FelV/FIV boosters or no?

If you had a cat that was a talented escape artist, would you vaccinate against feline leukemia/FIV? Why or why not? I know that the FelV/FIV shot is one of the more controversial ones and possibly more risky. I'm just trying to figure out if my cat has a higher chance of getting feline leukemia or in getting cancer from the vaccine itself. 

I would say never ever vaccinate against FIV, because that vaccine is not always effective, but once the vaccine is given they will test positive for the virus in antigen tests. Especially if your cat is an escape artist, because if a shelter picked him up, some have a policy of euthanizing FIV positive animals. And the FIV virus, while never good, is still not an immediate death sentence. It's latent for a long period of time, often several years, and many positive cats live out normal life spans.

FeLV is a little scarier, but according to Dr. Pierson, most cats acquire a strong natural immunity to it by the time they're adults. She says she would only vaccinate if the cat was going to be living with an FeLV positive cat, and I agree with her arguments.

My cat has been vaccinated against FelV/FIV (combo vaccine) previously and so he will always test positive for it already. I was more weighing whether or not to booster him.

I have him microchipped and he always wears a collar with two tags: one with my contact details and his rabies vaccine tag. So if he ended up in a shelter, they should be sending him home to me, rather than testing him for anything. 

Doubtful I would vaccinate against either. If anything, I would chose to booster the Leukemia. I would not do the FIV under any circumstances.

I've TNR'd cats in my neighborhood and so far, not a single one has tested positive for FIV or Leukemia. So, I'm not too worried about it in my particular neighborhood/area.

Crazy4Strays said:

 
My cat has been vaccinated against FelV/FIV (combo vaccine) previously and so he will always test positive for it already. I was more weighing whether or not to booster him.

I have him microchipped and he always wears a collar with two tags: one with my contact details and his rabies vaccine tag. So if he ended up in a shelter, they should be sending him home to me, rather than testing him for anything. 

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Have you discussed the pros and cons with your Vet about getting him the booster?  That's what we did when the time came around for boosters.  We decided against it because our cats are NOT escape artists...There was no further discussion on it.  but in your case I would definitely have a professional give you the reasons why or why not it would be a good idea and take it from there.

I'm personally not vaccinating my cats against anything again. They came from the shelter with the usual shots, and I did the rabies vaccine at one of the vets the shelter recommends (free first visit) and I was hesitant about that. I just felt pressured by the vet. I checked for ISS for months after the rabies vaccine. 

The cats don't go outside ever, and I don't have any other animals in my home. I think the risks outweigh the benefits. My aunt's 3 year old cat ended up having organ failure due to over vaccination. They did an autopsy, and that was the conclusion. 

I'm planning on switching to a Holistic vet for their yearly exam. This vet offers to titer test, and isn't pushy about vaccines. Plus, their big on raw/canned feeding, unlike my current vet. It's more expensive, but it gives me better peace of mind.

Can you have your vet do a titer test? To see if the vaccine is still in his system?