Hi there

Just wanted some opinions on whether or not you all vaccinate your cats every year. I do, and have done since I had Percy, who was 14 when he died. Every year religiously. I have two more cats now and still do vaccinate them. My friend has a 1 year old and a 5 yr old cat. The youngest was vaccinated so that she could go outside etc, because she had her from a kitten, but the older one hasn't been kept up to date with them. She is questioning whether or not to carry on vaccinating the younger one, when she doesn't do the older one? As I said I have always done it, but my friend isn't so sure, was even less sure when I told her the cost of one vaccination, which I had one done today was £31.00

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Well I have to confess that after we got Gus 4 years ago, he came to us with his vaccinations up to date and we neglected to get them done again. Until we got Flo, and we took her for her first course, and thought we might as well get Gus done at the same time.

What the vet told us about how prevalent cat flu and HIV is now though, especially considering the number of feral cats on the island, has made me realise we must get them done every year from now on.

It's worth shopping around for prices though because we were quoted £10 per cat more with our original vet, so we changed to the one we use now.

Simeon Only had one lot of vacs in 19 years and that was done because he had been run over and had to have an op.

I got Macey vaccinated, and wasn't sure if I would keep them up or not, but have now read that you could void your pet insurance if the jabs aren't up to date, even if an illness isn't related to the things you immunise against. So I will get her boosters done every year.

I have 4 house cats (well 3 now). I got them vaccinated annually for 10 years. They are all around 16yrs old now.

I went to the vet to get them done on their 10th anniversary, and i was told that, if i didnt want to .... that i shouldn't bother. Basically she said that there is conflicting evidence out there as to whether or not a cat builds up the vaccination in its body to ward off any diseases out there. She was of the opinion that it would only be air born threats like Cat flu that could cause a problem, but the chances of it happening was remote as my cats didnt leave the house. The choice was mine.

I decided to save my money ... and 16yrs on they are tickety boo.

Actually that's a very good point. My vet told me that house-cats don't need to be vaccinated too.

thanks for the replies.

I am interested in the bit about cats building up immunity. when I used a different cattery to my usual one a few years ago, the lady told me that she had a vet friend who said that if a cat had been vaccinated every year for about (not too sure on this time scale) 5 years then the cats immunity should have built up enough to not need anymore jabs. Unfortunately catteries have to have jabbed cats by law, so a lot of cats are still vaccinated for that reason only. I do recall that when I was growing up, I lived with 4 cats and we didn't have them jabbed. I think it is personal choice, and also money which will make peoples mind up, and also peoples experiences with non-jabbed cats.

I will get my little one done annually. She is an indoor cat but allowed out to play and I wouldn't take any chances tbh. However the more I read about it the more I am unsure?

Think I will decide in August when her next lot are due!!

I have had cats for like years and years and NEVER have them vaccinated. I had my first ever cat done and it DIED it had a severe reaction to the vaccine, and that made up my mind and I have never done it since.

My cats are kept close to home and dont roam far, they are well looked after and I can honestly say in all the years I have had cats not one has been sick.

The only problem i have had with one cat was when he got run over.

All my cats over the years have stayed with me and died of old age. I have 3 right now who are all asleep in the sitting room.

IF HOWEVER, my cats were ever to be boarded then I would have them vaccinated but I never leave them in kennels if we go away a member of my family home sits.

I was told by a vet that after 10 years anyway its probably more dangerous to vaccinate a cat as it can compromise their immune system.

I have 5 cats, my eldest is the healthiest of the lot and she only ever had her initial jabs and follow up booster. The others all regularly had their jabs (other half insisted on it) and they're forever back and forward to the vets. I find it highly irritating that the Insurance companies are in collusion with the drug companies basically forcing you to subject your pet to needless stress and potential illness.

I've had cats all my life and when I lived with my parents we only ever got the initial jabs and boosters done and all our cats were either run over or died of old age.

My two are house cats so we don't bother.

(Don't use kennels either .... the neighbour pops in to holiday feeding for us)

I just picked up on your post as you mentioned a cattery. I have found that, if you are placing your cat in a cattery ... then they should be vaccinated. A lot (not all) of catteries wont take your animal if it hasnt had the full set of jabs.

Mine only went in a cattery once (when they were 3yrs old) ... never again.

I get my two pedigree indoor cats done for two reasons, both of which are mentioned above.

1. They go to a cattery when we are on holiday and it is a requirement of the cattery. I wouldn't be happy sending my cat there if I knew that other cats weren't vaccinated.

2. They are both insured and if I make a claim I have to say when they were last vaccinated. I'm guessing it's a condition of the policy that they must have vaccinations up to date.

As for indoor cats not needing vaccinations. What about disease being brought in on people's feet or on visitors clothes? I don't think you can simply say that because they are indoor cats they don't need it. The breeder of one of my cats had a clause in our 'contract' (not that it was enforceable) that boosters had to be carried out annually. All her cats were indoor cats and she still had all of them vaccinated.

However I usually get the boosters done every 14 or 15 months.

I have been thinking about my own question and want to say that I shall continue vaccinating both my cats, as that is my choice to do so. I look at it as a yearly MOT for them. I took my cat yesterday and the vet checked his ears, eyes, skin and fur and heart and lungs etc, and I also had my mind put at rest that he isn't overweight. If I hadn't have gone for their yearly jabs last year, my late Percy wouldn't have been diagnosed with cancer, which we treated and had a further lovely 9 months with him. Without going I would never have known and I know for a fact that I would have lost him much earlier, and in a much worse state than he eventually went. (Kidney failure in the end, bless him ) I know that we take the vets word that we need to vaccinate them, but we also get our children vaccinated, which is our responsibility, as are our animals. I feel that it is peace of mind, which makes me feel happier. I do fully understand those that don't though, as lots have experience with unvaccinated cats, who have lived long and healthy lives. I do worry though with the recession that many cats and dogs will not get vaccinated because of the cost, and all these horrible diseases that we are trying to keep at bay, will come back and spread. I suppose we can't predict what will happen, as we are not vets!!!

I am sure that my friend will make the right decision for her.

We too have our Penny done every August, it wouldn't occur to me not to. It's also an opportunity for the vet to check her over and make sure everything is alright, and for us to ask any questions we might have.

We stock up with Frontline and worming tablets and also special dental biscuits so she doesn't get plaque, (she loves em!)

I haven't heard that cats can build up an immunity to cat flu etc, but I think I'd rather be on the safe side and keep getting her done.

My sister & brother in law, who have a cattery always require an up to date certificate for any cats coming into their cattery. They're not allowed by law (as I understand it) to accept cats that haven't got it.

that is exactly what I said jabegy. A sort of yearly MOT, for them to be checked over, us to ask questions etc. It has also never occured to me not to vaccinate them either.