To Vaccinate or NOT?

[DellNec]

My kitten is 10 weeks old and it already had it first set of vaccine shots when it was 7 weeks old. So now it is ready for its 2nd series of shots tomorrow.

The kitten is INDOOR only and it is the ONLY kitten/cat around, no dogs, no other cats.

When it got its first shot series, the kitten had some diarrhea and it slept a lot. The shot series took a toll on him. I am having second thoughts about giving it the 2nd series tomorrow.

Does it really need them given that the cat is the only cat and an indoor cat?

[Gabby169]

I honestly think you don't need to. I think the only thing you may need to do is a flee preventative if you live in a climate where it's almost always above freezing. I have a friend in Florida with indoor only cats and they got a nasty case of flees. I have friends with mostly outdoor kitties during the Summer and they've never had flees.

[Gabby169]

I'll be getting yearly vaccinations for Gabby because as a kitten she had a few nasty herpes eye infections (she was abandoned on the side of the road) and the one vaccination helps keep the herpes from flaring up. My vet is pretty cheap for shots $51 for both so it's worth it to me. When she got her shots the vet said it's totally normal for them to be extra sleepy for a few days.

[Hitomi]

I'd at least get it's rabies shot(if your in the us most states require it by law).

[MissBoots]

I have an indoor only and the only shot she's ever received is for Panlukebigwordandhighlycontagious. The rescue I volunteer with has the same views as I do, hence me volunteering with them. They only do that P vaccine.

I don't agree on the flea treatments though... I grew up in FL. We had indoor only cats. Never had a flea problem but once when a friend's dog came over who had them. A quick borax of the floor, and a one month treatment took care of it. I personally don't use flea treatments unless Boots has fleas as well. Which has only been this once (I took in a flea covered bottle baby a month ago, who finally left to a new foster home with other kittens his age).

Try to avoid using chemicals like sprays, shampoos, powders, collars, and spot treatments for fleas. The chemicals build up in the animal's body (fatty tissue) and, in effect, poison your animal. There are a ton of brands of dog flea treatments that shouldn't be used on cats. Permethrin is inside these, and can be deadly to a kitty. If you do get fleas, put kitty in the bathroom. Sprinkle down boric acid (borax) on all carpets. Then rub it into the carpet. Personally I just drag my feet across the carpet like a lunatic. It falls into the carpet backing. Boric acid dehydrates flea eggs, stopping them from spreading. No need to vacuum it up. It doesn't do anything to your carpets, either. You can even let kitty out of the bathroom once it's down. I put Boots in the bathroom while I do it because she's my shadow, and I don't want her accidentally getting sprinkles with boric acid.

Even bathing your kitty in Dawn dish soap will kill the fleas. Lather her up, let it sit for a few minutes, then comb and fleas off of her face, and rinse. I don't see any need to put chemicals on an indoor only cat...

[MowMow]

I keep struggling with this as well. I don't WANT to pump him with that garbage, but I like taking him outside on a leash and I've kicked around the idea of fostering.....I don't want to put him in contact if he could get sick......

[Greenport ferals]

I wouldn't. Do a search on this forum, there is a lot of good info on whether to vaccinate or not.
I had all my kittens vaccinated ONCE. Then I just gave them the NYS required rabies shots every three years. And mine are outdoor cats.

[Meezer_lover]

I assume the first set of shots was just the dewormer and distemper and tomorrow's will be the second set of distemper?

From what I understand, the distemper (panleukopenia) is pretty much standard for kittens....

How common is panleukopenia?

The feline panleukopenia virus is widespread in nature, so virtually all cats are exposed to it within their first year of life.
-peteducation.com

Rabies is most likely required by state law. Yoshi is strictly indoors and an only cat, so we just get the distemper and rabies. Our vet said that is all he will ever need. We did the same for our last cat.

Sucks that your kitten had a bad reaction to the shots.....I wonder if that was from the dewormer though. I read that diarrhea is a common side effect from that.

[MissBoots]

I've never given Boots a rabies shot, and she never will get it. It's side effects aren't something I'm willing to risk. Two places she'll never go, cattery and groomers, I think require it, I know they do for dogs. Nowadays vets suggest rabies every three years, not every year. Please don't over vaccinate your cat.

CA doesn't require it for cats.

[librarychick]

Originally Posted by Gabby169

I'll be getting yearly vaccinations for Gabby because as a kitten she had a few nasty herpes eye infections (she was abandoned on the side of the road) and the one vaccination helps keep the herpes from flaring up. My vet is pretty cheap for shots $51 for both so it's worth it to me. When she got her shots the vet said it's totally normal for them to be extra sleepy for a few days.

There is no vaccine that will help treat herpes...the herpes vaccine would only be useful in a cat who had never been exposed and, like any vaccine, it is meant to strengthen the cat's immune system to prevent them getting herpes in the first place.
If you want to treat for herpes I've had great luck with L-Lysine during Muffin's flare ups. I give him about 1000mg/day and it clears up within a week. It helps Jitzu a bit too, but I think she's got permanent nasal cavity damage so it can only do so much.

Originally Posted by MissBoots

I have an indoor only and the only shot she's ever received is for Panlukebigwordandhighlycontagious. The rescue I volunteer with has the same views as I do, hence me volunteering with them. They only do that P vaccine.

If the rescue is only doing panleukopenia I'm pretty sure that's not allowed. As far as I'm aware rescue have to fully vaccinate all adoptable animals before they can find them homes...?

I agree on the flea stuff, and I wouldn't treat mine unless I lived in an area where they were an issue and were going to be exposed to them.

Rabies does have to be given, but IMO should be given at least 1 week apart from anything else. In cats (and dogs) the rabies vaccine is linked to the highest number of reactions.

For my own animals I have decided Jitzu, Torri and Doran will only get rabies from now on. Muffin may get more than that because it's required if I want to keep doing therapy visits with him. (He's a Certified Therapy Cat )

I've found it's a very personal descision, and that it might be a good idea to go see a holistic vet, or one who agrees with low vaccination protocol. They can answer lots of great questions.