Anonymous
08/03/2013 12:00
Subject: Does my indoor cat need vaccinations?
Getting 1 vaccination -- a rabies vaccination -- once every 3 years is not likely to be a problem for your cat's immune system.
Not necessarily true. Depends on the cat. Agree with the titre poster above. Some of the vaccines last for years. Vaccination is a huge income stream for vets.
FWIW, our outdoor cats don't get shots anymore; after 10+ years of shots, they are covered. Yes, we run the risk and they are happy, healthy cats.
Anonymous
06/28/2013 15:34
Subject: Does my indoor cat need vaccinations?
We always do the one year rabies shot because the 3 year shot gave her a bad reaction. She wasn't the same for a few days after that. My vet is fine with the one year shot. I don't think we do any other vax besides rabies although I believe she had the distemper shot when she was a kitten.
Anonymous
06/27/2013 17:53
Subject: Does my indoor cat need vaccinations?
We do vaccine for our indoor cat. Last spring a bat somehow got into our house and my cat caught it.
Thankfully it didn't end up having rabies but it could have - indoor cats should be protected.
Thankfully it didn't end up having rabies but it could have - indoor cats should be protected.
Anonymous
06/26/2013 17:29
Subject: Does my indoor cat need vaccinations?
The pet sitter company we use requires all pets, cats included, to have a rabies vaccine.
Anonymous
06/26/2013 16:55
Subject: Does my indoor cat need vaccinations?
Anonymous wrote:By law, vets must tell you that you must administer the rabies vaccine annually in the District. I quickly learned not to bring it up (I'm 8:12).
If you want to spend $175+, you can get a blood titer on the animal to show how much vaccine is already in their system. They will likely have vaccine components left over from last time. If their blood shows *enough*, then they are considered vaccinated (and a certificate can be issued if you're flying, have to board a cat for the day for grooming, etc).
Fwiw, I'm not trying to save money by not vaccinating constantly. I do it for health. Google fibrosarcoma. And that's just one lethal problem. There are many immune system issues that are associated with over vaccination as well. I worry OP is seeing that result but I hope not.
Getting 1 vaccination -- a rabies vaccination -- once every 3 years is not likely to be a problem for your cat's immune system.
But getting bitten by a rabid bat will be a problem. Or if your cat bites a guest in your home and they file a report, that will be a problem. Your cat will have to be quarantined, at the least.
Anonymous
06/26/2013 16:53
Subject: Does my indoor cat need vaccinations?
I get a rabies vaccination for my indoor cats.
There's a mobile clinic in Maryland where you can get the vaccine for $15 per cat. It's a 3-year vaccine (if they've gotten a rabies shot in the past and don't need a booster).
I had a friend who had to quarantine her cat for 6 months because there were bats in her attic and her cat had not been vaccinated.
There's no cure for rabies.
But I don't get the other vaccinations.
There's a mobile clinic in Maryland where you can get the vaccine for $15 per cat. It's a 3-year vaccine (if they've gotten a rabies shot in the past and don't need a booster).
I had a friend who had to quarantine her cat for 6 months because there were bats in her attic and her cat had not been vaccinated.
There's no cure for rabies.
But I don't get the other vaccinations.
Anonymous
06/26/2013 08:44
Subject: Does my indoor cat need vaccinations?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:I have two cats, both eight yrs old and they are also 100% indoor.
I have NEVER vaccinated them and they have stayed pretty healthy over the yrs.
+1
My indoor-only cats live to be anywhere from 15 to 17 and I never vaccinate them after the newborn stage (all kittens pretty much come to you that way, from a shelter or their breeder).
No regrets. Think about it: your cat isn't going to contract rabies from sitting on top of your bed. Ever.
And if a rabid bat or raccoon breaks into your window and runs around biting everyone, I guess the cat is screwed in that .000002% chance it happens. Of course you have far bigger issues at that point, what with a rabid bat menacing your humans too, you've got bigger issues at hand.
Yes, you're right.
Oh wait, or a rabid bat could get into your house (as rabid bats are more likely to do than uninfected bats) and then your cat could play with it and/or eat it, contracting rabies. And then you could contract rabies, too.
Anonymous
06/26/2013 08:43
Subject: Does my indoor cat need vaccinations?
Yes, the rabies vaccine is required by law in DC and MD -- don't know about VA but I'd imagine so. Not sure that you would ever get "caught" by on the off-chance your cat were to bite or scratch someone and that person made a fuss about it, you could get in trouble if the cat doesn't have the rabies vaccine.
Anonymous
06/26/2013 08:34
Subject: Does my indoor cat need vaccinations?
By law, vets must tell you that you must administer the rabies vaccine annually in the District. I quickly learned not to bring it up (I'm 8:12).
If you want to spend $175+, you can get a blood titer on the animal to show how much vaccine is already in their system. They will likely have vaccine components left over from last time. If their blood shows *enough*, then they are considered vaccinated (and a certificate can be issued if you're flying, have to board a cat for the day for grooming, etc).
Fwiw, I'm not trying to save money by not vaccinating constantly. I do it for health. Google fibrosarcoma. And that's just one lethal problem. There are many immune system issues that are associated with over vaccination as well. I worry OP is seeing that result but I hope not.
If you want to spend $175+, you can get a blood titer on the animal to show how much vaccine is already in their system. They will likely have vaccine components left over from last time. If their blood shows *enough*, then they are considered vaccinated (and a certificate can be issued if you're flying, have to board a cat for the day for grooming, etc).
Fwiw, I'm not trying to save money by not vaccinating constantly. I do it for health. Google fibrosarcoma. And that's just one lethal problem. There are many immune system issues that are associated with over vaccination as well. I worry OP is seeing that result but I hope not.
Anonymous
06/26/2013 08:22
Subject: Does my indoor cat need vaccinations?
Talk about it to your vet. My sense is the vet will confirm what the earlier posters are saying, that it's not necessary to vaccinate.
If you do have that talk, please think about posting back to this thread for pet owners who are interested in finding out why a pet would react to these shots with the lethargy you describe. I'm sure age is a major factor, but wonder why?
If you do have that talk, please think about posting back to this thread for pet owners who are interested in finding out why a pet would react to these shots with the lethargy you describe. I'm sure age is a major factor, but wonder why?
Anonymous
06/26/2013 08:12
Subject: Does my indoor cat need vaccinations?
Anonymous wrote:I have two cats, both eight yrs old and they are also 100% indoor.
I have NEVER vaccinated them and they have stayed pretty healthy over the yrs.
+1
My indoor-only cats live to be anywhere from 15 to 17 and I never vaccinate them after the newborn stage (all kittens pretty much come to you that way, from a shelter or their breeder).
No regrets. Think about it: your cat isn't going to contract rabies from sitting on top of your bed. Ever.
And if a rabid bat or raccoon breaks into your window and runs around biting everyone, I guess the cat is screwed in that .000002% chance it happens. Of course you have far bigger issues at that point, what with a rabid bat menacing your humans too, you've got bigger issues at hand.
Anonymous
06/26/2013 06:11
Subject: Does my indoor cat need vaccinations?
I have two cats, both eight yrs old and they are also 100% indoor.
I have NEVER vaccinated them and they have stayed pretty healthy over the yrs.
I have NEVER vaccinated them and they have stayed pretty healthy over the yrs.
Anonymous
06/25/2013 12:42
Subject: Re:Does my indoor cat need vaccinations?
I don't think indoor cats need any vaccines other than rabies. The only time one of my cats ever got sick was when we brought home a new kitten, and the kitten gave the older cat a gastroenteritis bug. I have no idea if there is a vaccine for that, but it wouldn't have been worth getting it, the older cat recovered just fine with fluids from the vet. As long as the indoor cats are not around other cats, I think there is no need for vaccines.
Anonymous
06/25/2013 12:17
Subject: Does my indoor cat need vaccinations?
I only get the rabies shot for my indoor cat.
Anonymous
06/25/2013 12:10
Subject: Does my indoor cat need vaccinations?
My cat is 6 years old and is 100% indoors. She is due for her vaccinations next month and I'm debating not getting them. Last time she got her shots, she was so lethargic and lifeless, I was worried we were going to lose her. I'm not being cheap, I just don't want a repeat of that or even worse. Please no snark, but why do I need to vaccinate my indoor cat? Are there any shots that are more essential than others?