is annual injections for a outdoor cat essential???

trinidadone

hello all, I have a outdoor tabby cat who comes and goes alot through the back door cat flap. She is 6 years of age. Last year I was in a well known pet chain, and got chatting to the Deputy manager who told me, all that my cat needs is a anti flea coller and a dose of wory stuff every few months. I asked her about the annual injections, and she thought they were not necessary.

My cat has had the injections in the past, and gets completely stressed when plased in her carrier, and at the vets.

My final situation is not great either (I am only employed part time). I was watching one of those resuce tv programmes and the importance of annual jabs for moggies came up. I am interest to know what other cat lovers think, should I get my moggie jabbed???

mandyl

personally for outdoor cats i think it is neccessary

*doodle*_2

Yes, it is all about being a responsible owner. I mean, how would you feel is she developed FIV through you failing to update her boosters every year? What about the other illnesses? The financial cost would be awful, but the guilt would be so much worse.

Tropez

If your cat is insured then be aware that the insurance provider may void your cover if they discover your cat is not having annual injections as it would likely contravene policy that all recommended treatments and vaccinations by a vet are adhered to.

[Deleted User]

Both of ours get them yearly (and they're not happy about it, but they go!)

I'd rather upset the cat temporarily (and unfortunately it really does stress them out) than one or both of them becoming really ill!

Both of ours venture out when they get the urge, so I see it as a necessity

I think the deputy manager you spoke to was giving out very bad advice!

Also, if you are having trouble affording it - we paid for a "vaccination for life" (approx £75 I think) and this pays for their boosters every year so long as it's at a practice attached to the chain (and so long as you remember to get the booster before it expiers, if you go over the year you need to pay the fee again! but they do ssend a letter out as a reminder) This was with Vets for Pets http://www.vets.co.uk/index.asp
and at our local one they are all great with out kitties. If there's one near you it might be worth investigating.

Alternatively, I think some of the cat charities offer assistance for pet care to those that can't afford it - it might be worth checking with any that are close by to you. I've just googles the PDSA and they offer this: http://www.pdsa.org.uk/pdsa-vet-care/eligibility

D9

ladymarmalade1970

I have 2 healthy male cats and i have never had them vaccinated. They are 5 now. One goes out every day but is more a sort of indoor cat. The other one is out most of the time. The whole time we have had them they have never been ill. I had to take the outdoor one to the vets about 6 months ago for the first time. He had been fighting and had a nasty wound on his throat. He was fine after a course of anti biotics and an injection.

pigpen

I never had any of mine done nor did my uncle or my mother.. my cousin had hers done.. ours all seem to live 3 times longer! 1 of my mother got leukaemia from an infected cat up the street sadly

There is also an argument 1 course is plenty and annual boosters destory their immune system and are vets way of coining it in!

adonis

We have our cat done as he can get a quick health check at the same time, also if you want or need to use a cattery they will want to see the vaccination record.

Having said that our previous cat was only done until he was about 14 years old, as i believe he would have built up an immunity by then and the stress for him was too much.

SnowyOwl_2

I don't think there is a definitive answer for this one. Some people say that vaccinations last longer than one year, therefore annual boosters are unnecessary. Others say that annual boosters are essential and that immunity cannot be guaranteed beyond 12 months.

Personally I would not take the chance with my cats' lives. They get their boosters, their flea treatments, their worm treatments etc etc etc. As mentioned before the potential cost should your cat(s) get sick with a disease they could have been vaccinated against would be very high, and even cost your cats lives. If it boils down to money, then are your cats lives worth less than the price of vaccinations?

rising_from_the_ashes

As Tropez said, many insurance co's won't provide cover without the annual check up/jabs being done (I get mine done every 14 months which my vet says is fine as the vaccine is "safe" for 15 months).

Re whether it's necessary, I have to say mine hate going too (big one not too bad once he's actually in the carrier & behaves with the vet but the wee one is a total nightmare and it's the big gloves for the vet to get near her).

I did wonder if they needed the "extra" bit for the outdoor cats - the feline leukemia one - as it costs a bit more but I watched a programme the other night on Animal P*lanet where someone had to have their cat put down 'cos he had it and she'd never got them done. It was heartbreaking as he looked fine apart from that and was only 3. (His sister lived in the same house - thankfully she was clear - but he could've passed it on as it's very infectious to other cats)

For me, there will never be any doubt again as the thought of loosing them for the sake of being able to prevent something which costs less than £1/week just isn't an option.


It's pet vaccination month & you'll be able to get him done at a reasonable cost - please, please take him http://www.companioncare.co.uk/vaccination-amnesty.html.

wiccanlou

If your cat is stressing when going to the vets maybe you should invest in some Feliway several of my friends have had great success with this product at calming their cats down. Used it on one of mine once and he just curled up and went to sleep instead of being bug eyed, hyperventilating and whinging the whole time.