Feline Leukemia Shots

So I was wondering if Feline Leukemia shots are required annually. I'm gonna give you a short run down of my situation, and I just want to know what you would do. My top priority in this situation is my animal's health no matter what, I do NOT want to rehome them and will NOT go the "cheap route" just so I can have "extra spoils". I know I babble a lot in this post but I really just want to make everything as clear as possible and just throw it all out there.

Basically my animals are permanently outdoor and are only brought in if the vet recommends to keep them indoors overnight. (IE: after their shots they stay indoor over night so they can sleep off the after effects in a safe environment.)

There are absolutely no feral or stray cats in this area. The only pet cats I have seen near here are about a mile a way and don't stray from their neighborhood.

My friend's cat is indoor/outdoor she lives about a couple of miles outside of this area, and when I asked her what shots she has given to her cat, she surprisingly told me that her cat only got the kitten shots and never got anymore after that.

I do have minor financial problems, but fact is my bills are paid and I am stable. I just have no extra money to spoil myself with, because after taking care of the animals I am left with merely only extra food money. (Vet care is included in my "taking care of animals" statement).

Now I was told that Feline Leukemia can only be contracted simply by a cat encountering another cat who has it. How true is this statement? Because if this is truth, the chances of my two catching it are HIGHLY unlikely considering there isn't any and I mean there IS NOT ANY feral or stray cats in this neighborhood.

This neighborhood is actually very high in popularity of dogs as opposed to cats. And we did have a feral cat outbreak YEARS ago because a hoarder was letting his multiply. But since they've been gathered I haven't seen even a paw print of a feral cat since I was in Jr High..and I am now 23.

My point is, I don't want to give care to my animal that is not ABSOLUTELY necessary. I've already gone the cheap route for the kitten shots by giving the boosters and what not myself, and only took them into the vets office for feline leukemia and rabies.

So if it's not necessary to give the Feline Leukemia shot yearly, that would be great, but if it is you better believe I WILL make sure they get the shot.

So with all this said my main question is..with the description of my area, is it true that cats can only catch it by encountering another cat who has it, and is it required to have it done annually?

It is true they can only get it through extended casual contact with an infected cat (or the infected cat's bodily fluids, such as urine or feces). Or by being bitten, scratched, or mated by an infected cat.

It is also true that the AVMA recommends annual vaccination for cats at risk of exposure. The vaccine hasn't been proven to last longer than that.

Those are the bare facts. What you want to do with the knowledge is up to you!

Originally Posted by Willowy

It is true they can only get it through extended casual contact with an infected cat (or the infected cat's bodily fluids, such as urine or feces). Or by being bitten, scratched, or mated by an infected cat.

It is also true that the AVMA recommends annual vaccination for cats at risk of exposure. The vaccine hasn't been proven to last longer than that.

Those are the bare facts. What you want to do with the knowledge is up to you!

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Thank you for the reply.

It appears to me that my cats are safe from exposure of Feline Leukemia then. I asked the vet's office if there is a high demand for treatment of the virus in our area and they said they haven't had anyone come in for over 3 years.

I think i'll pass on the annual feline leukemia vaccine for this time.

You might do a Feline Leukemia search on this website for other information on FeLV.
Here's a recent one: http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=235258

I posted some links in that thread, along with my own opinion.

Personally, I don't repeat any vaccines after their initial shots,(they are all inside cats now) and wouldn't give them the FeLV vaccine unless they were at risk - the vaccine is risky itself, IMHO.

I'm glad that you have decided to forego the annual vaccine.
Here's one of my favorite resources: http://catinfo.org/?link=vaccines

... A vaccination is a preparation of microorganisms (pathogens), such as viruses or bacteria, that is administered to produce or increase immunity to a particular disease. There can be no disputing that vaccines save lives but they also have some serious side effects which will be discussed on this webpage. ...

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I just do the FVRCP vaccine. My cats are indoors though. FELV is a scary vaccine as I have seen the sarcomas that result from it through my work. Not something I want to put my cats through. If they were outdoors, I might consider it.

Originally Posted by Kattiekitty

I just do the FVRCP vaccine. My cats are indoors though. FELV is a scary vaccine as I have seen the sarcomas that result from it through my work. Not something I want to put my cats through. If they were outdoors, I might consider it.

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I am just curious how many of those sarcomas you have actually seen? Thank you in advance for your time .

Originally Posted by Cat Person

I am just curious how many of those sarcomas you have actually seen? Thank you in advance for your time

.

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I guess the thing is - it doesn't really matter how many - if your cat is the one with a sarcoma caused by the vaccine it's one cat too many.

This is an excerpt from a 1997 article from Cornell: http://www.news.cornell.edu/releases...shots.hrs.html

... The 10-member task force is made up of representatives from the American Veterinary Medical Association, American Animal Hospital Association, Veterinary Cancer Society, American Association of Feline Practitioners, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal Health Institute and the Cornell Feline Health Center.

Vaccine-associated feline sarcoma is the name that veterinary scientists give to the higher-than-expected number of cancerous tumors developing where cats have been vaccinated. Veterinarians began noticing sarcomas at vaccination sites on cats' bodies in 1991, and since that time research has shed some light on the issue. (See attached: "Vaccines and Sarcomas: A Concern for Cat Owners.")

"Even though the problem seems to be quite uncommon -- in the range of one to four per 10,000 vaccinations -- the tumors themselves are quite serious and are very difficult to manage successfully," Richards said. "These are progressive tumors that continue to grow unless they are surgically removed -- and sometimes even after they are removed."

The sarcomas are most frequently associated with vaccinations against feline leukemia virus (FeLV) and, to a lesser extent, against rabies virus, the cat doctor observed. ...

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My vet told me that they now inject the vaccine in a place that is easier to manage should a sarcoma develop.

http://catinfo.org/?link=vaccines#Sarcomas

... Please note: NO vaccine (adjuvanted or non-adjuvanted) is to be given in the scruff area under any circumstance. They are to be given as low in a limb as possible. This is to allow for limb amputation if a VAS occurs. ...

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...If you do choose to vaccinate for FeLV, ONLY use the Meriel PureVax FeLV vaccine which is NON-adjuvanted. All other FeLV vaccines are killed and contain adjuvants which should never be injected into any cat. ...

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Dr. Pierson also says she wouldn't even vaccinate an adult cat with the FeLv vaccine if a cat goes outdoors.

... Do not vaccinate adult cats for FeLV - even if they have access to the outdoors - since natural immunity to this disease is very strong by the time the cat is ~1 year of age. If an adult cat is going to be living with a FeLV positive cat, then vaccination should be considered. ...

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Originally Posted by GloriaJH

I guess the thing is - it doesn't really matter how many - if your cat is the one with a sarcoma caused by the vaccine it's one cat too many.

This is an excerpt from a 1997 article from Cornell: http://www.news.cornell.edu/releases...shots.hrs.html



My vet told me that they now inject the vaccine in a place that is easier to manage should a sarcoma develop.

http://catinfo.org/?link=vaccines#Sarcomas





Dr. Pierson also says she wouldn't even vaccinate an adult cat with the FeLv vaccine if a cat goes outdoors.

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I am TRYING NOT TO BE RUDE, but if you get scared of all the possibilities that could happen from a vaccine or medication then I do not think anyone would give/use any.

That is why I wanted to know from Kattiekitty how many she actually saw. Since I am a veterinarian technician like her and have NEVER seen one case.

I give the FeLV vaccine to all three of my pure domestic cats and have never had an issue .

Originally Posted by Cat Person

I am TRYING TO NOT BE RUDE, but if you get scared of all the possibilities that could happen from a vaccine or medication then I do not think anyone would give/use any.

That is why I wanted to know from Kattiekitty how many she actually saw. Since I am a veterinarian technician like her and have NEVER seen one case.

I give the FeLV vaccine to all three of my pure domestic cats and have never had an issue

.

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no rudeness taken - and I understand your point.


If a person is able to make an educated, rational decision -because they are aware of the risks - it's better than just getting a vaccine just because your vet sends you a notice saying that it's time to get your cat's yearly FeLV vaccine.

It's encouraging to hear that your experience has been so positive - it does help to add balance to all the negative information we hear.

May I ask if the vet you work with is specific with where injections are given?
Oh, and while I'm on a roll , do your cats get the Meriel PureVax FeLV vaccine - a NON-adjuvanted vaccine?

Thx,
g

Originally Posted by GloriaJH

no rudeness taken

- and I understand your point.


If a person is able to make an educated, rational decision -because they are aware of the risks - it's better than just getting a vaccine just because your vet sends you a notice saying that it's time to get your cat's yearly FeLV vaccine.

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I agree with that 100%. I just feel people read things and then get upset way too easy. That is why I wanted to hear/see from the other veterinarian technician who has actually seen a case of the cancer at her work. Since I never have.

Originally Posted by GloriaJH

It's encouraging to hear that your experience has been so positive - it does help to add balance to all the negative information we hear.

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I have way more balance I can add to the topic or at least a way more positive perspective. I have gone around the country (USA) working at no kill shelters. So for extended periods of time I have worked with fifty to a hundred and fifty cats at a time. So I have worked with thousands of cats. I have seen he FeLV vaccine given hundreds of times and have NEVER seen an issue. I have fostered and re-homed way over a hundred cats and have given the FeLV shot to them all. I have never seen an issue.

Originally Posted by GloriaJH

May I ask if the vet you work with is specific with where injections are given?

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The veterinarian I work for gives it in the hip area.

Originally Posted by GloriaJH

Oh, and while I'm on a roll

, do your cats get the Meriel PureVax FeLV vaccine - a NON-adjuvanted vaccine?

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The veterinarian gives Purevax FeLV for the most part. But all my personal pure domestic cats always had the NON-adjuvanted until recently. Also I am sure most of the rescue shelter cats received the NON-adjuvanted vaccine as well.

Your welcome and hope I was clear. If not I would be glad to rephrase.

Originally Posted by Cat Person

The veterinarian gives Purevax FeLV for the most part. But all my personal pure domestic cats always had the NON-adjuvanted until recently. Also I am sure most of the rescue shelter cats received the NON-adjuvanted vaccine as well.

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Just to clarify--do you mean they always had the adjuvanted vaccine? Because Purevax is the non-adjuvanted vaccine.

Originally Posted by Cat Person

I have way more balance I can add to the topic or at least a way more positive perspective. I have gone around the country (USA) working at no kill shelters. So for extended periods of time I have worked with fifty to a hundred and fifty cats at a time. So I have worked with thousands of cats. I have seen he FeLV vaccine given hundreds of times and have NEVER seen an issue. I have fostered and re-homed way over a hundred cats and have given the FeLV shot to them all. I have never seen an issue.

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Okay, I want to pick your brain - because of your experience with FeLV - but don't want to hijack this thread.
So... sending you a PM. RE: FeLV, Living With in a Multi-Cat Household (my thread).

This is an interesting thread and one I want to keep an eye on. Momma and Percy were given the FeLv vaccine when I got them because I didn't know their shot history (most likely, they had never had any shots...especially Percy because he was 8 wks old!) and because I knew they would be outside a lot. My indoor cats are not and have never been vaccinated for FeLv because I can't see why they would need to be. They do not go outdoors at all and I do not bring in new animals without testing them for FeLv first. I don't vaccinate them because I don't see a need and don't want to medicate too much if it isn't necessary. I had never heard of the sarcoma thing.

I want to watch this thread because I am not sure what I want to do when it comes around to re-vaccinating momma and percy next summer. They are outdoors during the day and in my garage with the doors closed down at night. The only feral animals in the area are cats about a mile from me, but I have never seen even one of them down here. We live in a VERY rural area.

Originally Posted by Willowy

Just to clarify--do you mean they always had the adjuvanted vaccine? Because Purevax is the non-adjuvanted vaccine.

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Yes I meant my personal cats almost always had the adjuvanted form. I am also fairly sure many of the shelter cats I worked with had the adjuvanted form as well.

Thank you for pointing out my major typo, I am a horrible typist .

Originally Posted by GloriaJH

Okay, I want to pick your brain - because of your experience with FeLV - but don't want to hijack this thread.

So... sending you a PM.

RE: FeLV, Living With in a Multi-Cat Household (my thread).

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PM sent . I hope you do not find any of it offense. Since I tend to come off harsh at times.

Originally Posted by BlueRexBear

This is an interesting thread and one I want to keep an eye on.

Momma and Percy were given the FeLv vaccine when I got them because I didn't know their shot history (most likely, they had never had any shots...especially Percy because he was 8 wks old!) and because I knew they would be outside a lot. My indoor cats are not and have never been vaccinated for FeLv because I can't see why they would need to be. They do not go outdoors at all and I do not bring in new animals without testing them for FeLv first. I don't vaccinate them because I don't see a need and don't want to medicate too much if it isn't necessary. I had never heard of the sarcoma thing.

I want to watch this thread because I am not sure what I want to do when it comes around to re-vaccinating momma and percy next summer. They are outdoors during the day and in my garage with the doors closed down at night. The only feral animals in the area are cats about a mile from me, but I have never seen even one of them down here. We live in a VERY rural area.

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This is my , I would recommend you continue to give the indoor/outdoor cats the vaccine. Since even though you do not see feral cats I am fairly sure they are there.

Now I give my completely indoor pure domestic the FeLv shot. Just like I give my indoor/outdoor pure domestics. I feel that since the indoor pure domestic has contact with my indoor/outdoor pure domestics and my Savannah it is worth the "risk".

As I stated in this thread I have never seen the sarcoma on any cat I have owned or worked with.

Again the above is just my so please make your own decision.