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Vaccinating Your Cat

© Betty Sleep

While pet owners are often told by their veterinarians that they need this vaccine or that, and they must have them annually, a great deal of controversy has arisen about vaccination protocols, the vaccines themselves, and the potential hazards such as vaccination site sarcomas.

Why do we vaccinate our animals? Common sense tells you that it's in order avoid or limit the effects of the primary illnesses that they are prone to. In cats, we vaccinate for chlamydia, panleukopenia, rabies, herpes and calicivirus on a routine basis, and in most cases, feline leukemia as well. It is the feline leukemia and rabies vaccines which have been blamed for the majority of sarcomas, although it has also been observed in killed, but not modified live, FVRCP vaccine. It now appears through studies, that it is not the vaccine itself that is responsible, but the adjuvant that it is mixed in.

So how does a pet owner know what their cat needs? Let's start with kittens. Young kittens retain some immune response from the colostrums they get from their mother. Vaccinations given too early, may be useless, since the active response in their systems from the mother's antibodies, will cancel out the booster shot. The American Academy of Feline Practitioners recommendations are for a two shot protocol, at eight and 12 weeks, a booster at one year, and vaccinations at three-year intervals afterwards. However, you have to take into consideration the cat's environment. Outdoor cats are exposed to feral populations and disease that can be tracked by other animals or left in body wastes where they travel. Indoor cats face far fewer disease risks. For an indoor cat, the three-year protocol may very well be satisfactory. Outdoor cats may require annual vaccination to be on the safe side. High numbers kept indoors, such as in a cattery where animals go out regularly to shows, may also have to assess their protocol on an individual basis.

Many vets recommend yearly vaccination, in order to make sure that pets have regular check-ups. But pet owners can schedule an annual physical for their pet, without having the pet revaccinated unnecessarily.

The AAFP sets out guidelines for the placement of specific vaccinations as well. Feline herpes virus, panleukopenia, and chlamydia, should be administered in the right fore region. Feline leukemia is given in the left rear, and rabies in the right rear. This has the advantage of identifying which vaccine has caused a sarcoma, should one occur. And as harsh as it sounds, if it came to the question of your cat's life, it is possible to perform an amputation, where a vaccination in the back of the neck does not allow that safety net.

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