FIP Vaccines?

Question

We just adopted a kitten from a breeder. I brought the contract to the vet. Our breeder had mentioned that she will void the contract if we get the FIP vaccine. She explained to me the reasons and I researched it. It seemed as it is a confusing subject. However, I think the vet does not agree with the breeder (she is the professional) and she would advice to get all the vaccines.

The kitten was expensive. Not just that, he is part of the family and we are keeping him, we bond already

Is not getting the FIP bad or good?

Answer 1

There's a lot of arguments to stay away from both the FIP and FIV vaccines. A lot of vets won't endorse the FIV vaccine either--it only gives limited coverage and only to one of the five types of FIV, PLUS once given the cat will always test positive for FIV due to the antibodies in the vaccine that will be with him for life now.

The FIP vaccine is still inquestion as well, about how well it protects. I suspect that's why the breeder says she prefers it NOT to be given, it basically is trying to press an immune response in the nose of the cat in order to stop a disease that ONLY happens when the nose is trying to stop a virus in it. Basically you're almost causing the response you don't want--trying to protect against something not yet there by pulling up a response that triggers it in the first place.

"ISN’T THERE A VACCINATION?

Developing a vaccination has historically been fraught with difficulty simply because it is the immune response against the virus that causes the disease. How does one make a vaccine without creating the same immune response against the virus? Pfizer has developed the only FIP vaccine on the market by using a temperature sensitive mutant coronavirus. This virus is innoculated into the cat’s nose. The virus is incapable of spreading beyond the nose and throat because it cannot survive at body temperature. In the nose and throat, however, it generates a localized immune response that prevents a coronavirus from effectively entering the body. The effectiveness of this vaccine has been questionable and remains in controversy. The vaccine is given to cats over age 4 months of age and is thus not helpful in the chief situation where a vaccine could do the most good: the breeding cattery. Because most cats are not at risk for FIP infection and those that are, are at risk at an age too young for the vaccine, most veterinary teaching hospitals do not stock this vaccine. "

Answer 2

I lost a cat to FIP, and had done a lot of research on it when he was diagnosed. I also spoke to my vet about the vaccine, and between the research on line, and my vet, I was given the same information as the first poster. I have 10 cats left now, and have not let any of them have the vaccination, I make sure that they are always up to date with the rest of their vaccinations, but that is all, according to my vet, that is really necessary as far as vaccinations are concerned. I don't know whether the controversy over vaccinating a cat against FIP will ever really be resolved, but I think you need to make up your own mind about whether to have it done or not. If the breeder is serious about taking the cat back if you do choose to go ahead with it, then I would refuse to have it done and keep the cat.

Answer 3

I dont think it would be a bad idea. I believe it is a new vaccine. I dont think in any way this would hurt the cat, why would they widely give this vaccine. I would actually reccomend getting it, for if I would have known about it my sweet Jordan might still be here. It is a horrible disease and there is no cure. While i am sure that it does not fight the same way in every cat, there is no harm anyhow.

One other thing, the person you got the cat may have wrong ideas and bad experience in the past. Ask the vet but i think some cats, regardless of vaccine, have a more probability of getting FIP. But be safe then sorry.

Answer 4

Most cats in a cattery or shelter environment -- approximately 80% -- are exposed to the corona virus. It is this virus that, for reasons not completely known -- will mutate in some cats and become FIP which is always fatal. It is believed by some that 1--the vaccine is not effective and 2--if the vaccine is given to a kitten that has been recently exposed to the corona virus, that the shot itself may encourage the virus to mutate.

Exposure to corona virus and subsequent recovery is the best protection. Most cattery kittens will go through that process. Why stress them more by injecting them with more virus that they've already lived with?

Good article on FIP:
Part 1 http://www.shojai.com/articles/FIP-1.html
Part 2 http://www.shojai.com/articles/FIP-2.html

Quoting from the article,

"IS PREVENTION POSSIBLE?

Vaccines work by stimulating the body's natural immunity. "No vaccine can induce better immunity than a natural infection," says Dr. Pedersen, but there is no significant natural immunity to FIP. In fact, a strong antibody response makes FIP worse. "I can't imagine any vaccine able to provide protection given what we know," says Dr. Pedersen.

What about the commercial FIP vaccine? According to Dr. Pedersen and other experts, no concrete independent studies have shown this vaccine induces any significant protection against FIP. The vaccine can't be given until kittens reach 16 weeks of age--and that's much too late to help. By that time, susceptible kittens have already been exposed, infected, and their bodies may already have transformed coronavirus into the deadly evil twin version. Mutations happen more readily in quickly multiplying cells, so growing kittens are the most common victims. "

Dr. Niels Pederson is a veterinarian and director of the Center for Companion Animal Health at the Universityof California School of Veterinary Medicine at Davis.He has studied the virus and disease extensively for more than two
decades and, in fact, developed a blood test for antibodies
to feline coronavirus.

Dr. Diane Addie is a top FIP researcher in Scottland. "For purebred cats the chances are they are going to be infected at five to six weeks of age so if you are coming in with a vaccine at four months old it is too late already. "

If these top researchers on the disease don't believe the vaccine is good for pedigreed cats, why should breeders?

I would use the vaccine if I adopted a moggie cat or recommend it for a moggie cat that was to be surrendered to a shelter.

Answer 5

I would hold off on the FIP vaccine since it is not really needed anyway. Wait until the cat is older then get it if you think you still need it.

Answer 6

It is bad!!! If the kitten bites or scratches you it would have to stay at the vet. for 10 days a least. The cat really needs his rabies shots.