When do I need to get my cat re-vaccinated?

Question

Hi everyone,

I have a 10 month old cat who had his first course of vaccinations at 8 and 12 weeks. I was under the impression that he would need to have annual injections once he is 12 months old.

However..... the receptionist at the vet's surgery told me that as he is an indoor cat we don't need to worry about getting him injected unless we are planning to leave him in a cattery soon if we go on holiday.

Surely that's not true?

xx Emmie

Answer 1

If your cat does not go outside its unlikely that he will catch anything. However its not impossible. I have a indoor cat and she only had the first set of injections for a few years. Then I discovered a clause on the pet insurance that if your cat is not annually injected they can wiggle out of payment. I think its probably for the best if you get the annual injections done any way. If your cat did escape, (this also happened to me), your cat is in danger of picking up infection. My cat now gets jabs annually.

Answer 2

Hi Emmie,

I'm a bit surprised, I thought it worked like this: the first year the cat gets the full course (hence there are two lots of vaccinations some weeks apart). Then after that there is a yearly repeat shot. That's how my vet does it. Also I am told that if the cat misses the yearly shot she has to start afresh with the full course... But maybe your vet uses a different system that I don't know about, perhaps you need to get more information from them.
Also, concerning indoor cats, previously I never had my cats vaccined, partly for financial reasons and partly because of a phobia of drugs/medication. I had three cats at the time, living in a tower block so they didn't really get out. Then one of them had to get his teeth done under anaesthetic. He was poorly when he came back (because of the anaesthetic I think) and he got the flu! Then the other two got it as well one after the other. They were coughing and spluttering, it was really painful to watch and very scary. Fortunately they all survived it but it goes to show that there are other "possibilities" for an indoor cat to pick up these bugs...

chirpy

Answer 3

Most clinics are starting to use the less vaccination the better protocol. You should ALWAYS keep your cat current on rabies and the combination vaccine. Do not accept the three-year rabies vaccine for felines, it has a 1/1000 chance of causing a sarcoma (cancer) at the injection site, get the rabies vaccine every 12 months. The combination vaccine is now good for 3 years, however, so you won't have to get that one very year.

This is what we at our hospital recommend for our patients.

Answer 4

I think I love that receptionists. Cats (and dogs) are overly vaccinated in this country to the point hwere they so much more harm then good. The only thing I would consider is another flv vaccine in 10 years.
http://www.shalako.com/vaccine.htm

Because maternal antibodies can persist far longer then previously thought possible, Dr. Shultz strongly recommends that the last vaccination take place at 22 weeks for a puppy and 16 weeks for a kitten.

Answer 5

The vets at the surgery is very up-to-date on the vaccine issue. If you want to learn some more about it from a vet go to: http://www.littlebigcat.com and read Dr. Hovfe's article, "Vaccination". She has many updates concerning vaccinations in her newsletter archives too.

There is an active movement now among US veterinarians to do the research necessary to determine just for how long the rabies vaccination is good ., for both cats and dogs.

Answer 6

expensive Beth, when you consider that your neighbor filed a criticism the ASPCA does have the right to verify on the welfare(in case you will) of your cats. i'm not constructive of precisely what they are going to do when you consider that each and each state differs some what on regulations and regulations and because all my cats for over sixty one years have been living house cats that is not mandatory interior the state I stay in that they get rabies photos. they could difficulty you a be attentive to compliance to have all your cat's vaccinated (different than the nursing mothers) and provide you a undeniable quantity of time to do this when which recheck on the date you have been given. Your neighbor feels like a actual sweetheart. i wish that is of a few help to you.

Answer 7

When he is an indoor cat indeed he is at low risk of getting cat diseases (he is not getting in touch with other cats). However, the correct way to protect your cat is to vaccinate him every year. So basically if he goit his last vaccine when he was 3 months old, he can get the next one when he is 15 months old.

Answer 8

I always look at it this way, Emm, it's fine unless the cat gets out. Everyone always swears blind their cat never ever will, but there is always a chance, and to me, I'd rather make sure all their shots are done, in case, cause regret always comes too late, if that cat manages ever to get out (what if a fire breaks out while you're not there), that's too late.

Answer 9

you need to get your cat vaccinated annually just in case he gets out. If the vaccinations that he received were good for one year then he will need them one year from the last vaccination.

Answer 10

Hi, I consider your concern and I can't answer honestly since vaccinations and their timings are different from one country to another.

I suggest that you hear those words from the vet himself to be assured + some vets get to make cards for your kittens with their names, birthdays and vaccination times and such

It's really cute :)