2006-09-14 09:49:40 · 20 answers · asked by mar 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
yes, you need to get the vaccinated.
HOWEVER... You do not need to give them the luekemia shot. (Most vets believe this shot actually leads to tumoprs.) But, if they are indoor, they won't need to worry about the disease.
2006-09-14 09:58:24 · answer #1 · answered by ICG 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The short and sweet answer to your question is that even an indoor cat should have reasonable protection. Should you bring in another cat, or have one of yours slip outside, prevention is a whole lot better than treating the disease.
Read on:
Rabies is required in all states as far as I know, and some vets won't even treat a cat unless it is current on that vaccination. It's actually a USDA law. Regarding rabies: Kittens are given its first rabies shot at about 6 months old. Then again a year later. After that, it is only every THREE years. The annual & 3 year shot are the very same vaccination. It's just to make sure they are immune. The laws are strict because rabies can be transmitted to humans.
Distemper. Usually kittens are given a 3 or 4 way shot at 8, 12 (and sometimes) 16 weeks. Then again in a year. My vet recommended that my cats be give a booster every THREE years, rather than annually as they've done in the past. Recent studies indicate that the Distemper titers remain at a very high level for many years, perhaps as long as 15 (meaning a "lifetime"). The other diseases are neither 100% effective, nor as dangerous to the life of your cat. Further, the reason my own vet (a feline practiioner) recommended this is that the site of ANY injection is more likely to develop sarcoma, a deadly cancer. These are very recent studies & vets have now developed a vaccination site protocol, meaning the distemper is given in one spot, rabies another, leukemia still another, etc. This is so they can continue to tract the incidence of sarcoma per type of vaccination.
The leukemia injection, as one other answer suggested, was the first to be discovered as developing the sarcomas I just described. Although we used to give our cats leukemia shots, we have discontinued this & choose to test for leuk instead. I've seen leukemia - it's deadly & runs rampant in some neighborhoods. My daughter took in a stray "male" (really female) that was a carrier. She was pregnant and all three kittens eventually succombed to it. The kitten she personally kept was pathetic - I saw this sweet boy on Christmas Eve and wanted to urge her to put the cat to sleep. I thought "wait until after the Holidays and her birthday (Jan 8). The kitten passed away on New Year's Eve as she frantically tried to find a vet to put him down. SOOOOO SAD!
FIP is altogether "out". We had some older cats some years ago that had had those shots. One year on their annual checkup, my vet explained that the shot attracted more problems than it prevented, and she wouldn't give it anymore.
So in essence, I DO recommend that you vaccinate indoors cats, but not annually. You do want to protect them, but annual vaccinations are no longer recommended, unless your vet is looking for a few extra bucks!
2006-09-14 20:30:43 · answer #2 · answered by Ragdoll Kitty 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As far as vaccines for indoor cats go the leukemia vaccine isn't necessary, but all others are. The feline distemper/upper respiritory combo is given yearly, and prevents against 4-5 diseases depending on the type your vet uses... a few of which are airborne so even if your cat is sitting in the window and a sick cat has been around he could potentially get these. The rabies vaccine is given every 3 years, and is more-so required in case one of your cats should happen to bite someone... saves you a lot of legal hassle. They should also be on monthly heartworm preventative... i've seen so many indoor cats come down with this disease, and unlike dogs, in cats there is no cure.
2006-09-14 18:00:12 · answer #3 · answered by blue_angel_1400 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
That's a tricky question. I've had indoor cats that lived to be 20 that we stopped vaccinating when they were probably 10. I'd have to say that it's probably a function of how active your cat is and how likely she is to try and get out. While my cat doesn't really seem to have any inclination to go out, even when I hold the door open for him, he's still young, and I live in a old house that does occasionally attract a mouse or a bat. If he decides to get in a tussle with it, he could easily pick something up.
I'd talk to my vet. It may not be necessary, especially for cat-only diseases like feline leukemia or FIV. Rabies, however, I would keep up. Anything furry can carry that.
2006-09-14 16:59:39 · answer #4 · answered by aldera22 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I have not had any cats vaccinated for over seven years. Homeopathic vets believe that many problems that develop with cats are caused by over-vaccination.
Yes, my cats go out in the backyard(I have cat fence-in and they can't leave my property) and a rabid bat could fall into the yard (probably 1/32 of an acre) and infect my cats. I have lived in "earthquake country" for almost forty years now and I know that can happen too.
Go to: www.littlebigcat.com. Dr. Jean Hovfe has an article there titled "Vaccination". The articles are in alphabetical order so it is near the end. She has also had a number of recent articles in her monthly newsletter and you can scroll through those to read her up-to-date information.
2006-09-14 18:05:08 · answer #5 · answered by old cat lady 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I have two cats that stay in the house 99.9% of the time. They like to go out in the back yard once in a while. Neither of them have had any vaccinations in 5+ years. They are doing fine. No problems at all. I guess it's just up to the individual person if they want to spend the money at the vet or not.
2006-09-14 17:00:12 · answer #6 · answered by bugear001 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Believe it or not this is a very controversial question. State and local government agencies have all these laws about vaccinating your pets against rabies, but more and more pet owners who have had their pets suffer horrible adverse reactions to these vaccinations, have been lobbying to get these laws changed. You certainly do not have to vaccinate an indoor cat against FIP, FIV & FeLV provided all your cats (and any cats that come into contract with yours) have all tested negative for these diseases. But the government requires these rabies shots. Research has proven that our pets are being over vaccinated and more and more vets are siding with the animals and their concerned owners and not requiring rabies shots for exclusively indoor pets (even though it's against the law).
I will caution you on a couple of things, however. You cannot fly with your pet unless it's current on it's rabies vaccination. Some kennels will not board your pet unless it's current on all it's vaccinations. I recently boarded my cat at my veterinarian's cat-only animal hospital and kennel for 3 days only. Well, she and several other cats got sick from one of the other boarders...but other cats who had been vaccinated were fine. I still won't vaccinate my babies. I just hire a pet sitter now. The reaction my 3 cats have had to being vaccinated was so extreme, I will never, ever do it again. I almost lost one of them. He got so sick he lost 30% of his body weight, had to have subcutaneous fluid injections and a feeding tube. Dogs have even been known to develop cancer at the rabies injection site. Unlike cats, however, dogs don't have much of a choice when it comes to rabies. They are too likely to come in contact with other animals so they have to get those shots. Talk it over with your vet and follow your gut. Just make sure you keep your cats indoors and healthy.
2006-09-14 17:23:17 · answer #7 · answered by Alleycat 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I recently lost one of my indoor cats. He hadn't had a shot since he was fixed but lived to be nearly 22 years old. Have the cat checked over very carefully and get all the kitten boosters. Then don't worry about it unless your cat comes into contact with an outdoor cat.
2006-09-14 16:58:37 · answer #8 · answered by morrowynd 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
You don't have to get shots for indoor cats but there is always the chance they could get out and contract something. Also feline leukemia can be in a cats history so by giving them the shot you can keep them from getting it. They don't just catch it they can already have it and then it shows up later. My cats are all strays so since I don't now where they came from my vet gives them leukemia shots.
2006-09-14 17:16:03 · answer #9 · answered by Megan 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes, it is. Even if a cat is indoors-only, it may catch something if it accidentally gets out or if another cat visits. It's similar to why you get measles and mumps vaccinations as a child even though chances are practically nil you will ever contract measles or mumps. It's all about safety.
2006-09-14 17:42:29 · answer #10 · answered by Isis-sama 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
mine are strictly indoor cats as well and i dont believe in vaccinating every year to me this is over medicating them they are safe and healthy
2006-09-14 17:22:39 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋