Keeping my FeLV cat up to date with vaccines

Hello. I don't know if anyone can answer this question...but here goes

My cat was diagnosed with FeLV through the Elisa test a year ago. He actually tested negative on the IFA test...so his results are not concurrent.

Anyway. I was so focused on him getting better - he had anemia, and before that he had a major case of crystals.

So basically, I have neglected to give him all his boosters and vaccines!

I was just wondering how it works, when a cat is immuno-compromised is it potentially harmful to introduce vaccines into their bodies? With people that have weakened immune systems they don't get vaccines.

Any advice on the matter? I know it would be best to just see a vet, but in the last two years we have spent over $5000 on our cat, so are trying to avoid extra costs.

Thanks for any advice

Is he indoor only? What are the laws where you live?

Here, not even the rabies vaccine is required by law. My cats get their initial vaccinations and boosters, and that's it. None after that. Chumley, our FIV+ rescue, got no vaccines. The vets all felt that as he's an indoor-only cat, he didn't need them, and being immune compromised, he shouldn't have them.

Immune compromised animals should NOT have any vaccinations.

Hi Sara457 !

As someone who lost a FeLV kitty some years ago - due to both my own ignorance of available online resources and an incompetent veterinarian - I'll offer the advice that I would follow today, were I now faced with your question.

Since my loss I have come to realize that the very best available online advice for managing chronic feline health conditions is to be had from the specialized support groups....these are private groups of people like yourself who come together for only one purpose:  to manage the specific disease/condition that their cat is facing. Such groups exist for almost every chronic disease and condition.

Some of these groups are "hosted" (given free online space) by Yahoo.com - others are independently hosted.

The "best" of these for FeLV has to be this one: http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org

The group has been around for more than 13 years - the "home" website is here: http://felineleukemia.org/

Many benefits flow from participation in these groups. Membership is global and there is an enormous amount of collective experience available to be drawn on - far more than is to be had from anyone's individual Veterinarian. In addition, group members are sure to be in the know about the latest in treatment options, clinical drug trials and the like. (I don't know if you're aware, but, there is a tremendous amount of current ongoing scientific research into all the feline viral diseases - if you want to be in the know about these, one of the major research funders offers a subscription service for announcements/updates here: http://winnfelinehealth.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=415b3f2ea14ea9e3390df93aa&id=cb095b8233 - Their website is here: http://www.winnfelinehealth.org/)

While I am comfortably confident with my own position on re-vaccination for any cat, I know that I would want to explore what other more experienced FeLV caregivers have to say - so, it would be to them that I'd put my questions.

Hope that helps !

Thank you very much White Shadow for your advice. I will look into the website you suggested. Sorry you lost a kitty to the virus. You are right, vets aren't always super knowledgeable about every aspect of every disease. My own vet had very little knowledge on FeLV and basically said that my cat was going to die.

LDG, he is an indoor cat but we take him outside on a leash.