Indoor Cats - WARNING

Hello Everyone,

I read your posts - and I wanted to add some more insight on indoor cats and the sad lesson I learned.

I do everything expected of me - laws etc.

I got a kitten - I got her shots and fixed etc.

I had her for 14 years - and would have had her longer if I hadn't gotten her vaccinated - tell you why.

Every year she got the shots required so I thought - same vet 

My daughter became a vet tech. just to learn about animals the care, etc. and after 12 years later I am glad she stuck with it.

She became one because of this.

Well, you think your vet knows what they are doing - hey they went to school upteen years... well, here ya go:

She received her shots in the same place = must be something for the vet I had in order for him to remember by doing it that way-

well, he continued on giving her one of the shots in her neck in the same place -this caused cancer in her neck - vaccination sarcoma - they called it- after $4000 later I was left with putting her to sleep -because after 2 surgeries and she was a small cat she didn't have anymore skin left to close up the opening if I did it again- this is a rapid growing cancer- sometimes they get it all sometimes they don't.

My cat which was the best cat I ever had I lost by doing what I was required to do - 

The kicker I found out after a certain amount of years they become immune to the vaccinations and as long as that cat doesn't come into contact with outdoor animals - no need to get them vaccination at all -

well, RIP Belle -I am sorry mommy wasn't as knowledgeable as she should have been.

After 3 years of getting over my loss - I got a new indoor cat - and she got her kittens shots - and 3 years later - no vaccinations.

Now I will bring her in soon to get checked out- make sure no other issues - but vaccinations she will never get.

Just a word to the wise- research the shots your animal is getting - and what they might cause if not given properly and what to look for - in regards to them.

Hope this helps anyone out there before they lose their loved-one.

God Bless

Thank you so much for your story, I'm sure it will help many on giving vaccinations. I too have a 14 year old that rarely goes out now, but his younger brother does.  With all the ferals around here I am terrified of distemper, is there something you can input about that? I would appreciate any advise. Are any vaccinations worse then others on causing that cancer? Thanks!

Yes this is a big subject. Most have said they don't need shots every year.  And the "new" thing is not giving them shots in the neck anymore. Sorry for your loss. 

It is the rabies vaccination that has been linked to cancer. They changed the injection site to the legs. There's a new recommendation to vaccinate in the tail, as that is the easiest to amputate if cancer occurs.

My cat amputated her tail when she climbed up the chimney. She wasn't very painful. The vet took off another inch of tail so it was a clean cut. It healed up just fine.

If you are going to vaccinate, go for the tail!