Cat Boosters? 27 December 2021 at 6:17PM in Pets & Pet Care 22 replies 545 views

Frank99

Been around 10 years since my last pet cat and it seems like things have changed, the rescue centre we went to told us cats have to have a annual boosters injection in order to stay healthy! I mentioned my last cat never had any but only lived for 22 years which i thought was good but the recue centre operative claims it would live much longer with boosters as they guard against cancer and disease!
I feel like i have woken up after being in a coma for 40 years or is this booster essential for modern pets!

Mnoee

Yep, quite normal to vaccinate cats - https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/cats/health/vaccinations

Frank99

Mnoee said:

Yep, quite normal to vaccinate cats - https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/cats/health/vaccinations

Thanks for the link!

Savvy_Sue

Google indicates that a 22 year old cat is the exception rather than the rule, so well done there, but don't expect your next owner to do as well, vaccinated or not.

sheramber

Never heard of a vaccination that protects against cancer.

Mnoee

sheramber said:

Never heard of a vaccination that protects against cancer.

Feline leukemia is a virus that causes cancer. So the vaccine for it helps to prevent cancer. https://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/pet-health-hub/conditions/feline-leukaemia-virus-felv

Savvy_Sue

sheramber said:

Never heard of a vaccination that protects against cancer.

I was surprised, so went and googled: on thinking about it I realised we are starting to use them in humans too: HPV vaccine to guard against cervical cancer. 

I am more than surprised at the claim by the rescue

Frank99 said:

I mentioned my last cat never had any but only lived for 22 years which i thought was good but the recue centre operative claims it would live much longer with boosters as they guard against cancer and disease!

Maybe the rescue believes in cat reincarnation, and doesn't 'start the clock' from actual birth, but from presumed re-birth? 

I do remember a non-cat-loving friend who thought they would do a very nice thing for their cat-loving beloved, and get a kitten. Non-cat-lover had assumed cats had the lifespan of hamsters and the like (ie quite short), and were shocked to discover how long they might have to put up with this addition to the household. Caveat emptor ... 

Brambling

I've always had my cats vaccinated in the last 30+ years so it's not that new a thing! I lost two young cats with FeLV in 1990  before there was a vaccination and two others belonging to neighbours were also PTS with it at the same time - not pleasant it can be very infectious and the four cats spent a lot of time together. The vaccine was first available in the early 90s. 

If you plan to have a indoor cat no need for it.  

Silvertabby

Brambling said:

I've always had my cats vaccinated in the last 30+ years so it's not that new a thing! I lost two young cats with FeLV in 1990  before there was a vaccination and two others belonging to neighbours were also PTS with it at the same time - not pleasant it can be very infectious and the four cats spent a lot of time together. The vaccine was first available in the early 90s. 

If you plan to have a indoor cat no need for it.  

We have a young indoor cat, and our vet recommends that we give her yearly boosters.  Reason being that we have friends with outdoor cats, and they could carry the infection on their hands/clothes.

Bluebell1000

Even with an indoor cat, there is a small chance they might escape outside. Also catteries often say vaccinations are required if you use them. That's why we have our indoor cats vaccinated 🙂 it's a one off payment with our vets which covers yearly boosters.

sheramber

Savvy_Sue said:

sheramber said:

Never heard of a vaccination that protects against cancer.

I was surprised, so went and googled: on thinking about it I realised we are starting to use them in humans too: HPV vaccine to guard against cervical cancer. 

... 

I can't find any reference to that for UK cats. I did find one for America.