Vaccinations for indoor cats

Rabies

Distemper

Feline bordetella

Leukemia

Feline infections peritonitis (FIP)

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)

Giardia

feline sarcoma and immunizations

Veterinarians have learned that the vaccines we use to protect cats from infectious diseases occasionally cause cancer. The risk is small and this does not mean we should stop vaccinating cats, but it does mean we should reduce the risk as much as possible. New guidelines suggest giving only the most important immunizations, no more often than necessary.

Vaccinations for indoor cats

Cats that never go outdoors do not usually need leukemia or FIP immunization. Test every cat in the household for leukemia and FIV so we do not have to worry that they will catch these diseases from each other.  Test new cats before bringing them into the household.

Rabies

Because it protects people from a disease that is highly fatal and frequently diagnosed in local skunks, rabies is the most important immunization for cats and dogs. If an unvaccinated cat bites a person, even an indoor cat, the Health Department often insists that the cat be euthanized so its brain can be examined.  All cats need rabies shots. Immunize once in kittenhood, a year later, and every one to three years after that, depending on the vaccine used.  

Distemper

Distemper vaccination protects against panleukopenia (FPV), feline calicivirus (FCV), and feline herpesvirus 1 (FHV-1). Panleukopenia is rapidly fatal. The other two are common respiratory diseases that are seldom fatal but usually incurable. All are easily transmissible - your visiting friend can carry the virus from her own cat to yours. Kittens are usually given a series of two distemper vaccinations at around 9 weeks of age and a booster shot one year later.  After that, some veterinarians give boosters every year, most every three years.  The vaccine companies recommend boosters once a year, the Association of Feline Practitioners recommends boosters once every three years.   We give boosters once every three years. 

Feline Bordetella

Bordetella is mostly a problem where cats are kept together in an enclosed area.   It is usually not a serious disease, and unless you are going to have your cat boarded, or bring a home a cat from an animal shelter, you probably don't need to worry much about Feline Bordetella.  We do not recommend Bordetella vaccinations for cats and do not stock the vaccine.

Leukemia

Experts disagree about the effectiveness of leukemia vaccine and about how frequently it should be given. Recently published guidelines recommend annual revaccination of all cats with potential exposure.  We vaccinate outdoor cats annually, using a non-adjuvented vaccine which is more effective and much safer than those used in the past. 

Feline Infectious Peritonitis (FIP)

FIP is not a common disease. Recent work at U. C. Davis (Peterson) suggests that FIP vaccine is pretty much useless, and if your cat already has the disease, may even be harmful. FIP is an important problem, but we don't have a worthwhile vaccine, and based on the most recent work, we aren't likely to have one any time soon.  FIP is best avoided by adopting cats that have not had direct contact with large numbers of other cats. 

Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV)

FIV is similar to HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) in that it attacks the body's immune system, eventually making the patient unable to deal with common infections. The disease is spread by contamination with saliva when cats bite each other and is another excellent reason why it is safer for cats to live exclusively indoors, with only one or two other cats.   An FIV vaccine is available and used by many veterinarians. We don't use it and don't recommend it.  There are serious doubts about its effectiveness against the variety of FIV most prevalent in the US.  Also, vaccinated cats test positive for FIV afterwards.  When vaccinated cats are picked up as strays and tested, they are likely to be immediately put to sleep.  Unless you live in an area where FIV is a serious and common problem, vaccination is a bad idea. FIV is best avoided by adopting cats that have not had direct contact with large numbers of other cats. 

Giardia vaccination

A killed Giardia vaccine has been marketed for use in cats. Giardia is uncommon and infected cats seldom show symptoms.  Although vaccination can reduce shedding or the organism, it does not create immunity and has the potential to induce vaccine-associated sarcomas. We do not recommend giardia immunization and do not stock the vaccine.