Cat Boosters?

Mnoee

sheramber said:

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.

There's a link in this very thread! Here you go. Again. https://www.pdsa.org.uk/pet-help-and-advice/pet-health-hub/conditions/feline-leukaemia-virus-felv 

Brambling

In the UK they tend to vaccinate cats for cat flu, feline enteritis and feline leukaemia (FeLV) my vet doesn't push for FeLV if you have a indoor cat as long as they don't live with other cats which go outside.  Although my cats don't go into a chattery they have always gone outside during the day so have all three.  I'm sure as with most vets my vet takes the opportunity of the yearly booster to give a annual check up, weigh in, dental check etc 

"FeLV is a virus which commonly causes anemia or lymphoma and because it suppresses the immune system it can also make them predisposed to deadly infections" 

KiKi

Cats need an initial vaccination for cat flu and gastroenteritis as the basic.  And ideally leukaemia.  They need to have a second update to that initial vaccination within three weeks.  Then annual boosters (the booster is given as one shot, although the leukaemia one can be done separately - one of mine has to as she doesn't tolerate the triple booster).  It's usually a requirement of a rescue centre that adopters agree to maintain the boosters for the life of the cats.

Whilst the claim that cats live longer with the vaccinations sounds odd, I guess in general they do as those are three things they are now extremely unlikely to die from, and three of the most common causes of cat death.  Flu in cats is horrific.  My two nearly died from it, thankfully they were rescued in time.

But yes, definitely get the boosters each year.  One thing to note: if you don't get the boosters done in the right timeframe, they have to have the initial set of vaccinations all over again.

sheramber

Odd, that during lockdown booster dates suddenly became moveable , up to 18 moths instead of 12 months.

Brambling

sheramber said:

Odd, that during lockdown booster dates suddenly became moveable , up to 18 moths instead of 12 months.

I was told several years ago that the maximum gap was 18 months before they would have to start again when I rehomed a cat whose previous owners had missed one.  I think vets don't advertise it! 

KiKi I'm wondering if they reason they say cats live longer could be because they are seeing the vet annually so other issues are identified before they cause problems 

Torry_Quine

I've had cats for over thirty years and always had annual vaccinations. They've been indoor cats but catteries always checked they'd had their vaccines.
My cat now doesn't get it due to her age and health but never goes to a cattery anyway now. 
I have gone longer than a year between.

[Deleted User]

Late to the party but I have recently discovered that if you have pet insurance, booster injections are required to maintain full cover and the insurance co will ask for proof if a claim is made. 

TBagpuss

Yes, I think it is a condition of most pet insurance, and catteries won't accept cats unless they are up to date on their vaccinations, so quite apart from the health benefits to the cat there are advantages to keeping them up to date! 

I am personally a little sceptical as to whether it really *needs* to be every 12 months from a medical perspective but I keep mine up to date anyway just in case I need to claim on their insurance. (Mine don't generally need to go into catteries as I have reciprocal pet-care arrangements with my neighbours!) 

sheramber

Some insurance companies  exclude any claim for a condition which the animal could have been vaccinated against but will cover any non related condition.

SO , no cover for parvo, distemper etc  but will cover anything not included in vaccinations- like gastro enteritis, skin problems, 

You may also get a reduced premium if your pet vaccinated

You need to read your policy carefully.

thriftytracey

I stopped the cat vaccinations and insurance a few years back.  My cat is elderly and all she does is sleep indoors.  No cats locally and I've never seen one in our garden and my cat only goes into the garden to poo.  When we go away I pay someone to come and feed her so she doesn't need to go to a cattery.