Poorly cat after annual booster jab

Snuggles

Took Maisie to the vets yesterday morning for her booster. It's our first experience of this as we got her from the RSPCA a year ago (she is about three years old). I don't know what I was expecting really, but she is not herself at all. She has pretty much done nothing but sleep, she hasn't eaten, she seems a bit stiff when she walks, and she feels quite hot.

I was quite relieved this morning that she finally came downstairs and went out for a couple of minutes and drank a bit of water, but then it was straight back upstairs to curl up and sleep, and she's still not interested in food, and doesn't want us near her.

If she's showing no sign of improvement tomorrow I'll be ringing the vet for advice. I was just wondering how common this is and if any of your cats have reacted in the same way?

I think I'll be doing more research before taking her for her booster next year, I gather there is evidence to suggest they are only needed every three years rather than every year.

Gelly123

Hi Snuggles

Sorry to hear your moggle is feeling unwell after her jabs.
Our female cat is also the same after her annual jabs. We always give her everything the vets recommend however this year, in August, she had her jabs but they told us that the feline leukemia jab was now every 3 years.

Preparing ourselves for the usual 24 -36 hours of grumpy, tired, off her food, stiff when moving and sneezy moggle, we were pleasantly surprised that this year she was fine.

Of course, cats are all different and I'm far from a vet but it's not totally unusual for this reaction. Please do call your vets in the morning to get their advice - they are clearly best placed to help you but try not to worry.

Make sure she's got food, water and somewhere warm and quiet to settle down to help her get through this.

Hope she recovers soon and best wishes.
Gelly

Snuggles

Thank you Gelly, that's interesting info about the leukemia jab, I'll remember to ask my vet about that for next time.

It's reassuring to know that she's not the only cat to react this way, but I really hate to see our little bundle of fun so out of sorts, and I feel guilty for putting her through it (though of course I know it's better for her to be protected against disease).

Thanks again, I will call the vet in the morning if she's no better.

Paradigm

Snuggles wrote: »

I think I'll be doing more research before taking her for her booster next year, I gather there is evidence to suggest they are only needed every three years rather than every year.

If only you had posted when I had some time.

Do the research starting with http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1Xd5ghnlJ4

It's American (& an hour long) so ignore the references to rabies & US laws, everything else applies

moggymutt

Sorry that she is poorly, we've had it happen, but a lot less than 1%of the time, so it's not that common. It's good that she's had something to drink, but I'd definitely ring the vets first thing tomorrow because some cats do need help getting their temperature down if they have had a bad reaction. Don't suppose you have a thermometer? (I managed to pick up some good digital ones half price at 3 pound something in Coop pharmacy a few weeks ago.)

As to how often to vaccinate, often what dictates things is what requirements the catteries set if ever cats need to be boarded. A good cattery that you can really trust can be hard to find, and you need to think hard if you wish to have the boosters less frequently, and the catteries strictly stick to their yearly policy. I think they would be prepared to be more flexible with the leukaemia vaccine because leukaemia is not as highly contagious as the other diseases that you vaccinate against.

Fridaycat

There are different types of vaccines that vets can use - basically they are split into killed or live attenuated vaccines. They both do the same job of protecting against disease, but they can have different side effects.

The killed vaccines are usually just one jab to protect against all the usual cat illnesses (cat flu, leukaemia etc) and it is this one that tends to induce more of the type of symptoms you describe for 24 - 48 hours afterwards. I have experienced this myself with my cats.

Live vaccines tend to be 2 separate injections and are much less prone to induce after-effects, though of course all cats are different.

Of course you should call your vet if you have any concerns, but I would also perhaps ask your vet which type of vaccine they use and whether they could use a different one in future to prevent these side effects from happening again.

Snuggles

moggymutt wrote: »

Sorry that she is poorly, we've had it happen, but a lot less than 1%of the time, so it's not that common. It's good that she's had something to drink, but I'd definitely ring the vets first thing tomorrow because some cats do need help getting their temperature down if they have had a bad reaction. Don't suppose you have a thermometer? (I managed to pick up some good digital ones half price at 3 pound something in Coop pharmacy a few weeks ago.)

As to how often to vaccinate, often what dictates things is what requirements the catteries set if ever cats need to be boarded. A good cattery that you can really trust can be hard to find, and you need to think hard if you wish to have the boosters less frequently, and the catteries strictly stick to their yearly policy. I think they would be prepared to be more flexible with the leukaemia vaccine because leukaemia is not as highly contagious as the other diseases that you vaccinate against.

Thank you, I don't have a thermometer unfortunately, I've just noticed that she feels hot to the touch, especially the top of her head.

Yes, we would have to think carefully about the cattery issue if we consider having less frequent boosters. We haven't put her in a cattery as yet, and would try to avoid it if possibe (my mum looks after her if we are away, which isn't very often), but you just never know what might happen and it's useful to know that a cattery is an option in an emergency.

At least I've got a year to give it some thought!

Snuggles

Fridaycat wrote: »

There are different types of vaccines that vets can use - basically they are split into killed or live attenuated vaccines. They both do the same job of protecting against disease, but they can have different side effects.

The killed vaccines are usually just one jab to protect against all the usual cat illnesses (cat flu, leukaemia etc) and it is this one that tends to induce more of the type of symptoms you describe for 24 - 48 hours afterwards. I have experienced this myself with my cats.

Live vaccines tend to be 2 separate injections and are much less prone to induce after-effects, though of course all cats are different.

Of course you should call your vet if you have any concerns, but I would also perhaps ask your vet which type of vaccine they use and whether they could use a different one in future to prevent these side effects from happening again.

Thanks Friday, it was just one injection, so sounds like it might have been the first kind. I will certainly be asking more questions of the vet next time. I hadn't really considered there might be options and I didn't think to ask about risks or side effects, bit annoyed with myself really.

The good news is she has just come downstairs and eaten a few bits of kibble so hopefully she'll start to perk up.

maintenanceman

!!!! you have me woriried. My cat is always sleeping and has been a bit vocal lately, meowing and been difficult to feed. He is always a fussy eate byt it it is getting increasingly difficult, I stroke him and pay a lot of attention to him , given him the frontline treatment but found a critter when using the comb today. Was thinking of applying stronghold treatment but I gave him frontline 2 weeks ago.

Snuggles

maintenanceman wrote: »

!!!! you have me woriried. My cat is always sleeping and has been a bit vocal lately, meowing and been difficult to feed. He is always a fussy eate byt it it is getting increasingly difficult, I stroke him and pay a lot of attention to him , given him the frontline treatment but found a critter when using the comb today. Was thinking of applying stronghold treatment but I gave him frontline 2 weeks ago.

Hi, I'm not sure why this thread has worried you, it's about vaccinations, not flea treatment.

I would contact your vet for advice before giving another flea treatment so soon after the last one.

Snuggles

Well amazingly. from being in a desperately sorry state last night, Maisie is completely back to normal this morning! :j

She is lying on my lap as I type, enjoying some fuss and attention. She wolfed down her breakfast, and is just her normal mischevious self!

Thanks for all the replies, I will definitely be doing some research before taking her for her booster next year.