I don't necessarily mean dogs and cats when I say domestic, but instead mean livestock. Look at cases reported in livestock in your area, they're the animals that most come in contact with wildlife.

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I am missing your point I guess. Rabies is rabies. Domestic, wild, human, ruminant, it's still rabies, it's still fatal, and it's still spreadable. If it has been controlled to the point you suggest in your other post, that is due to VACCINATIONS of domestic animals.

Just because it is under control in some areas does not mean it it okay to stop vaccinating. It wouldn't take long to spread again. Rabies does not respect county lines.

I do not see why anyone would want to take a risk with rabies, and I will not, and will advise others to not, either.

Originally Posted by otto

I do not see why anyone would want to take a risk with rabies, and I will not, and will advise others to not, either.

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So the 3 year vaccines that are legally accepted in some areas are a risk?

Understand that I'm not saying to not vaccinate, just that every year is an archaic practice.

Every year with the PUREVAX vaccine. My vet does not use the three year vaccine, (except for TNR ferals and strays) which contains an adjuvant.

The adjuvant (what makes the vaccine stay in the body for three years) is what is thought, possibly, to be the cause of vaccine site sarcomas.

Purevax does not contain the adjuvant, and is relatively new, for that reason is not yet approved for an extended period of time. Before Purevax came out, my cats were vaccinated for rabies every three years with the adjuvanted vaccine.

Originally Posted by otto

Every year with the PUREVAX vaccine. My vet does not use the three year vaccine, (except for TNR ferals and strays) which contains an adjuvant.

The adjuvant (what makes the vaccine stay in the body for three years) is what is thought, possibly, to be the cause of vaccine site sarcomas.

Purevax does not contain the adjuvant, and is relatively new, for that reason is not yet approved for an extended period of time. Before Purevax came out, my cats were vaccinated for rabies every three years with the adjuvanted vaccine.

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I am in agreement with you on this. I also wouldn't take any chances with my precious babies. We can bring in so many things on our clothing and I don't know about some of you folks, but I love to "meet" other animals when I'm out and about if their owners say it is OK so I'm sure I'm bringing some strange bacteria on my clothing home.

But then I'm one who prefers to err on the side of caution.

I go with the yearly rabies shots for sure - I think it's foolhardy to mess with that, whether your pet is indoor or not - if nothing else, should the pet bite someone and you don't have current records, your pet may be at risk of quaratine or worse.

Re the other shots - my vets seem up on current protocols (I get the Tufts & Cornell newsletters, which help me know what's up these days) and ask them what they do for their own cats. I also err on the side of caution - my cats do sit in the windows and I do track in germs from the outside world.

Kismet gets everything, I'm debating with Cello though. He has bad reactions, so this year we gave him benedryl first and JUST his rabies. He did way better, had almost no reaction, now I'm debating taking him in and getting the rest (about a month later). I probably will because he does pet therapy and both my cats go "outside" - attended, but outside none the less. I feel preventative is better then having them get sick....

There are studies that show rabies antibodies up to ten years after a 1 year vaccine, yet public health will happily recommend euthanising any animal that has come into contact with a bat and aggressive animals without a rabies vaccine so I still like to ensure they have a vaccine.

Originally Posted by lmunsie

Kismet gets everything, I'm debating with Cello though. He has bad reactions, so this year we gave him benedryl first and JUST his rabies. He did way better, had almost no reaction, now I'm debating taking him in and getting the rest (about a month later). I probably will because he does pet therapy and both my cats go "outside" - attended, but outside none the less. I feel preventative is better then having them get sick....

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I don't know about there, but Public Health are demanding pets in pet therapy here have a crazy amount of shots. They wanted fecals done before pets went into the hospitals (each time) - ummm and then the magically wont get anything in between the fecal and the actual visit

Originally Posted by icklemiss21

I don't know about there, but Public Health are demanding pets in pet therapy here have a crazy amount of shots. They wanted fecals done before pets went into the hospitals (each time) - ummm and then the magically wont get anything in between the fecal and the actual visit

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He has to have the rabies, and the yearly fecal, but not each time! considering he goes once every week-two weeks that would be insane! And he isn't late on the other shots yet.... I am probably going to get them, I'll give cello the benadryl again first.

In all honesty though, if I had a strictly indoor only cat, I probably wouldn't get the vaccines..... atleast I think I wouldn't but I doubt I'll ever be in that situation.

Yeah we have always needed the annual fecal, but their guidelines this year were insane.

I was thinking of starting to take Quincy now I have more time

All my cats are strictly indoor however being in a "wooded" area with an outdoor cat around the house they all have their rabies vaccine and Hercules and GiGi both got distemper vaccines. Fatman was given a 3 yr rabies shot and is due for his update this Sept. I take mine to rabies clinics because its cheaper and I keep their paperwork stating they were given their vaccines in a folder so I dont loose them. Franklin my dog gets yearly rabies and his distemper vaccine. I dont do any other vaccines besides those two.