Vaccs for cats

[Bee35]

I have 3 cats aged 13, 5 & 8, have always kept their vaccs up to date. When last booster was due one of cats was ill & vet advised to wait for at least a month til his treatment ended before giving the booster. This time has passed and now all three are due. Due to a change in circumstances, my income is much reduced & I wonder if there will be any ill effect if they do not have them. Have had cats around for my whole life, and until I left home, none of the family cats were ever jabbed and all lived to ripe old ages! Do not wish to appear mean or compromise my cats' health. but would appreciate honest opinions/advice. Thanks

[k8bailey]

Hi Bee
I currently have two cats (1 & 4) they've never ever been vaccinated both are indoor/outdoor cats and are very fit and well!!

My mum and my Grandma have also both had cats all their lives and not vaccinated any they've all got to good ages!!

I know its recomended but my family have never had any problems except if you need to leave the cats in a cattery coz they require all jabs to be up to date.

Basically go with your instincts!

[bensmum]

Rightly or wrongly my cats are not vaccinated. Where I live they don't come into close contact with other cats and they do go to the vets for checkups. My vet has never questioned why they don't have the jabs.

[BIGDOGY]

Hi,
If your cats do not go out and mix with other cats you may be ok not to vaccinate.
Cat flu & feline enteritis are both awful diseases if cats contract them and are potentionally fatel, particually in an older animal.
Leucaema is not as contagous as vet would like you to beleive and you could give this a miss.
If you have to put your cats into a cattery vaccinations are a must as they are a stipulation of the kennels licence.
If you can afford it air on the safe side and vaccinate!

[divegirl]

Hi, have to say that I am really no cat expert, but I have followed the same rule [with my cats] that I have with my dogs. They have their original vaccs and a booster at a year....then that's it. There's quite a bit of research to say that dogs are over vaccinated, even the manufactors agree once every three years should be enough....it's the vets that insist on it being done yearly [hmmmm.....wonder why?]. I haven't looked into the cat side of things, but did take advice from friends who have had cats for years....some don't vaccinate, some do and some do the same as me!

Lisa x

[divegirl]

Here's an example of one of the many articles that I have read.........

http://www.knowbetterdogfood.com/dogcare/healt h/overvaccination.php

Of course there are many that say we should vaccinate....try Googling it....you'll find loads of opinions.

Lisa x