Is the yearly exam (with vaccinations) for an indoor cat necessary?

Answer 1

Yes. It is well worth the money to prevent health problems or detect them early, while the treatment is simple and relatively inexpensive. As for the vaccinations, germs are no respecters of your household walls...your cat will be exposed to them, just as you are exposed to colds and flu.

Answer 2

Yes it is important to have the yearly exam. It helps with finding health problems early. While not all vaccines are necessary for indoor cats, it is still important to see the vet yearly.

Answer 3

You certainly have a mixed bag of answers here so I will add what I do for my cats.

They all go in for an annual "exam". Some of my cats need yearly dental cleanings, others only every two years and one never has needed one. Plaque and bacteria on the teeth can get into the blood stream and do significant damage to the kidneys (renal failure is very often the cause of death in older, otherwise healthy cats.) Dry food does not clean the teeth by the way. My cats are now all over ten years in age so blood work is always done to check renal function, liver enzymes and whatnot. My Kinsey is fourteen and his blood work this summer showed a slight elevation in kidney numbers. So he is getting hardly any dry food. He eats a raw meat diet that I prepare for the cats and is now getting more canned food to which I add a teaspoon of filtered water to a serving. The extra moisture in his food will ease any stress of dehydration on his kidneys. Blook work will be repeated in February for him.

Around ten years ago lots of cats were developing "injection site carcinomas" because all vaccines were being given between the should blades. As this was pretty much an inoperable area of the body cats were dying. So about eight years ago I discontinued ANY vaccinations for my cats. The leukemia vaccine is now being recognised as possibly CAUSING leukemia in cats.

Answer 4

Yearly exam - Yes. Vaccinations are iffy though. I refuse Rabies because my cats are house cats and no way in hell a rabid animal is getting in this house. If you have a chimney or something you might consider it though, we've had rabid bats in our area that flew into chimneys. I can't remember which it was, I think it was Feline Lukemia or something, that can stay on you or your clothes for a very long time. So if you were to come into contact with an animal with that particular disease, days later you could still infect your pet. Talk to you vet and see which ones you believe are necessary - some vets don't believe in those unecessary vaccinations.

Answer 5

The yearly exam is necessary for all cats, regardless of being indoor or outdoor. It gives your vet a chance to update their records, and he can check them for things you may not be able to detect.

Even if the cat never goes outdoors, at least get their rabies shot. My cat Inky (who passed away this past June) never went outside and only had her rabies shots every other year ( to get the tag and certificate). My other indoor cat Pretty Kitty gets her shots every year because she sneaks out every once in a while. My outdoor cat Roxie absolutely MUST have them, even though she hates going to the vet with a passion.

The best thing to do is talk to your vet about the shots - each vet is different.

Answer 6

A yearly exam, yes. Why would you deny your cat proper medical care? Just like us, many of their illnesses can be diagnosed early enough to be treated.
Vaccinations - some, yes - some you may discuss with the vet.
My cats are strictly indoor cats and we don't do all the vaccines since they aren't at risk for exposure like an outdoor cat would be.

Answer 7

No.

Vaccinations are bad for you and your cat!

A vaccinated person/cat is MORE likely to get a disease than a non-vaccinated person/cat. The whole theory of vaccination is flawed. It causes a weakening of the immune system thus making those who are innoculated more susceptible to disease.
There are so many awful side effects to vaccination that it should be considered extremely dangerous.
Just sit back and think for a while.
Is there any sense in injecting a disease directly into the bloodstream.
We have been subjected to an awful mind control program to enable the drug manufacturers to make a fortune.

The Vaccination Hoax
http://www.whale.to/b/hoax1.html

Answer 8

YES! Your cat may not need vaccinations every year (we recommend every 3 years for most cats), but an exam and bloodwork is highly recommended for all cats every year, twice a year for some. There are things about your cat that you wouldn't notice just day to day, but a vet is trained to pick up on. For example, how often do you examine your cat's mouth, litter box, weight, etc? Would you know when he or she needs to have a dental cleaning? Also, labwork is really important for cats. Even indoor cats get kidney and liver disease fairly often and should have at least a basic panel run every year just to make sure nothing is out of whack. If you catch these things early, they are MUCH easier to work with and there is something your vet can do about it. If you don't take your kitty in until he or she is drinking excessive amounts of water and urinating a lot, and it turns out to be kidney disease, it's too late to do much and her time is limited. Also, would you recognize the signs of diabetes (another common illness of cats, ESPECIALLY indoor cats)? These are all very serious problems that your vet should evaluate and look for every year.

Concerning vaccines: Rabies vaccines are required by law in the US. Most states require them at least every 3 years, some every year. Rabies is a very serious disease, fatal to humans (and other animals) so take it seriously. Even if your cat is unlikely to be exposed, take it seriously and follow the law.

I recommend all cats be vaccinated for Feline Leukemia twice as kittens and then indoor cats... maybe again every 5 years, but it's not necessary. Outdoor cats should be boostered regularly since they are always exposed.

There is no way to be 100% sure that your cat will never get outside. What if you get sick and are in the hospital and someone lets your cat out? What if someone leaves the door open (happened to me just the other night and my cats got in the backyard)? What if a stray gets in? What if there's a fire and the firemen let the cat out or they escape? yes, these things are probably unlikely, but if they happen, it's good to have at least some protection. Get them vaccinated for the important things as kittens and consider getting boosters every so often. Ask your vet about vaccine risks and what he or she is doing to reduce them and go with his or her recommendations. If you feel like your vet isn't up with the times or is just recommending vaccines to make money, find a new vet. That's not the one you want.

Answer 9

Yes it is. You never know when it may get out by accident. Cats need yearly exams just like people to prevent any future problems. Also, it keeps you and your cat safe. If your cat was to bite or scratch a guest you have proof that they are up to date on their vaccinations, which is required my most city ordinances.

Answer 10

I would highly recommend exam with vaccinations. My cats are part of my family, living in my home. Their health and well being is important to me. I have 4 children of my own and consider my cats my "kitty kids". They all get Dr and Vet check-ups yearly.

Answer 11

I personally think it is NOT necessary. People tend to over-vaccinate their animals. I have 6 indoor cats and they don't need new vaccinations from their originals.

One thing you may want to keep in mind is getting their teeth checked. Because cats don't brush their teeth, they may need a teeth cleaning from your vet every 2-3 years.