Indoor cats and yearly vaccinations?

I have a question and would like some of you to share your thoughts with me.

Our cats Bro age 9 and Lily age 10 months both have had the leukemia vaccine

and upper respiratory and the rabies vaccines this year.

The cost of the shots has become so expensive that I want to know your thoughts.

My vet said if the cat is inside and not outside or near other cats that come in and out

that you could choose not to have the leukemia and upper respiratory shots yearly.

Now boarding a cat...I know this from experience they put my beautiful cat near a cat

they knew had the upper respiratory illness and she died a horrible and painful death

2 weeks later herself from catching it..at a vets office..boarding there..

South carolina has the option to do a 3 year rabies vaccine for only 6 dollars more than the annual rabies shot in other states..

I also hear the shots can cause cancer in pets..the vaccines...or harm them immune wise..

I always have paid for annual rabies shot..and just the last 4 years started the leukemia and upper respiratory shots with the annual rabies shot..

I would like to hear your thoughts on any of the above..

both my cats will be walked on harnesses and leashes now and indoors due to

dogs mauling Peebo last oct and having to put him to sleep..

so now I have Bro who witnesssed  the attack and is 9 years old and the new

kitty Lily who is 10 months old...

The cats did not eat the grass nor the chocolate in my Easter basket I just posed them with it..and then placed the basket where they can not get to  it...

thanks Sheri, Bro and Lily

Hi Sheri,   I'm not sure about the upper respiratory one, being that they are not in contact with any other cats, you can maybe skip that one. I know the last couple of years, I only had Angel get the rabies shot yearly. Since he had been indoor only for a few years, that's all he needed. If it weren't the law, I would have skipped that one too, w/ him not going outside anymore.  

Yes, I agree, I have read so many times that the 3 year shot is bad news! In fact, my vets don't even offer that one because of that, & I think that says something! 

Kelly

I see that we are not able to send private email or messages

has that just started on our profiles?

I am about to have foot surgery on one foot and long recovery

and then the other foot late summer long recovery and wanted to tell you

on private messaging but did not see that on our profiles just now.

If we can not do so...then just know I have not disappeared...

but will check back this week and next week for comments on my post

on vaccinations...I did today...and try to come back on in late May..

thanks sherit

No, you should still be able to send a pm. I don't know why you are having trouble with that. maybe try again.  My computer is being a pain in the but today, maybe yours is too! 

You said you'd be back on in late May, did you mean will be off line until then??   I wlil keep you in my prayers for your surgery. 

So, for Rabies...
The PureVax Rabies vaccine made by Merial is what should be used. I believe they have just released a 3-year version of this, however, the vets in my area that have the PureVax only supply the 1-year.

For FVRCP...
The new rules set by the AVMA state that, after the initial kitten vaccines and 1 year booster, this vaccine is to be given every 3 years.

FeLV vaccine...
This would be something you need to really discuss with your vet. If your kitties are leash walked in your yard/neighborhood only and there is not a high feral/stray population and there is also not a high volume of FeLV pos kitties, you might can skip this one too. I for one am super paranoid about this.


For my personal cats (ages 4-6.5) they only get the PureVax Rabies and this is currently done every year.

I do the bare minimum vaccines. My older cats never have updated vaccines for any kind. My kittens did the bare minimum kitten series and that's it. They aren't exposed to very many people and they don't go outdoors. 

thank you so much for the info on shots..

Lily was born last may 31st  2015

she had all the shots it appears in October...

I have her records...somehow I think I was told and

then a cover up on Lily ..that she might have gotten the

upper respiratory illness after she and her mother and

siblings were brought into the shelter..then she

was treated and got over it..they said..

This disturbed me but I adopted her anyway..in November..

Now you mentioned you were paranoid about the Leukemia or the

upper res shot..vaccine...please explain if you meant you think that one is one that you

would want for your cat or you worry that it might bring their health down having it yearly..

your thoughts on what lily would need this coming october if she were your cat

She will be l year old may 31st and her shots will be due or some shot in October

at our vet we use...

Thanks

SheriT

thank you...

I asked because even shots humans get ..some are not good

what is in them for children or adults..

Sheri

For Lily, I would personally do the PureVax Rabies vaccine (not all vets carry it, so call around and see who in your area does), as well as a booster of the FVRCP.

I give vaccines, one at a time and do any second vaccine 2 weeks later. (So, FVRCP first, wait 2 weeks, then give Rabies vaccine.) I have two personal cats that have had reactions to vaccines and by splitting the vaccines up, I was able to tell which one caused the problem.

My take on FeLV...
My comment about about being super paranoid comes in regards to NOT vaccinating if a cat is going to have outside time, especially if there are strays/ferals in your neighborhood. I have known indoor cats to contract the virus from a stray cat via a screened window. This is *rare*, but it can happen.

My vets have told me this vaccine carries the highest risk for injection site sarcomas. (There are cats that get this vaccine every year without issue.) For my cats (many who already have issues) the risk of the vaccine is not worth it to me. My cats are strictly indoors only.

this is such good info and thank you for it

especially reactions and also sarcoma site of injection on some cats..not all.

So hard to sit here and try to decide but since Bro and Lily will be on the porch

in a huge cage at times for fresh air and to listen to the birds they love outdoors..

Bro was an outside cat for 8 years ...except winters he stayed in at night at all cats

did with us in their nice big dog beds and blankets..in our house..

both will be exposed to outside air and walked on leashes at times..

So that will mean all the shots...

However I think I will do as you mentioned and take Lily for one vaccination

then return 2 weeks later for the other 2...

Can you tell me which ones to ask for on one visit and the second visit..

to our vet in october?

Here they are yesterday ..Lilys first time outside in perfect weather for one hour

with Bro..

then back in the house..

SheriT

A note about FeLV
The cats cannot get it from just sharing air. They have to come in direct contact with saliva, urine, blood of an infected cat.

I really suggest discussing the FeLV vaccine with your vet. Explain the type of outdoor expose they will have. Your vet may or may not recommend the vaccine for your cats.

I will ask him...

thanks

sherit for Lily

The current AAHA recommendation for the FVCRP vaccine is once every 3 years, after the first year booster. You can google "AAHA feline vaccine recommendations" and print it out to show your vet if he/she gives you any trouble about that. The vaccine almost certainly confers immunity for at least 7 years, so you could go longer between shots if you're comfortable with that. Up to you.

With rabies, exposure is unlikely for indoor cats, and the vaccine confers long-lasting immunity, some studies suggest 7-10 years at least. BUT, you want to keep it up-to-date for legal reasons. The legal reasons are a bigger risk than the actual disease, lol. So whatever the local laws are, stick to that. Get Purevax if possible.

FeLV isn't easily transmitted. Studies show that adult cats have a natural 85% immunity, and exposure requires extended casual contact with bodily fluids, or a bite or sexual contact. Kittens are extremely susceptible---under 4 months, almost 100% will contract the disease if exposed---but immunity builds with age. If they don't go outside unsupervised, I'd skip it. The AAHA recommendation is to vaccinate all kittens, and assess an adult cat's risk of exposure after that. It's one of the harsher vaccines, and carries a higher chance of causing a sarcoma or immune reaction.

I think that in october Lily will get rabies and the yearly booster of upper res vaccine and skip the leukemia shot..

I have time to think about it but I wanted to stay ahead on this as I am about to have foot surgery in right foot for

2 neuromas and the left foot done later in July same on it..2 neuromas

I have endured this for 5 years but finally found a surgeon that has success in another state 3 hours from

my home..many from Florida Alabama and Georgia have them operate on their feet...among

all types of back and neck surgery and hip and knee replacements there...

I have one more question..Lily is trying to assert her power in the house with Bro who is male and 9 years old

he had been real sick and almost put down but has made a turn around we credit with prayer..and healing

from Jesus Christ..so now when Lily aggravates Bro...he pins her down and he had his teeth on her throat

twice this week and I broke it up..

Any advice ...on this behavior..it seems he is telling her to not jump on his back as he has arthritis

down the back and she is ll months old now and wanting to get rough playing and he does not play..

thanks

Sheri t, Lily and Bro

It sounds like he's handling it. If one of them is bullying the other you'll need to step in, but if they're appropriate reactions you can let them handle it between them.

I always do rabies vaccinations on schedule and it's not even legally required where I live. I just am not willing to assume the risk of having unvaccinated cats near my kids or in contact with others. I'm not interested in forced quarantine or euthanasia for brain necropsy. 

Multiple bats have tested positive for rabies in my county. Unfortunately there is no such thing as an "outdoor only" bat.   

As far as outdoor exposure, my cats are indoor cats that go out with me on a leash and harness. I have a door darter too (plus 3 kids who sometimes leave doors open), so occasionally he ends up outside unattended, despite our best efforts. 

One of my cats used to be indoor/outdoor, so received the FelV/FIV vaccine. My personal $0.02 is that I'm inclined to possibly do distemper vaccines on schedule, but titer testing for the feline leukemia rather than repeated yearly boosters, since that seems to be a riskier vaccine.

Crazy4Strays said:

 
I always do rabies vaccinations on schedule and it's not even legally required where I live. I just am not willing to assume the risk of having unvaccinated cats near my kids or in contact with others. I'm not interested in forced quarantine or euthanasia for brain necropsy. 

Multiple bats have tested positive for rabies in my county. Unfortunately there is no such thing as an "outdoor only" bat. 

Click to expand...

I second (and third!) this: a bat somehow got into out house last summer, flew up and down the hall, and ended up being in my office, unattended, with one of our cats for a minute or two before we could figure out where the bat was. I captured the bat (they make clicking noises, this is useful to know if you ever have to find one) and we ended up having it tested because the animal control officer could see tear on its wing that he said the cat might have made. We got our cats booster shots the day after the bat incident.

The bat tested negative and everybody's fine, but I will never let the cats' rabies vaccinations go a day beyond the deadline. I used to be very lax about it before because I've always had indoor-only cats, but it's scary to even think about rabies and all the what ifs that come with exposure to bats!

thank you all

I think I will leave off the leukemia vacccine only...

Thanks

Sheri T, Lily and Bro

thanks ...Bro is handling her pestering him...I will keep a watch on them

They love each other ...yet she wants to run the show here...LOL

Yes, females often end up being "top dog" in the house...

If you don't already, having extra play sessions daily with Lily can help a lot with her excess energy. My (and my cats') favorite toys for this are Da Bird and Neko Flies.