Shots and inside cats

Hello sorry of this has been asked before. I have a kitten that is about 12 wks old give or take a little. And I just called the vet to find out how much it will cost to get him his shots and dewormed. And they said it depends on what all shots I decide to get. And I am new to cats so I am unsure what all shots a 100% inside cat needs. I know rabies thats a given and I assume distemper is another given. But what else.

Also the only vet we have local won't neuter till 9 mths old. Is that normal and ok. I wanted to get him neutered eariler than that but I have to go with what this vet said.

Thank You for any help.

9 months seems long to me. I have always gotten mine done before they were 4 months old. As far as shots I have alwys gotten mine all of them cause have more then 1 cat I have always been afraid of a new cat bringing something in. You also never know if they might slip outside and some point.

I think the other shots she mentioned was Feline Leukmia and something else. Kinda unsure on that. Do they usually get one round of these or 2.

I belive the FeLV shot is 2 shots...the inintial vaccination & a booster 2 weeks later. Don't quote me on that, though. They cost a friend of mine $15 for the initial vaccine & $17 for the booster. The vet also reccomended FeLV testing before vaccinating. Otherwise, IMO, the distemper & rabies shots are necessary. I think that the distemper one is actually for several different things, but I honestly cannot remember right now.

Neutering at 9 months is very late...most vets who won't do it when they are young say 6 months. Is there another vet who can do it younger? Can you ask the vet why 9 months?

Would suggest taking a stool sample in from one of the kittens to get a worming medication, such as Strongid-T. It is safe with young kittens. I would do this around 4 weeks old, and then worm again a few weeks later.

Your kitten should also be tested for Feline Leukemia and Feline Immunodefiency Virus if you have not done so already.

Kitten vaccinations are given in a series to protect your kitten against a number of serious infections diseases. My Vet recommends that all indoor kittens and cats be protected against:

Feline Distemper (Panleukopenia)
Rhinotracheitis
Calicivirus
Chlamydiosis
Rabies

Vaccinations for Feline Distemper, Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus and Clamydiosis begin at 6-8 weeks of age, then boosted every 3-4 weeks until at least 12 weeks of age. Protection from Rabies is started in a single booster after 16 weeks of age.

If you can find a vet who will perform pediatric spays and neuters, I would recommend taking them in at 11-12 weeks to be altered - the requirement is for them to weigh at least 2 lbs.


Good luck with your baby!!

Originally Posted by white cat lover

I belive the FeLV shot is 2 shots...the inintial vaccination & a booster 2 weeks later. Don't quote me on that, though. They cost a friend of mine $15 for the initial vaccine & $17 for the booster. The vet also reccomended FeLV testing before vaccinating. Otherwise, IMO, the distemper & rabies shots are necessary. I think that the distemper one is actually for several different things, but I honestly cannot remember right now.

Neutering at 9 months is very late...most vets who won't do it when they are young say 6 months. Is there another vet who can do it younger? Can you ask the vet why 9 months?

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I'll ask the vet why. I live in a rural area and we only have one vet in the whole county. There is another vet in a town 25-30 miles away but all the above prices are more expensive but they do neuter at 6 mths. I have no other cats here so I am not worried about him getting anyone pregnant just his health.

Not only his health but by then he will start spraying around your house and that can get really disgusting and messy. 9 months is really late to wait. I have heard of vets insisting on waiting until 6 months and I don't even like that, but 9 months is crazy. Vets who are like that are so old fashioned and is is a shame that he is the only one near you, I wonder what else he is so behind the times on.

I don't see why you would need to vaccinate against FeLV but your kitten should be tested for that and FIV.

My cats were 5 or 6 months old when they finally met the weight requirement for spay/neuter. Not having ever lived with a cat in heat, I'd be afraid my cat would go into heat if I waited too long.

So maybe its just that he thinks the can't won't weigh 2lbs by 6 mths. IDK but I will ask when ?I take him in to see the vet. If all else fails maybe do the shots at my local vet and do the neuter somewhere else.

Usually cats get the rabies shot and the "4-in-one" shot with covers rhino, calicvitis, distemper and something else.

I'm very surprised at the 9 months neuter. Did you ask your vet why so late? A lot of vets don't like to neuter before 6 months, but this is a first for me to hear a vet say 9 months. There are many vets that neuter younger then 6 months too.

If you want your cat done earlier, I'd find another vet for that procedure and just present the spay/neuter papers to your vet to put in the records.

Originally Posted by Ping

So maybe its just that he thinks the can't won't weigh 2lbs by 6 mths.

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If your kitten does not weigh 2lbs by age 6 months there is something seriously wrong with the kitten.

Here is good idea of what kitten should weigh:

Kitten Weight

At birth, weight should be approx 3-3.4 ounces.

At age 1 week weight should be approx. 4 ounces.

At age 2 weeks, weight should be approx. 7 ounces.

At age 3 weeks, weight should be approx. 10 ounces.

At age 4 weeks weight should be approx. 13 ounces.

At age 5 weeks, weight should be approximately 1 pound.

By the end of the 8th week, kittens should weigh approximately 2.2 pounds.


Again the above varies based ont he individual kitten - but should give you a good over the thumb idea and since you say your baby is approx. 12 weeks old he should weigh more than enough to qualify of early neuter!

Some VETS just do not have enough experience with pediatric spay/neuter and therefore refuse.

Kittens can be neutered as early as 8 weeks, as long as they weigh 2 lbs or over.

A cat should really get all the vaccinations, even though they are purely indoor.. you don't know what might happen in the future.

We get so many cats that come into the rescue that have been vaccinated as kittens, but never got another set of vaccinations after that. They figured because the cat was purely indoors, they didn't need it.. they also didn't think that a year or two down the road, they would be giving their cat up. And those cats need those vaccinations when they come into a population of almost 200.

IMO indoor kitties need only the FVRCP series and rabies.

Yes I think that is really all they need too. A "booster" shot I think it's called and rabies. I only even vaccinate mine once or twice ever. I may do it again when they hit like 6 years but I definately do not vaccinate every single year either.

Ok I just callled a vet one county over. They neuter at 6 mths. And it costs 45 for everything involving the neuter.

First visit 32$ -worming and distemper(combo shot)
2nd visit 35$- distemper(combo I think)
3rd visit 37$ last round of distemper and a rabies shot somewhere in the mix.

They said that is that is required to get him neutered.

I found an interesting web page on vaccines, and the needs (or not) for boosters

http://www.holisticat.com/vaccinations.html

I don't know who these folks are, but they have an interesting take on cat vaccines.

Gloria