The topic of cat vaccination has stirred up quite a controversy in the last few years. Are we over vaccinating? Under vaccinating? Does it cause cancer? How can I get my cat to the vet without stressing him/her out? Why is a yearly exam so important?
Fortunately, this topic has gotten a lot of controlled research, and feline experts came together in 2013 to update the AAFP( American Association of Feline Practitioners) vaccine guidelines.
A quote from Dr Scherk, the editor of the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, regarding her conclusions about feline vaccines is “We’re not over-vaccinating; we’re actually under-vaccinating cats.” Her explanation starts with the many cats that NEVER see a vet until they are very sick, so they aren’t candidates for vaccines then. The other hurtle is that many cat owners have heard about vaccines causing cancer, so they just opt out. Plus cost can be another reason.
The Guidelines recommend we break the different vaccines into 2 categories: Core and Noncore. Examples of Core are Feline panleukopenia (FPV)(also known as distemper which is not to be confused with dog distemper), Feline herpesvirus-1(FHV-1), and Feline calicivirus (FCV). These are usually combined in the FVRCP vaccine, which is given as a series for kittens, boosted at a year, then every 3 years after that per manufacturer’s recommendation.
Rabies isn’t considered core by AAFP, but every other vet organization considers Rabies a core vaccine, and a legal requirement in the State of Texas. I consider it core vaccine. I have seen a cat with rabies, and we definitely have active rabies in Denton County. Plus the rabies vaccine is a killed viral vaccines, is super safe, not a combination injection, and we use the non-adjuvented Merial Purevax rabies.
I have been vaccinated for rabies and needed a booster when I was pregnant with my daughter, so my pediatrician researched it and concluded it was safe to receive even during pregnancy.
Noncore vaccines Feline leukemia virus (FELV), chlamydophiia felis , Bordetella bronchiseptica, Feline infectious peritonitis ( FIP), and Dermatophyte vaccines. At Garden Ridge Animal Hospital, we only carry FELV in this Noncore category, and we only give it to cats with risk factors like outside cats, cats that fight, or cats in households with some outside cats. We also follow the AAFP recommendation for all kittens to get a series of 2 FELV vaccines, so they have some lifetime protection.
The questions about injection site sarcomas and how to transport cat to the vet require long answers and will be future blog topics.
So my challenge to my cat owners is “are all your cats up to date on their vaccines? Even the old ones that never go outside?” And it not, call the staff at Garden Ridge Animal Hospital at 972-436-2199 and set up an appointment.
For more links on recommendations; https://www.wsava.org/guidelines/vaccination-guidelines
http://www.aavmc.org/data/files/other%20documents/ppphfelineguidelines_proof1.pdf
