Recently, concern has arisen over the development of sarcomas (cancerous tumors) in the areas of the body that cats receive injections. Because the most frequent and common injection a cat is given is usually it’s vaccinations , a controversy has developed over how frequently a cat should be vaccinated. The answer to this controversy centers on the duration of immunity after vaccination – in other words, what is the length of time a cat will remain protected against a particular disease after it receives the vaccine for that disease?
This is a very good question. When the vaccine manufacturers require vaccinating every 12 months, they base that recommendation on studies they have done that show there is still good immunity at that time. This immunity may last longer, possibly up to several years, depending on the disease and the cat’s own immune system capabilities.
You should be aware that the chance of your cat getting an injection site sarcoma is less than 1 in 10,000. We are giving routine injections, including vaccines, in the leg area rather than the neck as this makes management of a problem easier to treat, in the unlikely event one occurs. We know the leg injection site may be a little uncomfortable for some cats, but please be tolerant, the long-term benefits outweigh the short-term discomfort. You should evaluate the possibility of your cat coming in contact with infectious diseases so you can help determine how often and for which diseases your cat should be vaccinated. Indoor only cats have less chance of exposure to contagious diseases compared to cats that go outside or live with a cat that goes outside. .
Currently we recommend the following:
Kittens and adults having first vaccines- Leukemia test, Leukemia vaccine,
Distemper vaccine, Rabies vaccine
First year after Kitten series- Distemper, Leukemia and
Rabies vaccines
Cats after first year boosters-vaccines depend on lifestyle- A CLOSED
household is one in Which NONE of
the cats go outside. An OPEN household is one in which one, some
or all of
the cats go outside, even if the one you are vaccinating does not.
CLOSED
HOUSEHOLD- Distemper every 2 years, Rabies every 2 years. It is best
to give 1 vaccine
per year
OPEN
HOUSEHOLD- Distemper and Leukemia every year, Rabies every 2 years
For ill cats or other circumstances, your cat’s veterinarian may feel it is
advisable to vaccinate at a different time interval. We will update you as new
information is published. PLEASE ASK ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE ABOUT YOUR CAT-
we are here to help. Thank you for taking the time to read this important information
for your cat’s health.
The Staff of Alpine Animal Hospital