Full vaccination?

Tibby and Molly only have the selected vaccinations, as they are indoor cats and when they are outside, they have never come into contact with other cats.

At the new house, there are quite a few outdoor cats and at least one that visits our garden.

I was wondering if I should get them the full vaccinations and top-ups before we go out into the garden? I don't think they will have full contact with the visitor cat (Molly and Tibby will make sure of that!), but I do want to be safe than sorry!

Sarah i only give Rosie and Sophie the flu/enteritis jab because of all the problems i've heard over the leukemia jabs.

When are they due their boosters?

i get the lot done as i cant guarentee how much contact with the outside world and other cats Mav and Jupiter will have. even though they are supposedly indoor cats.

I usually only give them the flu/enteritis jabs too. They are due for boosters in October, but am hoping to take them in the garden before then!

I'm just not sure about our black and white friend! (who also uses the garden as a giant litter tray - another one to clean up after! *sigh*)

They'll be ok becuase their flu/ent is up to date, BUT just make sure no other cat comes into contact with them because if it has leukemia and bites Molly or Tibby

This is why we still give them the flu/ent shot because we can bring things in with us that they can easily get, but with leukemia i'm sure they just have to be bitten by another cat.

I think you're right!

I don't think this little black and white guy would bite them! He seems pretty old and is more of a snuggle bug than a fighter. He only just made it onto the kitchen chair when he came into the house!

I'll make sure I keep and eye on him, though, when he comes to visit!

Oh so has he been into your house already?

I would err on the side of cation and get a full set ... due to some cat dieseases being airborne, and the possibility of them having contact with a present left by another..

At the Veterinary Clinic where I work the Vet recommends the FeLV (Feline Leukemia) vaccine for any cat that goes outside at all. It doesn't matter if the owner sees other cats around or not. It's better to be safe than sorry. All it takes is one infected stray showing up and getting into a fight with your cat. Then it's too late to vaccinate because your cat is aready infected. (He also recommends it for indoor only cats if they have a housemate that is an indoor/outdoor cat). Feline Leukemia is a virus that affects the immune system. There is no cure for it. A cat can have it for up to 3 years without showing any symptoms at all. It's transmitted via bodily fluids. Cats can get it from grooming each other, sneezing on each other, biting each other, and less commonly sharing food/water bowls and even from sharing litterboxes. Kittens can be born with it if the mother has it (they can get it through the placenta or from nursing). The FeLV vaccine is about 80% effective in preventing Feline Leukemia. Another thing the clinic where I work at recommends is testing your cat for FeLV/FIV (Feline Leukemia and FIV) before we vaccinate them for FeLV. FIV is similar to HIV in people. It's another disease that affects the immune system and there is no cure. FIV is mainly transmitted via bite wounds (mostly male cats that aren't neutered and get into a fight and bite each other). Kittens can also be born with it if the mother has it though. There is a FIV vaccine that's been on the market for a few years, but our clinic does not use it for two different reasons: Any cat that gets the FIV vaccine will test positive for FIV next time it's tested. If someone's cat that had been previosly vaccinated against FIV ever got out and ran away and ended up in a shelter that routinely tested for FeLV/FIV it would test positive for FIV and most likely end up being euthanized (because the shelter would have no way of knowing if the cat tested positive because it actually had FIV or because it had been vaccinated against FIV). The second reason we don't do the FIV vaccine at our clinc is because their is apparently 4 different strains of it (seen in different parts of the country) and each vaccine only covers certain strains. Someone could vaccinate against FIV, and actually have their cat come down with a different strain that they weren't protected against. The Feline Leukemia vaccine, however, does not make cats that are later tested for the disease show up as positive.

I think it is a judgment call on which set of circumstances are the more acceptable risk to you - the shot or the chance to get infected outside. My personal choice is the full panel.

I just was talking to my vet about that. Patsy never goes outside unless she sneaks out and that has only happened once in the 8 years I've had her. We have several stray and feral cats that live here but never get near Patsy but the vet thought she definately needed the full panel. Some of the disease can be transmitted through the air or even on your clothes, so to me I would rather be safe than sorry. I agree that it's a judgement call but for me the only choice is to be fully vaccinated. My suggestion would be to talk to your vet and explain your situation and see what they reccommend and make your decision from there.

Jamie only goes outside on his lead, but he's managed to have contact (read: fights) with other cats, so he gets the whole shebang, with the exception of the FIV vaccination, on his vets' recommendation.