How many people heard cats only need 1st shots?

Question

How many people heard that cats (and other animals) only need their first vaccines to be protected and not every year or every three years?

Answer 1

What vet science is finding out is that vaccines often work differently in live cats and dogs is different from the way they work in controlled labratory studies. In many cases, a vaccine given during an animals first year of life will adequately protect your pet far longer than the one to three years originally thought.

It depends a lot on the health of your cat and the strength of the pet's immune system If your cat has already had her first shots, don't do anything for three years. Then have her blood titered. This means it is tested for antibodies. If her antibodies are at an acceptable level, she doesn't need booster shots. Do that every two to three years. As long as your cat has good antibody levels, she doesn't need booster shots. You may have to argue a little bit with your vet (not every vet has this point of view) but it is an opinion that is becoming far more common in vet clinics. If you need to stand your ground, the book available at the link below will give you some excellent arguements to use with your vet.

Answer 2

First, cats must be healthy to begin with when vaccinated, or the vaccines may not be effective. Second, kittens who have antibodies from mom can't be vaccinated too early after weaning or that can also effect the vaccine's ability to give them their own antibodies. And, not all vaccines are created equal. Studies have shown in the past, that some vaccines are pretty worthless. Lastly, even quality vaccines MUST be kept cool but not frozen, or they can be rendered useless. That said, depending on the vaccine, there are reasons for boosters. Initial vaccines do not generally give all the needed protection. However, it's not cheap, but you can have the vet run tests that check the titer levels for antibodies for various diseases to see what the cat's immunities are. Often, older animals who've been regularly vaccinated for years will no longer need vaccines. Legally, rabies vaccines should be given yearly or however often your local city requires. There are also diseases in cats that there are no vaccines for, so really the safest way to keep a cat is indoors. Vaccine info: http://www.caberfeidh.com/FelineTiters.htm

Answer 3

That's true. I don't think the vaccines help as much as people think they do, in some cases the animal can get sick from them. The only one I think they really need is rabies and that depends on where you live and if the cat ever goes outside.

Answer 4

my cat has only had 1 set of shots, but she has NEVER been out side, she is 17 yrs. old, now, dogs on the other hand need to go out, so i give my dogs a booster shot every year, & rabies every 3 yrs. my dogs are also up in yrs. one is 13 & still acts like a puppy.

Answer 5

it depend on what you do with the cat if it is an indoor cat all the time then it won't need any other shots after it's first set if it goes outside i would continue getting the cat it's shots cause they prevent rabies and other diseases i would definitly continue getting shots for dogs and other animals because dogs do go outside and if your dog would get lose it would need the shots to protect itself. my cat is an indoor cat and after her first set of shots we didn't get anymore and my cat has been fine hasn't had any problems

Answer 6

That isn't true. Cats need vaccines like humans need vaccines to fight viruses.

Answer 7

If there's any chance they can get out, they need their boosters. The boosters have improved and don't all have to be done yearly, but they still need em periodically.

Answer 8

Cats need their shots whenever your vet says they need them

Answer 9

you can give thenm just first shots and my cats have all lived to be old, 18,16, 15, 13, 10.

Answer 10

I have....in fact its pretty bad to get one every year