Vaccinations Info?

mingking · Jul 9, 2015

Is there a thread or site that I can go to detailing what sort of vaccines my cat might need?

I've looked online but there are so many medical terms and information that I'm not sure where or how to start! I just need a nudge in the right direction with the situation I have:

I adopted my cat back in February this year and the shelter gave me his medical history (of the short time he was there - they have no idea of his previous med history since he was a stray). They gave him the 3 in 1 combo, tested for FeLV/FIV and did ear mite treatments. No rabies and my vet is not sure about the shots given but advises I come in 6 months and get booster shots.

I have no idea what the 3 in 1 combo consists of, what the benefits of booster shots are vs. actual vaccine and etc.! I didn't think to ask further when I went to the vet because I was too worried about Ming and his cold and cough.

Thank you for your help! I was looking at some other threads about vaccines that it sparked my question.

momto3cats · Jul 10, 2015

The 3 in 1 is probably the basic FVRCP vaccine that all cats get. FVRCP = Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus and Panleukopenia. Panleukopenia is also known as feline distemper, and some people call this 3-way combo shot a "distemper shot" for simplicity.

"Booster" shots are the same vaccines that are given in the beginning, just given again 1-3 years later. They supposedly "boost" immunity, but research has shown they usually aren't necessary. If your cat was an adult or older kitten (at least 4 months) when he was vaccinated, he probably doesn't need another FVRCP shot ever, but if you do choose to give a booster it is more common to wait a year, not 6 months.

kat hamlin · Jul 10, 2015

3-1 is the FVRCP (distemper combo shot). We use a 4 in 1 that includes Chlamydia psittaci because of the concentration of cats. Basically, it is the one core non-rabies vaccine for cats. The R and C are both viral illnesses that resemble human colds; the P is feline distemper / panleukopenia, which is nasty nasty nasty.

If your kitty has not had rabies vaccine yet, in most states in the US it is required by law to give and booster according to state law, starting at 3 months of age. The first rabies shot is a 1 year and after that most states accept a 3 year version of the vaccine.

If kitty is indoors only, no need for vaccines other than FVRCP and rabies. Opinions vary as to boostering the FVRCP; how old was Ming when he received the vaccine at the shelter? If he was over 14 weeks at the administration, I would say wait a year to booster and then don't booster at all, or at the most frequent every 3 years on that one, too. If he was under 14 weeks at time of last FVRCP then a 6 month booster might be advisable.

Boosters are the same as the initial shot. It's just a little reminder to the immune system of what was already there. The main reason boosters are given is to kittens, because the shot is not effective until their maternal immunity wears off, which can be unpredictable and anywhere from usually 6 to 12 weeks of age. Depends on how long and well they nurse and how good mama's immunity was. For kittens in a shelter situation, they will likely start at 5-6 weeks and booster every 3-4 weeks until 14-16 weeks of age. A lot of people get confused and think that the kitten has to have some magic number of boosters, 3 is what I hear most commonly. No, they really just need one shot that gets in after maternal immunity fades and hopefully before disease exposure.

Unfortunately a lot of vets are still in the dark ages about vaccinations. Even while it was scientifically evident that the vaccines' protection lasted longer than a year, annual boosters were a way for vets to see their patients on a more routine basis and make a little more money. Many vets thought that the benefits of seeing your patient annually outweighed the risk of over-vaccinating. However, it becomes more and more evident that cats especially are prone to injection site sarcomas, basically a cancerous tumor at the site of the vaccine. So vets are beginning to back away from the annual vaccine and just encourage annual wellness visits, which is a good thing. You should also ensure the vet or tech who administers the vaccine to your cat does so in accordance with the guidelines of the feline practitioners association...that is, NOT in the scruff of the neck. It may be an easy place to inject, but it's a hard place to amputate. I believe the current guidelines are rear right leg for rabies, as distal (close to the foot) as possible, and rear left leg for FVRCP.

mingking · Jul 10, 2015

momto3cats said:
The 3 in 1 is probably the basic FVRCP vaccine that all cats get. FVRCP = Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus and Panleukopenia. Panleukopenia is also known as feline distemper, and some people call this 3-way combo shot a "distemper shot" for simplicity.

"Booster" shots are the same vaccines that are given in the beginning, just given again 1-3 years later. They supposedly "boost" immunity, but research has shown they usually aren't necessary. If your cat was an adult or older kitten (at least 4 months) when he was vaccinated, he probably doesn't need another FVRCP shot ever, but if you do choose to give a booster it is more common to wait a year, not 6 months.

Kat Hamlin said:
3-1 is the FVRCP (distemper combo shot). We use a 4 in 1 that includes Chlamydia psittaci because of the concentration of cats. Basically, it is the one core non-rabies vaccine for cats. The R and C are both viral illnesses that resemble human colds; the P is feline distemper / panleukopenia, which is nasty nasty nasty.

If your kitty has not had rabies vaccine yet, in most states in the US it is required by law to give and booster according to state law, starting at 3 months of age. The first rabies shot is a 1 year and after that most states accept a 3 year version of the vaccine.

If kitty is indoors only, no need for vaccines other than FVRCP and rabies. Opinions vary as to boostering the FVRCP; how old was Ming when he received the vaccine at the shelter? If he was over 14 weeks at the administration, I would say wait a year to booster and then don't booster at all, or at the most frequent every 3 years on that one, too. If he was under 14 weeks at time of last FVRCP then a 6 month booster might be advisable.

Boosters are the same as the initial shot. It's just a little reminder to the immune system of what was already there. The main reason boosters are given is to kittens, because the shot is not effective until their maternal immunity wears off, which can be unpredictable and anywhere from usually 6 to 12 weeks of age. Depends on how long and well they nurse and how good mama's immunity was. For kittens in a shelter situation, they will likely start at 5-6 weeks and booster every 3-4 weeks until 14-16 weeks of age. A lot of people get confused and think that the kitten has to have some magic number of boosters, 3 is what I hear most commonly. No, they really just need one shot that gets in after maternal immunity fades and hopefully before disease exposure.

Unfortunately a lot of vets are still in the dark ages about vaccinations. Even while it was scientifically evident that the vaccines' protection lasted longer than a year, annual boosters were a way for vets to see their patients on a more routine basis and make a little more money. Many vets thought that the benefits of seeing your patient annually outweighed the risk of over-vaccinating. However, it becomes more and more evident that cats especially are prone to injection site sarcomas, basically a cancerous tumor at the site of the vaccine. So vets are beginning to back away from the annual vaccine and just encourage annual wellness visits, which is a good thing. You should also ensure the vet or tech who administers the vaccine to your cat does so in accordance with the guidelines of the feline practitioners association...that is, NOT in the scruff of the neck. It may be an easy place to inject, but it's a hard place to amputate. I believe the current guidelines are rear right leg for rabies, as distal (close to the foot) as possible, and rear left leg for FVRCP.

Wow!!!!!! Thank you so much! I'm sure I'll probably re-read both of your replies again and find something I might need clarification for, but for now, I do have a few questions:

Ming was estimated to be 2-3 years old when they found him and gave him shots. And (this is my fault), I think the vet meant come in 6 months after when the vaccine's anniversary date arrives since he got the shot in Aug 2014 and I went to the vet in March. So that sounds right!

Ming goes outdoors on a leash so what other vaccines would you recommend? He gets monthly Revolution treatments too.

I think when it's August, I'll ask about the rabies vaccine. I live in Canada so the rabies shot is not required by law. My vet did give me a whole spiel about how the shelters don't do rabies shots and that's bad so I'm confident in his opinion knowing he advocates for that.

Again, THANK YOU! This is all great info especially the bit about where vets should vaccinate on the cat. I never thought about that! I'm going to google some of the diseases/viruses you mentioned as well.

mingking · Jul 10, 2015

Oh I also have a question about deworming. He got dewormed at the same time. Does this need to happen again?

kat hamlin · Jul 10, 2015

If Ming only goes outside on a leash and doesn't come into contact with cats of unknown FeLV (leukemia) status, then he is fine without the FeLV vaccine. I would only recommend that vaccine for a cat that was outdoors unsupervised and possibly coming into contact with strays.

Because he is on Revolution monthly, he is probably good for deworming. Selamectin treats some of the more common intestinal worms. In my opinion, adult cats are less likely to need deworming than adult dogs. If you're unsure, your vet would be happy to check a fecal sample for intestinal parasites. I only do this if somebody is having intestinal troubles like diarrhea, or seems like they're not thriving. An apparently healthy adult cat on Revolution is unlikely to need additional deworming, though, in my opinion.

momto3cats · Jul 10, 2015

Revolution takes care of worms as well as fleas, so he shouldn't need an additional dewormer.

I personally don't recommend any vaccines other than FVRCP and Rabies (if rabies is a risk at all where you live). Those are considered the "core" vaccines.

For a kitten that goes outside unsupervised and might have contact with stray cats, maybe I would do Felv (feline leukemia) too, but adults are much less at risk. You are also lowering his risk of getting Felv a lot by keeping him on a leash outdoors. I wouldn't (and don't) use that vaccine for a mostly-indoor cat.

There are a lot of different opinions on what vaccines are needed, though.

Vaccinations Info?

mingking

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momto3cats

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kat hamlin

"RESCUE" is my favorite breed

mingking

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mingking

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kat hamlin

"RESCUE" is my favorite breed

momto3cats

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