Do any of you NOT vaccinate your cat?

tabbysia

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I always make sure my cats get their yearly vaccinations, even though my cats are strictly indoors. I'm paranoid about them catching something. I know several people who don't though. I was surprised to find out that my brother has never had his nine year old cat vaccinated. I did not know this before he borrowed my carrier to transport his cat when he was moving to his new house. I wonder now if I should sterilize the carrier before I bring it back in my house. My brother's reasons for not vaccinating his cat are being cheap and the fact that his cat is indoor only.

Do any of you choose to not vaccinate your cats, and if so why? What are the pros and cons of yearly vaccinations? Are they always necessary for indoor only cats?
 

jcat

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Mogli is indoor only, so he's not vaccinated for FeLV or rabies (this area has been rabies-free for several years), nor for FIV or FIP. The latter are "iffy" anyway and not recommended. He does get the other inoculations (RCP) every year. I now work at a shelter and am wary of what I could potentially bring home, e.g. panleukopenia. Even before I was spending several days a week at the shelter, I got Mogli and his predecessors vaccinated because I'm the type who pets the neighborhood cats when walking down the street, and you never know when your own cat is going to accidentally get out and be exposed. That happens a lot more than people think. Never say never.
 
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tabbysia

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Here in Texas, we are required by law to get a yearly rabies vaccine for our pets, inside or not. I don't know how common rabies is here though.
 

furmummy

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Don't vaccinate.  My cats have not have one vaccination in the 11 years I've had them. And never will, if I can help it.

Now, I DO believe in giving kittens a series of FVRCP. And rabies for an outside cat if rabies is an issue in the area.

Ever ask why we don't vaccinate people for measles every year????
 

stephanietx

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All of my  kitties have gotten their kitten shots and first rabies shot.  I have one cat who has feline herpes and my vet has recommended that she not get the rabies shot unless we move or there is a rabies outbreak.  She can't have the combo shot because it sends her into a herpes flare up and an upper respiratory infection.  Since my other cats are indoor only, we don't foster, and we don't have a lot of visitors, we've chosen not to vaccinate our other cats.  If we did, I'd have them tested for antibodies before giving shots to see if they truly needed the vax.
 
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