Do indoor cats really need vaccines?

Willowy · Jul 10, 2012

On an almost related note, they used to give measles vaccines to puppies because it's a similar virus to distemper. . .

But feline "distemper" (panleukopenia) is a parvovirus, not a distemper- or measles-like virus.

But, yes, it was an analogy, not a literal statement.

palikakitty · Jul 10, 2012

I appreciate the kind words especially that we chose not to pursue more aggressive treatment. I feel so guilty and depressed since I am far away from her. My poor husband is monitoring her at home. We lost our 17 year old shepherd in January and then our Maltese got diagnosed with cancer. So far so good with him but when you have a pack of oldsters I guess this is how it is.

emilymaywilcha · Jul 10, 2012

palikakitty said:
I appreciate the kind words especially that we chose not to pursue more aggressive treatment. I feel so guilty and depressed since I am far away from her. My poor husband is monitoring her at home. We lost our 17 year old shepherd in January and then our Maltese got diagnosed with cancer. So far so good with him but when you have a pack of oldsters I guess this is how it is.

Why aren't you home with your sick cat?

feralvr · Jul 10, 2012

EmilyMayWilcha said:
Why aren't you home with your sick cat?

Not sure I like the tone of this question. I am certain IF she could be home with her sick cat she would.

feralvr · Jul 10, 2012

palikakitty said:
I appreciate the kind words especially that we chose not to pursue more aggressive treatment. I feel so guilty and depressed since I am far away from her. My poor husband is monitoring her at home. We lost our 17 year old shepherd in January and then our Maltese got diagnosed with cancer. So far so good with him but when you have a pack of oldsters I guess this is how it is.

It is really hard when our pets get to the senior years all at the same time. :hugs:

Sorry for your loss of your Shepard and the cancer diagnosis of your Maltese. I am sure your husband is taking great care of your kitty in your absence. Your kitty knows you love her. :heart3: :vibes:

melesine · Jul 10, 2012

konstargirl said:
But sometimes I take my cat outside...

There is no scientific evidence that shows animals need to be revaccinated yearly. When you hear one year or two year rabies vax all that means is that the local government has decided that is how often it should be given, but it's the exact same vaccine.

natalie_ca · Jul 10, 2012

When I get a cat I get them their first set of vaccines. My cats are indoor only kitties and I don't bring other animals into my home, so my Vet has told me that it's not necessary to give further vaccinations.

hen I take my cats to the Vet, they are put into a quarantine area; which I like because it is more quiet in that area and my cats don't get as frightened.

orientalslave · Jul 11, 2012

EmilyMayWilcha said:
Did you read the subject title of this thread? I specifically asked if INDOOR-ONLY cats need vaccines. Meaning cats who never go outside.

Thread drift is part of the Internet. Sorry but that's what happens on a healthy forum. You cannot control it to only answer one specific narrow questions.

palikakitty · Jul 11, 2012

Every 4 years I have a work assignment out of town for 8 weeks and come home only on the weekends. There are several of us here in the same boat--with older animals that we worry about. My husband is retired so everyone is in good hands with him. I hate it but can't do anything about it.

thekittysaver · Jul 11, 2012

I'll look at those. I'm familiar with medical terminology. I work in health care. It seems like vet medicine would be harder due to the fact that pets cannot say what is wrong.

emilymaywilcha · Jul 11, 2012

Melesine said:
There is no scientific evidence that shows animals need to be revaccinated yearly. When you hear one year or two year rabies vax all that means is that the local government has decided that is how often it should be given, but it's the exact same vaccine.

In Ohio I was asked if I wanted a one or three year rabies vaccine. I always assumed that meant the rabies vaccine is only effective that long. Of course, I opted for the three-year rabies shot. Why anybody would want the one-year rabies shot will never make any sense to me.

orientalslave · Jul 11, 2012

Thekittysaver said:
I'll look at those. I'm familiar with medical terminology. I work in health care. It seems like vet medicine would be harder due to the fact that pets cannot say what is wrong.

I heard a story about that. A vet was ill and needed a home visit from his GP. He decided to play a practical joke on the doctor so said nothing during the consultation. As the GP was leaving, he said to the vet's wife "if he's no better next week I'll come back and shot him".

sugarcatmom · Jul 11, 2012

EmilyMayWilcha said:
Why anybody would want the one-year rabies shot will never make any sense to me.

Maybe because there is only one non-adjuvanted rabies vaccine available (Merial's PureVax), and it's currently only approved for annual administration. As per Dr. Schultz's comments on the matter:

With regard to vaccine-associated sarcomas (VAS) in cats, Dr. Schultz believes it's preferable to give the non-adjuvanted 1-year rabies vaccine over the 3-year vaccine containing adjuvants. Whereas the non-adjuvanted 1-year vaccine created no inflammatory response at the injection site (a marker for tumor development), adjuvanted rabies vaccines are known to cause more VAS. So even in genetically predisposed kitties, it is assumed the non-adjuvanted product, even given yearly, is less harmful than the adjuvanted vaccine.

feralvr · Jul 11, 2012

palikakitty said:
Every 4 years I have a work assignment out of town for 8 weeks and come home only on the weekends. There are several of us here in the same boat--with older animals that we worry about. My husband is retired so everyone is in good hands with him. I hate it but can't do anything about it.

That is a relief though for you having your husband home to care for the pets during the week for these eight weeks. AND you are home on weekends. Continued :vibes:

salnj · Jan 24, 2013

Our dog Rex just passed away 1/14. We rescued him 7 years ago when he was about 10.

I put an application to adopt another dog and I was denied because my 15 year old cat that has never been outside was not up to date with vaccines!

I guess this makes me a bad pet owner?

ldg · Jan 24, 2013

You can't bring her up to date and then adopt the dog?

But yes, when adopting, rescuing, or fostering, boarding, or traveling, those are additional considerations.

ldg · Apr 19, 2013

Just because this thread already has a good collection of important links, I thought I'd add this one, and article found by Auntie Crazy.

http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/purdue-vaccination-studies/

From the article:

At around the same time, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Vaccine-Associated Feline Sarcoma Task Force initiated several studies to find out why 160,000 cats each year in the USA develop terminal cancer at their vaccine injection sites.(3) The fact that cats can get vaccine-induced cancer has been acknowledged by veterinary bodies around the world, and even the British Government acknowledged it through its Working Group charged with the task of looking into canine and feline vaccines(4) following pressure from Canine Health Concern. What do you imagine was the advice of the AVMA Task Force, veterinary bodies and governments? “Carry on vaccinating until we find out why vaccines are killing cats, and which cats are most likely to die.”

In America, in an attempt to mitigate the problem, they’re vaccinating cats in the tail or leg so they can amputate when cancer appears. Great advice if it’s not your cat amongst the hundreds of thousands on the “oops” list.

But other species are okay – right? Wrong. In August 2003, the Journal of Veterinary Medicine carried an Italian study which showed that dogs also develop vaccine-induced cancers at their injection sites.(5) We already know that vaccine-site cancer is a possible sequel to human vaccines, too, since the Salk polio vaccine was said to carry a monkey retrovirus (from cultivating the vaccine on monkey organs) that produces inheritable cancer. The monkey retrovirus SV40 keeps turning up in human cancer sites.

It is also widely acknowledged that vaccines can cause a fast-acting, usually fatal, disease called autoimmune haemolytic anaemia (AIHA). Without treatment, and frequently with treatment, individuals can die in agony within a matter of days. Merck, itself a multinational vaccine manufacturer, states in The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy that autoimmune haemolytic anaemia may be caused by modified live-virus vaccines, as do Tizard’s Veterinary Immunology (4th edition) and the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine.(6) The British Government’s Working Group, despite being staffed by vaccine-industry consultants who say they are independent, also acknowledged this fact. However, no one warns the pet owners before their animals are subjected to an unnecessary booster, and very few owners are told why after their pets die of AIHA.

martinibeanie · Apr 23, 2014

I live in a HUD housing apartment, & must fill out an application to be able to have a cat in my apartment. One of the questions pertains to has my cat been vaccinated, by whom, (Vet's name, plus a certificate signed by a licensed vet. stating pet has been spayed or neutered) & I haven't even received the Cat as of yet. I'm getting her from a no-kill shelter. She is a 5 yr. old kitty. How do I verify she has been fixed plus her vaccinations, so I can be "registered"?

I can't get over all the hoopla folks have to go through, that are Required now, just to be a pet owner.

I just wonder, how ever did any of us survive back then???? Good thing people are so much safer now, she said, facetiously!!

There ought to be as many rules, laws & regulations to have children as there are to have a pet, esp. cats & dogs. That might prevent as much child abuse, & child neglect as we see on the news these days.

catsallaround · Apr 25, 2014

Doubt they care much except for Rabies and being fixed. Ask the shelter if they can give a statement that ALL cats are adopted out Altered and up to date on rabies. You really need to ask the place what they want as you PLAN to adopt.

cass · Apr 25, 2014

I keep my 3 (mostly) indoor cats up to date but my area has a lot of out door cats and the vet said things like Corona (which my 4 are being treated for) can be passed on by other cat fur!! Also fiv is high in my area.
I would have the basics and fiv done..it cant hurt...though in saying that, my 2 country cats at Mums house have never been done for anything and are 15 years old and have never had health probs except my boy being bit by a brown snake but he pulled through!
I would ask your vet in the area on their thoughts

Do indoor cats really need vaccines?

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