Are kitten shots really needed ?

Just got a little calico kitty, wanted to know if it's truly needed or not she's an apartment cat.

View media item 247466 to TCS! Even indoor cats should get the so-called "core shots". This article should help: The Cat Vaccination Guide

Yes kitten shots are an absolute must :nod:

You don't need to do the boosters every year after that if you don't wish too. But, kittens need their first shots to build up some protection against the different virus's and diseases.

Even if you kitten is going to be an indoor kitty - you'll still risk bringing germs for these virus's home on your hands, shoes, etc from other cats, the vet office, the pet store, and so on.

Beautiful kitten

I've always done the initial shots and 3 year boosters. 

However, I'm one of those who doesn't believe in overdoing vaccinations, so I slack off after about 3 years, and I refuse to do anything after 10 years.  Thankfully, my vet hasn't given me any grief over it. 

I am also one who does NOT believe in those annual vaccines, it's rediculous for "old school" vets to continue recommending them, that is simply overvaccinating!

HOWEVER, to confirm what I know and believe to be the appropriate and necessary vaccines, I recently attended an all weekend symposium on feline health at U.C. Davis veterinary teaching school, held by some of the very best, renowned veterinarians.

The educator who discussed necessary vaccines, and who is also very reserved about this as I am, clearly explained what is NEEDED for a kitten into an adult cat.

3 vaccines FVRCP should be given at 1 every 3-4 weeks consecutively, the third n=being no younger than 16 weeks old due to mom's maternal antibodies present.

At one year should get another fvrcp vaccine and a rabies.

After that, it is recommended every 3 years, but personally once a healthy vaccinated adult age, I have only done my cats twice, and they are 12 years old. I will not give anymore vaccines.

Understand that despite living in an apt, you can easily bring a virus in on your shoes, panleukopenia is deadly and lives on surfaces, especially grass for 18 months. Think about that, that means it is everywhere basically.

Walk on the floor, cat walks on the same floor, cleans paws and there it is, a dreadful painful death that could so easily been prevented.

So yes! Please do right by your kitten and get her vaccinated asap.

If money is an issue, no biggie, find a local pet store of feed supply and ask when their mobile vaccine clinic van will be there. Cheap, like $10.00.

BTW, she is a stinking dollface!!

I definitely do the kitten shots, but after that, they only get a rabies shot every 3 years, if that.  I'd rather have the titer test to check for antibodies than to overvaccinate.

I stopped vaccinating my new cats/kittens in 2009.  I only get a rabies for any that will be going out.  Seems to have worked out fine.  I have a lot of cats but newcomers are held in another area for some time and I have not taken in a new cat in years.  As long as you know that there can be some risk it may be an option to skip.  If you are doing it JUST to save money I STRONGLY advise you to look more into it and low cost shot clinics or even spay/neuter clinics.

I would get the basic round of vaccinations and rabies. Check your apartment lease about rabies. Some apartments (usually any building with more than a few apartment units) require that all cats and dogs be rabies vaccinated and proof of vaccinaton may be required.

Do your own research but for me the breeder gave some shots and I haven't done any. The shots they give before 16 weeks don't usually take so if you are going to do shots I'd say at 16 weeks do the fvrcp and usually once is enough. This is a complicated subject that takes many pages to explain so you will either do your own research or take the vets word for it and over vaccinate.