Vaccination help with adopted older cat

[limitedperiodonly]

I've inherited a 12-year-old cat.

He's very sprightly. He was a strictly indoor cat before but I have a very secure garden so allow him to go out.

He spent the summer just sunbathing and hardly goes out now because it's cold.

But it's just occurred to me that he might be vulnerable to infections from creatures that get into the garden and from me carrying things in.

What should I vaccinate him against? Oh, and flea treatment. I comb him and he doesn't appear to have fleas but what would be the best thing?

[TamzinGrey]

My elderly cat is just the same. Loves to lie outside sunbathing on the bench all summer but now she just has a quick sniff round the patio most days, and doesn't go out at all if it's really cold or raining. She never leaves the garden nowadays.

I stopped flea and worm treatment a couple of years ago as she doesn't hunt any more and we don't have any other animals - I don't want to subject her to strong chemicals unnecessarily. I have been keeping up with her annual vaccinations though. She's protected against cat flu and feline enteritis, but not HIV as she doesn't come into direct physical contact with other cats.

One thing to consider is that if you're ever likely to need to put your cat in a cattery up to date vaccinations are essential, not least because they will ask to see a certificate.

Good luck with your old boy!

[limitedperiodonly]

Thanks, I'll do that this week. He's sitting on my lap at the moment.