Cats & Cat Health

Should You Vaccinate Your Cat Annually?

There is a lot of contoversy about the annual vaccination for cats. I have read enough about it to convince me that it is not necccessary. This is what Canadian vetinarian Dr. Andrew Jones wites about the annual vaccine for cats and dogs:

Pet Vaccination Recommendations

Puppies and kittens ONLY need a series of 2 vaccine boosters, one at 8 weeks then repeated at 12 weeks. I find the most critical time to prevent infectious disease is at this young age. In small kittens and puppies, I prefer to wait until 12 weeks. The traditional” 3rd booster in puppies is not necessary. If possible, delay giving the Rabies vaccine until 6 months.

Puppies should only be vaccinated for Parvovirus and Distemper. Give Bordetella if going to a kennel or puppy class. Give Rabies vaccine at 6 months.

Kittens should be vaccinated for the respiratory viruses and Panleukopenia (FVRCP). Feline Leukemia vaccine should only be given to “high risk” cats - those in multi-cat households or outdoor cats surrounded by a large cat population. Give Rabies vaccine at 6 months. ENSURE that the vaccines are given in the subcutaneous tissue on the lateral sides of the right and left legs.

Common sense should to keep your companion safe by avoiding exposure to public areas such as parks and pet stores. Keep them close to home and only expose them to animals you know are healthy.

I do not recommend vaccinations for Corona virus, Leptospirosis or Lyme vaccines for dogs. The currently licensed leptospira bacterins do not contain the serovars causing the majority of clinical leptospirosis today, so it is generally not a useful vaccine.

I do not advise vaccinations for FIP, Feline Bordetella, FIV and limited use of Feline Leukemia vaccine in Cats.

My current advice is to give Booster vaccines at 1 year, then EVERY 3 years until the age of 10. As new research progresses, this may even become more infrequent. We are now just learning about the duration of immunity for some vaccines, and they may well be longer than 3 years. The most IMPORTANT time for vaccines are the 2 boosters for puppies and kittens and the 1 year booster.
Your pet should still see your veterinarian yearly for their annual wellness exam.

Never vaccinate a sick or weakened animal. If your puppy or kitten is showing signs of allergies or skin problems, WAIT. Vaccinating an already compromised immune system is almost sure to compound the problem!

Learn as much as possible about vaccines and diseases in your area. Your veterinarian cannot make this decision for you, nor should they. It is your responsibility to make this decision for your pet. The best road to good health is feeding a diet rich in fresh foods, raw meats for the carnivores, fatty acid supplements, adequate exercise, lots of positive human interaction and avoiding disease.

Dr. Jones has written an ebook about pet health: Dr. Andrew Jones Vet Secrets Revealed

Last week I took my cat to have his annual vaccination. Why did I do this when I know he doesn’t really need it? I had to. We were going on vacation and he had to go into a cattery. The catteries will not take unvaccinated cats. So against my better judgement I had to have it done.

While there I asked my vet if he thought this annual vaccination was really needed and if it could be harmful. He said it wasn’t necessary and that there were some issues. He has started to put the vaccine in a different place, rather than in the scruff of the neck, for this reason.

I have decided to try and get a house sitter when I go away again. Alfie just hates the cattery anyway and I hate leaving him there.

We need to work on the cattery policies!

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