Vaccines and "booster" shots

I have a few questions for you TCS experts about vaccines...

1. Boots

Boots was vaccinated exactly once, as a semi-feral kitten ~2 months old. He got -- I think, because the paperwork got destroyed in a rainstorm :doh3: -- the normal stuff, like FPV (distemper), FCV (calicivirus) and I think herpesvirus? Not sure on that. He was too young for rabies.

He didn't go back for his booster shots because a. we moved away from that area and that vet before they were due, and b. he lives only with Kramer, who has been vaccinated for everything as far as I'm aware (more on that in a minute).

He got his rabies shot when he was neutered at ~4 months.

He turned one on June 15th.

Does Boots need any more vaccines? Is he good for life? I know most vaccines act for at least seven years, regardless of what the vet tells you. Is the same true of kitten vaccines, or does he really, actually need a new set? If he does, when should he get them? Are there any that he's missing that you would recommend?


2. Kramer

Kramer was vaccinated with the adult combo vaccine set when he was at the cat shelter, long before he came into my life. :rub: As far as I know, he hasn't been vaccinated since.

I can't remember what exactly was on his shelter paperwork, but I know he got all the important stuff, including rabies.

He will be 2 in September.

Does he need anything? Or is he good for another 5 years? For life?


I'm considering getting both of them revaccinated when my money situation improves... that way I know for sure what they have and don't have, and I'll have the paperwork to prove it, barring any more ferocious rainstorms. :lol3: If I want to get them both redone, how long do I need to wait?

When considering your response, please remember that they are inside only, and the only other cat they have contact with is my boyfriend's cat, who is also vaccinated.


Thanks!!

I would probably have Boots re-vaccinated. At 2 months he probably still had maternal antibodies, which can interfere with the vaccine's efficacy. If the shots were given after 16 weeks I wouldn't worry. You could have titers done to see if the vaccine took, but they cost more.

Kramer shouldn't need any more, unless he was under 16 weeks old when the shots were done.

And you have to consider whether your lifestyle demands keeping them legal on rabies shots. If you have a lot of guests you might want to.

Also I would advise, if you are doing the vaccination do not let them talk you into any 3 year shots since, as you said the vaccines are good for a very long time.

Also you should make sure your vet uses ONLY Merial Purevax brand of vaccines for all the shots. 

All other vaccine companies use an adjuvant in their vaccines. The adjuvant is a serum added to the vaccine to boost its efficacy and jump start it. In cats it can have an idiocyncratic effect and cause a site-specific allergy or carcinoma, or a generalized allergy or sarcoma. This is known as VAS vaccine associated sarcoma. 

ALL three year vaccines contain the adjuvant and only Merial makes the one-year adjuvant-free feline vaccines. 

Only rabies comes in PureVax. I don't believe there's an adjuvant-free version of the FVCRP vaccine.

Guess what! :-) There is more than just rabies! http://www.nextag.com/merial-purevax-feline/shop-html

http://www.vetdepot.com/purevax-feline-4-rccp-25-single-doses.html

I've done my research, because Toby's lymphosarcoma is from his shots- NONE of which were Merial and ALL of which he got at the same time :-(.

Update:

Since I'm not 100% sure who got what at what time, they're both getting re-vaccinated for everything when they go for their annual exam on Wednesday.

They're ordering the PureVax for me, too. :bigthumb: