Pet Owner Question: I have 1 inside cat and do not want yearly shots. I got her 11 mos ago
from the humane shelter. Are yearly shots required? Thanks!
Gloria
Eau Claire, WI
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Pet Owner Question: I have 1 inside cat and do not want yearly shots. I got her 11 mos ago
from the humane shelter. Are yearly shots required? Thanks!
Gloria
Eau Claire, WI
“The American Association of Feline Practitioners recommends that inside cats be vaccinated thru their kitten series (3-4 visits to the veterinarian) for the upper respiratory and feline leukemia. At the last kitten visit they recommend a 1 year non-adjuvanted Rabies. At 1 year they recommend a booster of upper respiratory and Rabies. Then the Rabies vaccine as legislated in your county or state. Eventhough your cat is an indoor only there is the possibility of your cat accidently going outside between a person’s legs or finding a window open. If your cat scratches or bites someone, even if it is provoked, and is not up-to-date on Rabies it may be decided by animal control authorities or the Health Department that your cat will need to be quarantined for 10 days or even euthanized to test for rabies. Spare your cat that chance. Make sure your veterinarian is giving the vaccines under the skin and as low as possible in the legs. Regular veterinary visits also allow you to visit with your veterinarian and make sure no problems are beginning to occur that you have not noticed and to keep up-to-date on the latest veterinary recommendations for your cat. These recommendations are changing regularly for the benefit of our patients.”
Kevin L. Chapman
Hoschton Animal Hospital
Hoschton, GA 30548
“From a veterinarian in NY: Laws vary from state to state, so you will need to consult with your veterinarian about this.
Rabies vaccine is required by law even for indoor cats–there are countless stories of bats getting into houses and being caught by a cat, and if the cat isn’t vaccinated, it must be euthanized because it WILL get rabies (which is lethal anyway) and because it then becomes a risk for the humans, who can get the disease from the cat BEFORE the cat shows any symptoms, and the disease is fatal in humans as well. Rabies vaccine is usually good for 1 year the first time they get it, and then 3 years each time thereafter.
There are new recommendations for other vaccines now, so if your veterinarian is keeping up on things, they are likely to recommend an annual exam and fecal check, and distemper vaccine to also decrease to every 3 years like Rabies vaccine after all of the initial start-up. Many of us recommend that it be set up to be due on a different year than Rabies so that throughout most of their lives they get fewer shots in one visit (unlike kittens and 1 year olds who really need a lot at once to get good immune response.) Most veterinarians now do not recommend Leukemia vaccine for indoor cats.
It would be a shame to lose your cat to a preventable disease tracked in on your shoes. I’d recommend finding a veterinarian you can trust to see your cat yearly and recommend a vaccine schedule such as I just discussed. Keep in mind you are always within your rights not to do what your veterinarian recommends, although they may ask you to sign the medical record just to verify that they did recommend it and you declined it.”
Melinda R. Burgwardt, DVM
Broadway Veterinary Clinic PC
Lancaster, NY 14086
“To the owner of the indoor feline hoping to avoid yearly vaccination,
Hi! Your question regarding annual vaccination is an extremely valid one and not an uncommon concern in recent years with pet owners and veterinarians alike. In fact, the topic of “over-vaccination” is the center of discussion at many segments of the veterinary continuing education courses offered across this country every year.
Back to your initial question though… the frequency of vaccination for each feline is, and should be, a matter to be carefully considered by both you and your veterinarian. Each cat has different risk factors for disease exposure, each veterinarian uses their preferred variety of vaccine, and then you also must consider any pertinent laws or rules in your particular locality. The only REQUIRED vaccine for cats is the rabies vaccine – regardless of whether your cat is indoors or not. One must also consider the fact that indoor cats are not protected from some of the organisms/diseases/etc that we vaccinate against just because they live indoors.
I learned very early on in my veterinary career that I do not need to know every answer to every question put before me, but I should at least have a good idea where to find answers to the questions I don’t know the answer to. I have my own opinion on vaccination frequency, but it has been shaped by the types of cats I most frequently see and cannot (as a general rule) be used as a universal template for vaccination. The primary resource that I used and continue to use in determining where to begin shaping my vaccination protocols for cats is the American Association of Feline Practitioners. They have an excellent website and although much of the information is targeted at veterinary professionals, the content on this website is extremely readable. The link to their practice guidelines is included here for your convenience – but I must stress that these are just guidelines and the particular needs of your cat or the cats in your area may differ slightly from these publications so please trust your local veterinarian in putting together a sensible plan for vaccinating your kitty.
http://www.aafponline.org/resources/practice_guidelines.htm
In general, I personally believe that we as a profession should vaccinate less (on average) and still see our patients more frequently than we currently do. However, I also recognize that simply saying “we need to vaccinate less” without qualifying that statement or taking into consideration each particular cat’s needs is foolhardy. Indoor cats DO need regular vaccination, although once the initial kitten shot series is done and the boosters one year later (for most vaccines), MOST vaccines routinely given are given no more frequently than every 3 years. If you have specific questions, why not print out the AAFP guidelines and take them into the vet’s office next time you go? Please do not expect your vet to digest the info instantaneously, but I wouldn’t be surprised if your vet was extraordinarily prepared to answer your concerns and educate you as to why their vaccination protocols may differ from those the AAFP recommends (if they differ at all!). If you keep an open mind and ask appropriate, considerate questions, I think you’ll find that your vet is an excellent resource and can help you understand these issues.
Good luck!!”
Dr. Chris Plumley
WHITEFIELD ANIMAL HOSPITAL
Whitefield, NH 03598