Should cats be vaccinated?

just wondered what people think as i have 3 cats all of them vaccinated and have boosters every year,but my next door neighbour has a cat and its 14 and was only vaccinated as a kitten and then had 1 booster and has not had any since

I have mine done each year- have the main two and leukemia:thumbsup:

mine don't go out so i'm perhaps being paranoid but better safe than sorry!

We have never had ours vaccinated the eldest is 9 and we have 4 cats.Neither has my Mother she has had cats for the last 25years not one of them got flu or leukemia but 2 got hit by cars and cost hundreds in vet bills at her peak she had 12 cats running around the house.

We have just had our kittens vaccinated it is a good thing, if your cat was to be bitten by another cat the possibilties are they may get feline cat leukemia, I had a white kitten that did have FCL but we did not know untill she had her first injections, it was really upseting she started to go blind, kept missing the cat tray, and started to lose her balance. All this was brought on much quicker because of the injection.

i seem to recall a discussion concerning an article in a veterinary journal several years ago in which it was implied that vaccinations every year were nothing other than revenue generators for the companies that make them and the vets that dispense them (except the initial ones, and then at intervals of several years). nb it wasn't an article backed by evidence, and was based solely on the opinions of the author. i'm inclined to agree with it, though.

I guess part of the problem is 'how often is several years' for the boosters?

I've been a bit slipshod with mine - once I waited 15 months for the booster - and I guess that saying 'booster each year' whilst making more money does at least ensure that the boosters get applied!

yes cats should be vaccinated, now on the other hand,have you ever tried to give a cat a pill?

1 Pick cat up and cradle it in the crook of your left arm as if holding a baby. Position right forefinger and thumb on either side of cat's mouth and gently apply pressure to cheeks while holding pill in right hand. As cat opens mouth pop pill into mouth. Allow cat to close mouth and swallow.

2 Retrieve pill from floor and cat from behind sofa. Cradle cat in left arm and repeat process.

3 Retrieve cat from bedroom, and throw soggy pill away.

4 Take new pill from foil wrap, cradle cat in left arm holding rear paws tightly with left hand. Force jaws open and push pill to back of mouth with right forefinger. Hold mouth shut for a count of ten.

5 Retrieve pill from goldfish bowl and cat from top of wardrobe. Call spouse from garden.

6 Kneel on floor with cat wedged firmly between knees, hold front and rear paws. Ignore low growls emitted by cat. Get spouse to hold head firmly with one hand while forcing wooden ruler into mouth. Drop pill down ruler and rub cat's throat vigorously.

7 Retrieve cat from curtain rail, get another pill from foil wrap. Make note to buy new ruler and repair curtains. Carefully sweep shattered Doulton figurines from hearth and set to one side for gluing later.

8 Wrap cat in large towel and get spouse to lie on cat with head just visible from below armpit. Put pill in end of drinking straw, force mouth open with pencil and blow down drinking straw.

9 Check label to make sure pill not harmful to humans, drink glass of water to take taste away. Apply Band-Aid to spouse's forearm and remove blood from carpet with cold water and soap.

10 Retrieve cat from neighbor's shed. Get another pill. Place cat in cupboard and close door onto neck to leave head showing. Force mouth open with dessert spoon. Flick pill down throat with elastic band.

11 Fetch screwdriver from garage and put door back on hinges. Apply cold compress to cheek and check records for date of last tetanus shot. Throw tee-shirt away and fetch new one from bedroom.

12 Call fire department to retrieve cat from tree across the road. Apologize to neighbor who crashed into fence while swerving to avoid cat. Take last pill from foil-wrap.

13 Tie cat's front paws to rear paws with garden twine and bind tightly to leg of dining table, find heavy duty pruning gloves from shed, force cat's mouth open with small wrench. Push pill into mouth followed by large piece of filet mignon. Hold head vertically and pour ½ pint of water down throat to wash pill down.

14 Get spouse to drive you to the emergency room, sit quietly while doctor stitches fingers and forearm and removes pill remnants from right eye. Call furniture store on way home to order new table.

i seem to recall a discussion concerning an article in a veterinary journal several years ago in which it was implied that vaccinations every year were nothing other than revenue generators for the companies that make them and the vets that dispense them (except the initial ones, and then at intervals of several years). nb it wasn't an article backed by evidence, and was based solely on the opinions of the author. i'm inclined to agree with it, though.

Yes, I agree with this and it's the choice I made. All my various cats have lived or are living happy and healthy lives free from lurgies.

Only the initial ones are needed, after that it's all money making on the soft human heart to alleviate their even softer pockets of their hard earned cash.

thanks for all your answers very intresting to know what other people do

I almost lost my moggy to cat flu when he was a kitten so vaccination is a good thing.

Appolo, that is SO funny and so true

I have mine done each year- have the main two and leukemia:thumbsup:

mine don't go out so i'm perhaps being paranoid but better safe than sorry!

Just like mine! But then you wouldn't find a decent cattery that would take unvaccinated cats so its worth it if you ever have to put them in 'jail' for a bit.