How important are kitten vaccinations?

Question

My kittens Ben and Jerry were vaccinated at 7 weeks when I adopted them. Now they are 6 months old and are supposed to get another round. They are strictly indoors so I'm not concerned about rabbies. . Some people tell me you need the shots and others say they never got their kitties shots. At $80 a cat I'd just like to know how important these shots are. Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

I vaccinate only when we're doing something that require current vaccinations. I've never had any problem with diseases that are related to what they get vaccinated for. My oldest cat is 17. You probably have enough vaccination in those boys to get them neutered. I'd recommend that before another round of shots. In tact males tend to "mark their territory."

Answer 2

I lvoe the names! Ben & Jerry, how cute. :)

Kitten shots are very important for all kitties, indoor or outdoor! Included in the shots at 6mths are boosters- just like in humans, kittens get a little of the vaccine the first time, then a little more (or the rest), at the second shot. Not completing a shot series leaves your kitties more vulnerable to the disease. In general, though, I believe in "better safe than sorry" - give your boys every possible chance to live long, healthy lives!

$80 /kitten (for one set of shots) does sound a bit high. (but it depends on your area, too. My vet offered a "well kitten" package - included all the office visits & shots & deworming (over a 3 -6 month time frame) for around $100-120. So you might call other vets to see how competitive your vets' price is.

Answer 3

They should have another vaccination. And they should probably have a rabies shot too. No one knows how long the rabies shot is good for and I would give them at least one.

Our humane society holds monthly low-cost clinics for rabies and the FVRCP. I think PetCo has veterinarians who come around on a regular basis and give these shots too.

Do not give two different types of vaccinations on the same day. Do one for both your guys and then go back in three to four weeks for the other. Some cats can really be wiped out by having more than one at a time. Also if there is a bad reaction you wouldn't know which one caused it so as never to give it again.

Answer 4

all the vaccinations prior to 12 months are very important, even for indoor cats. After the kittens are a year old, if they are indoor cats then follow up shots aren't really that important. My cat had shots when I got him at 6 weeks and at 6 months and has never seen a vet since, and I assure you he is quite happy about that.

Answer 5

Kitten vaccinations are EXTREMELY important! And they usually need them at 6-8 weeks, 10-12 weeks, and 14-16 weeks of age - that is the most important time to have them vaccinated.

These vaccinations are important, because kittens, when they are born, do not have a fully developed immune system. They depend on the antibodies from their mother's milk until about 14+ weeks of age to provide them immunity. The vaccinations are given to hopefully stimulate the kitten's immune system so that when mother's immunity wears off, they have protection against the most common diseases that cats carry. The MOST important vaccine for kittens to get, in my opinion, is the Panleukopenia vaccine - this virus is often deadly when they pick it up.

Now that your kittens are 6 months old, I would still have them boostered 1 time, just to make sure they have initial protection.

As for the rabies vaccine, I think it is very important, even for indoor cats. First of all, we do not typically vaccinate dogs and cats from rabies to protect them from getting rabies - we vaccinate them because rabies is a human health concern as well, and there is NO CURE for it. If you pet bites a person, and your pet is not up to date on its rabies vaccines, it is legal for the person that was bitten to demand that the animal that bit him/her is euthanized and tested for rabies. The ONLY way to test whether or not an animal is infected with rabies is by postmortem examination of the brain.

The safest feline rabies vaccine out there is the once a year vaccine made by Merial - it is called PureVax. This vaccine is nonadjuvanted, and is much safer for them, as far as vaccine related tumors goes. And make sure when the vaccine is given, it is given low on the right hind leg, in the thigh or near the knee.

Answer 6

I recomend the distemper shots if none other. I have an indoor only cat but i got her both. I have had a cat that got distemper and was indoors. Because i live in a cold region and he didnt have the ammunity against it. If i were you id at least get the distemper 25 a shot for each cat. 50 dollars is ntohign to have ya kitties for ever!!

Answer 7

Even if they're indoor cats, it's still important to get the rabies shots. Mice (that can come indoors) can carry rabies, and you don't want to take the chance that your cats won't get infected. It sounds like you're being overbilled, however, and I'd check around at other vets and see if there's something cheaper in your area!

Answer 8

very vital to their heallth. You know most of the illnesses they can get are airborn, do you leave your windows open ever? does another cat come by your house? what if you take your cat to the vet for some problem and they come in contact with another cat who is sick. These things should be considered when adopting a pet. the cost of owning cats is not cheap, or free.

Answer 9

They are very important. Yes they are indoor cats, But you go outside and can pick any number of fatal diseases and bring them inside to your cats on your clothes and shoes.

Answer 10

at this element all they might extremely provide him is booster photographs just to maintain him immune device up yet in view that he's 9 months i dont think of he desires them my cat is basically 6 months and we dont get her her booster photographs anymore yet this is using the fact she is indoors if he's exterior you may desire to get the photographs