Do others refuse to get your cat(s) vaccinated? if yes...

could you please post your reasons?

One of my kitties no longer gets vaccinated due to probable liver damage from having had fatty liver.  My other kitty still gets annual rabies and the other vaccination every three years.

When I think about vaccines I separate them.  I believe that the series for kittens and the 1 year boosters are necessary.  The diseases that they protect against especially feline distemper are bad and in the case of distemper is always fatal in young kittens.

After the 1 years booster it gets kind of gray.  Some people don't vaccinate again after that.  Others get titers ran and only vaccinate if immunity falls below a safe level.  I believe that those vaccines have a much longer life than what they have been certified for.

I agree.  I think the practice of cramming vaccines into one injection confuses the immune system and weakens the cat. I believe my cat Kiku developed asthma because of this practice, after his booster.  I never thought so until I spoke with a woman whose father died of asthma.  He developed it in the service  ( a long time ago) after he had been vaccinated with one injection with multiple vaccines.  It sure sounded like Kiku's demise.

I give the initial rabies, like you, and the dystemper, especially as distemper is airborne.  After that - no.  In humans, a tetanus vaccine lasts three years...why do critters need to be vaccinated so often???? 

Hi -

For a few years now I am following my own protocol, after reading up on studies by the preeminent pet immunologist Dr. Ron Shultz

and listening to his 4 15-minute videos summarizing where we're at away from the veterinary's business influence:


(watch all 4, kind of dry, and the interview Dr. interrupts a tad, but still good basic stuff)

Long story short - I vaccinate initially if still a kitten (trying to hit just after the "window of vulnerability" where mother's antibodies are wearing off, but still combating some of the vaccine effectiveness) and the next booster for the CORE diseases, plus for my area I also include Leukemia.

Once the initial rounds are done - NOTHING. 

Duration of immunity = lifetime.  (For most virals, that is.  Bacterial infections is another matter)

That's my own personal belief, as I understand where the research stands now (yes, I've read the literature, and the Feline TASK FORCE symposium notes on current thinking).

If I adopt an adult cat, which my last 2 were - stray males that came a-callin' - I do the initial for RCCP, Leukemia, and Rabies, and then a 2nd Rabies one year later.

I try to find a vet who carries or is wiling to order in the types of vaccines I'm most comfortable with - canary pox recombinant rabies (PureVac by Merial), and non-adjuvinated modified live, if not that, at least not aluminum added - Fort Dodge/Boehringer Ingelheim makes a proprietary "aqueous dual phase" adjuvant that is not metal for Leukemia, must be administered trans-dermally.

I realize that's flaunting my state's law for Rabies, but if I get caught (unlikely) after the 3 yr certificate is expired, I get a certain amount to comply and get them the damn shot before being hauled off to the pokey.  (I think getting caught with a dog without current rabies is more likely and still rare for caring pet owners)

I wish I vould find a good vet here who believes in seperating vaxes out.

None of the babies have been done yet. They ARE indoor cats but just in case... I want them vaccinated. Especially if we ever travel.

l typically get the kitten vaxes done. The only exception has been my youngest who went for his 18 month rabies vax, and was scheduled for his kitten vax booster shot 2 weeks later. After getting the rabies shot, he seemed "off", not right, so l told the vet my observations and she said she would give the booster if l requested it, but that she was not recommending it. So we skipped it.

l only get them rabies shots every 6 or 7 years past kittenhood.

I agree with the theory of doing the initial rounds but stopping there. I think its necessary to a degree so as not to leave your cat completely defneseless. But I agree with others that secondary illnesses can occur because of certain vaccinations.

I only get the rabies done. they had their boosters and all initial shots done as kittens (required by shelter prior to adopting). Since Rabies are required by law, I get those done every 3 years. They are both indoor kitties and not exposed to other animals or outside.

Boosters do not do any more good than the original shot. Other shots are not needed unless your cat goes out and associates with other cats.   Read this link:http://www.critterfixer.org

i do all recommended kitten vax and then rabies as required by state law.  where i live, vets will not see cats without up to date rabies shots.  because my cats are indoor and i have all new cats tested for FIV/FELV before joining the group, i only give the rabies shots after that now.  my oldest cats had second and third rounds of 'boosters' because at the time we had an outdoor cat as well.  i request adjuvant-free.

I do the kitten series.

For outdoor cats who are exposed to strays I also vaccinate for FIV and Leukemia.

For indoor cats, I do the 3 in 1 nasal every 3 to 4 years.

The main exposure my cats have is at the vet office. Any time your bring your cat to the vet you are exposing them to other sick cats.

The 3 in 1 shot has been possibly linked to causing kidney failure later in life.  I no longer use the 3 in 1 shot, just the intranasal as the research suggests the intranasal is safer.

The only time I refused vaccinations was with my last cat who was diabetic, had a massive thymoma that took up half of her chest cavity, and later CRF.  I'll probably keep Rabies current and see about titers for the rest with my current cats.