Don't kittens that you adopt from animal shelters already get all their shots?

Question

I took my kitten to the vet today. He's getting neutered today. And the vet is telling me that he didn’t get all the shots he needed. I specifically asked the shelter if he received all the shots he need and they told me yes. So the vet told me that I have to pay $40 for shots that he needs. So my question is shouldn’t the shelter pick up the bill for the shots he needs, or maybe the vet is trying to get money out of me and that’s why he wants to give my kitten unnecessary shots??

My kitten is about 8 months.

Thnaks

Answer 1

The kitten may not have had a rabies shot, which they generally don't get until they are 6 months (that may be the dog date). If the animal shelter said he was up to date on his shots, that doesn't necessarily mean he has all of them, but that he has all that needs up to that age. Did the shelter provide you with a list of the shots he'd received? If so, did you give a copy to the vet? It may be a difference of opinion between the vet and the shelter about what is "necessary." Given that shelters are non-profit organizations, I would not ask them to pay for those shots. You are lucky that they have the money to provide vaccinations at all. I don't think the vet is trying to make money off of you, but to protect the kitten. If you didn't get the vaccination records from the shelter, I would call and ask for a copy to give to your vet before you get the vaccinations.

Answer 2

It depends on the shelter. Some vets recommend additional shots beyond what the shelter gives. If I were you, I would go ahead and get them and pay for them. The shelters do the best they can and they dont have time/money to deal with cranky customers. Your kitten is the most important factor here. If your vet has all the records and thinks something was missed, you should probably just go ahead and get the additional shots. If you have questions about the shots your cat has already received, the shelter should have given you his records or they may have an extra copy.

Answer 3

I would think it depends on the shelter, their practices, their finances, etc. Ask the shelter for proof - they should have records of all of this. Ask for the name of the vet that did them, the date, the medication given or the disease that the injection was intended to prevent.

Then ask your vet why he thinks that the cat didn't have the shots. Did he test for antibodies? Did he do the injections for the shelter? Ask if the animal already got the rabies, or distemper, or hoof-and-mouth disease shot, will another one harm it?

One isn't giving you accurate information. I'm not saying they're lying, only that they're wrong. It might be from poor record keeping, or just an honest mistake. It's up to you to dig out the information and decide who it is.

If you decide that the shelter is at fault, I wouldn't make a stink over it and demand that they pay. They're probably running on a shoe-string budget, and get by because of donations. If you demand that they pay you $40, you'll probably deprive several other animals of shots that their vets provide at a reduced cost to them. Pay for it out of your own pocket, enjoy the love and attention from your pet, and get on with your life.

Answer 4

The shelter MUST certainly have the records of which shots the kitten has gotten-- based on that, then your vet can tell you if the kitten really needs shots.

$40 is not bad BUT you certainly don;t want to get the kitten vaccinated twice.

Answer 5

You got the kitten from a shelter, or the back of someone's car?!?! Seriously - any reputable shelter/rescue will have their kittens (especially those that are already 8 months of age) fully vaccinated and altered before being adopted out. I doubt that your vet is trying to just make money. Vets don't unnecessarily vaccinate a pet.

Answer 6

Did you get a slip from the shelter regarding the kitten's vaccination schedule? What did the paperwork say when you adopted him? Did they say his vaccination schedule was complete, or did you need to follow up and get the last set of shots?

I'm pretty sure your vet isn't trying to screw you out of $40 bucks. If the kitten needs the vaccinations, chances are he does. Review your paperwork and see.

I'm surprised he wasn't already neutered. Most shelters adopt out animals that are already spayed and neutered.

Answer 7

maximum shelters desire to understand the position you stay and could call your land lord to make useful cats are ok. some even come and do homestead exams to make useful your position is chance-free for a cat. Shelters do no longer desire to deliver a cat homestead with someone if the cat might want to finally end up again at a take care of (that would want to ensue in the experience that your land lord stumbled on out about the cat). there are such an outstanding variety of cats in shelters you're sure to locate one which you want once you bypass. Plus, shifting is stressful for an animal.

Answer 8

There are a couple rounds of shots, so the shelter may have just given him the first and you have to follow up with the second round. Cats need to have shots updated at least once a year.

Answer 9

If the kitten had been given shots, you should've received a shot record from the shelter.

The rescue I volunteer with, the animals are all up-to-date on their shots (and spayed/neutered. We don't release them until they are), and if they're due for another, close to when they're adopted, we let the adoptive parents know. We provide the medical records for every animal we adopt out.

Answer 10

I adopted a 4 yr old shelter cat. Shelter gave her shots, I had to go in a month later for her 2nd set of shots.