Cats and Vaccines

To vaccinate or not to vaccinate? With which vaccines and how
often? These questions are best answered after a talk with your
veterinarian. Because of the need to tailor vaccines to your
cat’s lifestyle and to consider the risk factors and the
presence of underlying diseases, it is necessary for you and
your vet to decide what is best for your cat.

In the past, veterinarians used to vaccinate all cats on an
annual basis. This practice was called into question in the
1990′s when veterinarians began to notice some cats getting
cancers where vaccines had been previously administered. These
locally aggressive cancers would occur even several years after
vaccination. Since then, veterinary organizations such as AVMA
(American Veterinary Medical Association) and AAHA (American
Animal Hospital Association) have taken a long, hard look at
vaccines in determining what is appropriate for dogs and cats.

Based on extensive research, the AAFP (American Association of
Feline Practitioners) has developed feline vaccine protocols,
and most veterinarians are now following these guidelines.

Vaccine administration sites have also changed. While all
vaccines used to be given under the skin in between the shoulder
blades, the current recommendation is to give vaccines at
separate sites. Some vaccines are given on the hind legs as low
as possible- the right hind leg for rabies vaccine, the left
hind leg for feline leukemia vaccine and the right side of the
chest for the FVRCP (3 in one) vaccine. If there is a local
reaction, the vaccine can be more reliably identified and if a
cancer does occur, the cat’s life can more easily be saved.

Also, while it is generally recommended that kittens receive a
series of vaccines, not all vaccines are given annually to adult
cats. The FVRCP (3 in one) vaccine is given every 3-4 weeks for
a total of 3 times to kittens, then every 1-3 years afterwards
to adults. The FeLV (feline leukemia) vaccine is given every 2-3
weeks for a total of 2 times to kittens, then every 1-3 years
afterwards to adults. The rabies vaccine, given once to cats
older than 16 weeks, is valid for a year and when repeated, is
valid for 3 years. But any combination of these vaccines may or
may not be given, depending on your cat’s lifestyle, risk
factor, age and health problems. There is no one vaccine
protocol that is suitable for all cats.

The wide-spread use of vaccines undeniably has had some
benefits, among which have been to decrease the incidence of
certain diseases such as feline distemper (panleukopenia) and
feline leukemia (FeLV). They have also decreased the virulence
of certain infections such as rhinotracheitis and chlamydia that
result in upper respiratory diseases, a common problem in cats.

Most vaccines are safe, and negative reactions to vaccines are
rare. To minimize negative reactions, most veterinarians advise
against giving more than two vaccines at a time. If a cat has
had a negative reaction in the past, it is recommended that only
one vaccine should be given at a time and the cat is
premedicated with benadryl to minimize reaction.. Occasionally,
a cat will be a bit lethargic for about 24-48 hours, not longer,
after receiving a vaccine. Rarely, a cat can have a sudden
negative reaction to a vaccine, usually immediately or within 60
minutes post vaccination. The signs can be vomiting and/or
diarrhea, and this requires immediate medical attention.

In some cats, vaccines can do more harm than good. While there
are still ongoing studies to determine the cause-effect
relationship between vaccines and induced injury, there have
been some trends noted. Some cats have an increased risk to
cancer formation to some elements in some vaccines. There also
seems to be a genetic predisposition to cancer formation. Just
like cancer tends to run at a higher occurrence rate in some
human families, cats can be similar. When one cat has had a
cancer secondary to a vaccine, other related members similarly
are at higher risk.

Vaccines should not be used in cats shown to have
immune-mediated diseases (when the body destroys its own red
blood cells or platelets). Vaccines should not be administered
to any cats that are ill from feline leukemia (FeLV) or feline
AIDS (FIV). There is no harm or benefit in giving the FeLV
vaccine to a healthy feline leukemia positive cat. The decision
to vaccinate and with which vaccines is based on your cat’s
lifestyle and risk factor, as well cat’s age and any concurrent
health issues.

A cat that is indoors 100% of the time has a different risk
factor from cats who are indoor/out. Indoor/outdoors cats have
varying degrees of risk, depending on whether they stay close to
home when outdoors or tend to roam. The frequency of interaction
with other cats and wildlife, whether this be nose-to-nose
contact, fights resulting in bite wounds or abscesses, scuffles
with raccoons or other wildlife or hunting prey (rodents, birds,
snakes) is also an important variable. Additionally, if there
are other cats in the same household and if those other
individuals are indoor/outdoor, there is increased risk for
spread of disease

Many cats that “just got sick” and are brought to the
veterinarian for care have actually been ill for months. Cats
generally tend to hide their diseases so that they show signs
only when the disease has reached a certain stage, and the cat
can no longer cope with it. Thus, it is very important to screen
for diseases on a regular basis once a cat reaches middle-age
(i.e. 6-7 years old). For many older cats, the annual vaccines
should be replaced by an annual blood and urine test and
radiographs to check for diseases, just like our doctors do for
ourselves as we age. Lab tests are especially helpful to check
for the presence of hyperthyroidism, kidney failure and diabetes
since 80% of older cats come down with one or more of these.

While blood and urine tests give a “snapshot” as to your cat’s
bodily functions physiologically, radiographs are helpful to
give insight as to your cat’s structural function (heart size,
lung density, thickness of gut loops, intestinal gas pattern,
kidney size, presence of bladder/kidney stones and the presence
of tumors). All this information is important in determining if
your older cat is indeed healthy or has a medical problem that
should be addressed before vaccines are considered.

Because of the complexity of this issue, it is best for you to
talk with your veterinarian about which, if any, vaccines are
appropriate for your cat.

The above is general veterinary information. Do not begin
any course of treatment without consulting your regular
veterinarian. All animals should be examined at least once every
12 months.