6 month old male kitten with no vaccinations

kaldrina

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A friend adopted a kitten with no vaccinations; she lives in an apartment so wants to do a more limited vaccination protocol. What shots would you have done? (He has been dewormed)

She is booking him in to get neutered shortly but wants to go in with some information in case the vet starts pushing vaccines. Its her first cat and doesn't know a lot about vaccines and I don't know enough to be able to help her.

(Her computer died on her so I said I would ask you lovely people for her :) )
 

vball91

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Have a look at the Vaccines section on www.catinfo.org. What this vet says about vaccines makes sense to me and may help your friend decide which ones are necessary in her situation. It also addresses the types of vaccines available and their safety.
 

ritz

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What a good friend you are.
Here is an article about vaccinations.
And a thread, which has another thread embedded specific to apartment dwellers.
Speaking from personal experience: I lived in a condo, top floor for the first three years I had Ritz; I moved a year ago to a ground floor townhouse.
Ritz got the yearly rabies booster and feline distemper (FVP--Panleukopenia Virus-- is also known as feline distemper) booster and Feline Calicivirus (FHV-1/FCV) booster. Rabies booster is required by law where I live; the FCV shot is required by my pet insurance provider if I want them to cover the cost of her ever getting FCV/FVP.
Her last rabies booster lasts for three years and I'm not sure whether I will vaccinate her again. Some jurisdictions do not accept the three-year Rabies booster shot as 'legimate'. But Ritz may have had a bad reaction to this rabies booster (*may* have exacerbated some FHS symptoms), so I'll have to talk with my vet before vaccinating her again against rabies.
Regarding the FVP-FCV: perhaps I am unjustly paranoid, but because I am exposed to a lot of cats (some feral), I plan on vaccinating her against these diseases on a regular basis.
Your friend needs to check with the property management company of her apartment complex: although the LAW may not require her cat to be vaccinated against certain diseases, the management company may.
 

fluffybeard

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I'm no vaccine expert whatsoever. I'll just tell you what my vet did for my indoor only kitten. He was a 4/5 week old baby when I got him and had to do a series, so it's probably different for an older cat. All he had was 3 of the 3 in 1 FVRCP combo vaccinations. Most charts recomended like 4 or 5 of those based on his age, plus some other things. But my vet said thats all he needed and didn't reccomend anything else like rabies or feline leukemia. She said she doesnt give those to her own indoor only cats. But depending on your area, rabies might be mandatory by law. I'll get him the rabies anyway when I start taking him out on a harness. I'd like to make him an outdoor enclosure too and I feel like rabies risk is low in my area but better safe than sorry. We do have wildlife and strays around.
 
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kaldrina

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Would his age make a difference? Everything I can find only talks about what shots are recommended for young kittens, not older kittens that have never been vaccinated.

She lives in an apartment that her uncle owns so luckily no apartment rules to worry about.

I've never vaccinated my older cat (who was adopted as an adult and was vaccinated at the humane society before I got her) and for my kitten I'm following this guideline http://www.itsfortheanimals.com/DODDS-CHG-VACC-PROTOCOLS.HTM   and then most likely he will not be vetting any more shots.
 
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molldee

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I don't get my cats vaccinated. They are 6, 6 & 7. They did get kitten shots though. And they will be getting rabies soon because I'm paranoid.
 

stephanietx

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I don't vaccinate my adult cats, but they've all had their kitten boosters and first rabies shot.  I'd have the kitten start his kitten shots for sure.
 
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kaldrina

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Thanks I'll pass this information on, she's made a vet appointment for this weekend :)

But... Would his age make a difference? Everything I can find only talks about what shots are recommended for young kittens, not older kittens that have never been vaccinated.
 

ajmonti

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Ive been wondering the same.took a kitten in abandoned by a couple in my complex.she needs shots and my other cat has always been indoors.not sure what shots to do.i think just go with rabies and feline.
 

catsallaround

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I do no vaccines except rabies for the ones who go out/may slip out.  I used to do the full series then had 2 kittens with issues(not related).  I dropped down to just first combo and rabies, never going back for the second combo.

I do have alot of cats but think I am low risk as hardly ever have anyone over and if I do they do not have cats minus my Mom.  I have not taken in a new cat in years.

I understand there could be risks and this is not for everyone.
 

scarlett 001

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I am perhaps going to adopt an unvaccinated 5 month old kitten. I will be doing a first set of shots and then the booster about 1 month later. I tend to be very minimalist in my vaccination protocols but my real concern is overvaccination for adults that already have sufficient immunity. I found some literature that suggested the booster was not needed if cat older than about 4-6 months but just to be sure, I will do this booster. But he will not be getting annual vaccinations once he has sufficient immunity.
 
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kaldrina

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Thanks everyone

I think she has decided on the 2 FVRCP plus rabies  which is what I did for my kitten as well but he was younger when I started. I doubt that he will be vaccinated after this unless she moves to a house and increases the risk of door dashing then she would probably do rabies just to be safe.
 
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