Opinions on Home Vaccines?

My cat is really timid, but I really need to get her her booster shots. She is long overdue for them since she spent much of her first year very sick. I was shopping for some cat food at my favorite food supply store and noticed they sold at home vaccines for dogs and cats. I figured that maybe I could do this for my cat since not only would it be much cheaper, but it would also be far less stressful for her. I want to do my research though and I know I will have to bring her in for her rabies shot eventually but I was wondering if anyone has had any experience giving their cats vaccines?

I have done some of the shots at home before. Of course legally in my state Rabies has to be given by a Vet so I have never given those. The problem with doing it at home is that you need to know the cat is 100% healthy before giving any vaccine and that can only be determined by a Vet.  Have you considered using a vet who comes to you? There are mobile vets in some areas.

I want to add that you must know how to give a vaccine correctly. Some are given subq, others by IM. And some are given in certain areas of the body, say the neck scruff or a leg. Incorrectly drawing up a dose is also a concern. Some people see the 10 line (no decimal point in between the 1 and 0) and somehow think that is the 1 line and wind up ODing the cat. If you have never give vaccines before, I don't recommend that you do them at home.

I don't recommend it. They should be given by someone who is trained and the cat should be assessed for general health beforehand. Also, there's no way to be sure the vaccine was delivered/stored correctly and if it wasn't, it might not be effective and safe. It's not worth the financial savings, in my opinion. Plus if there's a vaccine reaction you have no back up. Some vets will treat vaccine reactions for free or at a discounted rate if they were the ones that administered it.

The mobile vet is a good idea, though she tries to hide every time someone comes through the front door. I could bring her out to them in the van though. No car ride, no wait at the vet's office, very little stress. The cost doesn't bother me too much, it's my cat I worry about. Poor thing just gets so frightened she locks up and tries to make herself as small as she can.

Just a thought. Since your kitty is very shy, you can have her in a carrier before the designated time of arrival of the mobil vet. Tha's what I would do.

Another thing about boosters.  You need to be sure to read about the one's that can work as a booster and decipher if you may just have to start all over with the complete vaccine.  You said she was very sick her first year...you can't just pick up where you left off on some vaccines.  They have to be given within a certain amount of time to be effective.  No cat likes to go to the vet, shy or not.  They get over it and it truly is better to stress them a little, rather than to let them be exposed to disease.

Absolutely use the mobile vet if you do not want to bring your cat in to the vet's office. I would never recommend giving your own shots at home. There is much risk involved if you are not accurate in dispensing, dosing and don't have trained experience in doing so. Plus - there could be a possible reaction. Best to have all shots done under the care of a vet either by office visit or mobile/home visit. I have a vet that does house calls!!!