Vaccinations and Ragdoll Cats
Originally published May 28, 2015 - but I continue to get this question, so we're having it again.
Update August 27, 2017 - Please see our interview with Dr. Jean Hofve here or listen to the audio of it below in this YouTube video:
A reader recently asked me about vaccinations and wondered if we could have a discussion on the blog. I thought it was a great idea.
So, What Vaccinations Have You Given Your Ragdoll Cat and why?
I usually ask people inquring to read this article by Dr. Jean Hofve - Vaccines for Cats
I do give my cats Rabies shots and my mom does too - specifically, Purevax, by Merial. I don't have them get it as often as they used to since they are 7. I used to do it every year and now I might go 1.5 years. My mom's cats are 12, so they will probably stop getting it soon as titers build up. It's still required by law that they have it yearly, but if I feel they're protected from rabies, then we're good.
My vet actually puts a different vaccination in each leg - I don't recall the specifics - but they have a specific leg for Rabies, for example. So if that leg gets a tumor, then they know it was a rabies vaccine that caused it. They do this based on the AAFP Standards found here.
There was a discussion some time ago on Facebook where a reader asked a similar question and that discussion can be found here.
Please let us know what you do and why.
Some things to consider in your response:
- killed vs. modified live and your experience
- no vaccines at all?
- Rabies for people in the USA and where it's required by law
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I've just recently brought two kittens into my life after years of not having a cat and was very concerned about vaccinations. I'm a pediatric nurse and do believe in the benefit of vaccines but was cautious about them for our two children as well. They ARE fully vaccinated but I only allowed vaccines to be spaced by 4-6 weeks when they were "due" for multiple vaccines. When our beloved terrier was a puppy I researched a lot and changed things for him as well. I knew from talking with my sister who has "always" had cats that they are even more sensitive to vaccines. I read the most current AAFP guidelines, the addendum to them and then read this http://www.catinfo.org/?link=vaccines that was referenced in Natural cat Care blog when I started looking into nutrition more deeply. I am planning to follow Dr. Pierson's recommendations which are a "tweek" of the AAFP guidelines and make perfect scientific sense to me. Thus far my 5.5 month old Siamese mix has had two FVRCP vaccines (one at 8 weeks and one at 18 weeks) and will get a titer in a year before MAYBE vaccinating. He's scheduled for rabies at 6 months. That's all I plan to vaccinate for. Our 10-11 week old Ragdoll mix? had two FVRCP vaccines before I rescued him and won't get another until he's 18 weeks or so then a titer in a year. If the boys have good titers I may never vaccinate again for FVRCP. Same with rabies for the youngest; not until 6 months old. The AAFP also addresses SITE of injection which is very important to note because of injection site sarcoma in cats. These are INDOOR kittens. I may be able to afford cat safe fencing in the spring but that will be only outdor exposure with supervision. I also own a 22 year old Arabian horse; we minimally vaccinate and get titer for one specific virus. Based on that yearly titer I haven't vaccinated for "Strangles" for probably 5 years.