Annual Exam

I am taking all four of my cats for their annual exam in a couple weeks.  I have an 8 year old and three 18 month old siblings.  My 8 year old will have CBC, CMS and will ask for an EKG/Chest Xray.  He should not need any vaccines.  My 18 month olds will need rabies and boosters. I am going to ask for baseline labs on them also. On my 8 year old I have gotten all vaccines even though they are all indoor only cats. I have read the risk of some vaccines, my concern is that I care for feral cats.  I pet them and feed them. I do wash my hands, but what can be brought in on my clothes?  My indoor cats all use Revolution, ferals have Advantage, except Big Poppa who cannot be approached at all. What does everyone do for their indoor kitties when they handle ferals?

I work in a shelter and treat all cats as potentially contagious with URI's, ringworm, Panleukopenia, and intestinal parasites like coccidia and giardia.  I thoroughly wash my hands and remove any clothing that might have come in contact with a cat, and i remove my shoes upon entering my home and rinse off the soles.

The only virus's that can possibly be given to your cat by way of contact with you are URI's, and Panleukopenia so continuing the FVRCP vaccine sounds like a good idea.

Ringworm and parasites require disinfecting since there is no vaccine, and the FIV/FeLV virus don't live long enough outside the host body for you to be a vector.

I don't give rabies vaccines to my indoor cats because of the cancer risk.

Thank you!! @StephenQ.  I always have given rabies because I live in Michigan and bats will get in attics.  I have had a bat get in my house before. My older cat could care less, but the younger ones get on the back of couch and do a mid air assault. My girl has caught a moth mid air by launching off the couch. She landed with it in her paw. Can I ask the vet to do a titer for rabies as I hear the vaccine lasts more than every 3 years that it is given?

KittyMomma1122 said:

 
Thank you!! @StephenQ.  I always have given rabies because I live in Michigan and bats will get in attics.  I have had a bat get in my house before. My older cat could care less, but the younger ones get on the back of couch and do a mid air assault. My girl has caught a moth mid air by launching off the couch. She landed with it in her paw. Can I ask the vet to do a titer for rabies as I hear the vaccine lasts more than every 3 years that it is given?

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You can ask but i don't know what the result may be :-)