Old cat vaccination advice please

[limitedperiodonly]

Nobby was given to me. He's lovely and very perky even though he's 12.

He was an indoor cat but now he's with me goes into my secure garden. He never comes into direct contact with other animals but other cats definitely use the garden and probably other animals too.

And I walk in and out.

I've booked him in for a feline leukaemia jab next week. The vet hasn't recommended anything else. I checked on here for advice a while ago and was told he might need something against flu and hiv. Thanks to that person btw.

Is it okay for him to have that just the leukaemia jab?

Sorry if I sound feeble but I love him and I don't want to lose him

[Lonecatwithkitten]

Flu and panleucopaenia actually are the biggest risks to the old cat as it can be carried on people's clothes. Often young cats can survive a bout of flu, it can be fatal in older cats.
Leukaemia tends to be contracted by younger cats as it needs direct contact with another cats body fluid usually saliva for transmission so fighting or mutual grooming.
FIV vaccination is not avaliable in the UK as it is not effective enough at preventing disease to get a licence here. Again it needs direct body fluid contact for transmission usually fighting.

[limitedperiodonly]

Thanks Lonecatwithkitten. He would be very unlikely to meet another cat face to face but he likes to sniff around and it occurred to me the other day that he's sniffing around other cats' wee.

I'm going to keep him in until next week, but do you recommend something other than the leukaemia jab?

The vet told me that it was low-risk to let him out in the circumstances of the secure garden. Luckily because he's been an indoor cat for all this time and it's cold he's not clamouring to go out.

He won't want to be jabbed, but it's going to have to happen.

[cozietoesie]

I'm interested to hear you say that, Lone, because in the normal course of things, Seniorboy would be due for his booster in the next couple of months - but in light of his age, his indoor status and the fact that he almost certainly had flu in his youth, I was considering not giving him any more.

Out of interest, are vets' surgeries considered to be a risk factor for unvaccinated cats? Like GPs' surgeries etc. (I would have thought that they might be with the number of sick or infected animals that go in there.)

Nobby is a star, limited ! Handsome, handsome boy.

[cozietoesie]

PS - has he got red point Siamese in him?

[piggychops]

Another vote for cat flu and panleucopaenia here. As lonecat says Felv is passed by fighting or licking and grooming.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

Cozie in his box at the vets he should be pretty safe as it will act as a sneeze barrier vets tables should be disinfected between pets and hands sanitised. If there has been a risk patient clothes would be changed or disinfected.
I always feel old cats need vaccination as they are more likely to get a more severe form of the disease. We follow WSAVA guidelines and do panleucopaenia every three years and flu yearly with leukaemia if there are risk factors.

[limitedperiodonly]

cozietoesie

He was my mum's. He's a runty tabby point siamese . His brothers were very big and handsome - an all-red oriental and blue point siamese - also hers.

We lost them

Their mother is a tiny oriental tabby and she's still with us .

So a cat flu jab too then piggychops? The only one he grooms is me btw

But he does sniff and lick around the garden a lot which is why I asked.

[limitedperiodonly]

Lonecatwithkitten So clean box. It will be. And a cat flu vacc. Thanks. You've been very helpful. I love him.

[Olinguito]

Don't know about the jabs, but what an incredibly handsome cat!

[cozietoesie]

Thanks for that Lone - and Yes. They seem to be swabbing and wiping quite a lot of the time.

A tabby point makes sense, limited - and the later pictures show the points better. He really is a lovely boy.

My own boy (an elderly chocolate) was also my Mum's and came to me at age 14. He's now 20 so I have to say that I'm rather regarding Nobby as 'extremely mature' and not as old-old.

Seniorboy has arthritis (controlled with meds) and nowadays has, I think, very limited vision indeed. (Siamese in particular can get some pretty difficult eye conditions in much later life.) I guess my recommendation would be that you may have him for a lot longer than you're thinking now so keep a weather eye on eyes, teeth and joints for early treatment when needed. (Mouth treatment will likely be required I would have thought.)

Also - although you think he's only sniffing and licking round the garden, my experience with Siamese is that they take a rather Spartan view of life. (Coming home with their shield or on it etc etc.) Getting on a bit he may be but if he does meet another cat in the garden and that cat is not immediately and desperately deferential, you could have a .......situation........ on your hands.

Just so you're prepared.

[cozietoesie]

Olinguito

They're wonderfully handsome cats indeed - if a little prone to insisting that their best profile is turned to the camera/any observer at all times. (Note Nobby's 'posey-paws' in the first picture.)

[limitedperiodonly]

cozietoesie I'll collar you for siamese advice later if you don't mind.

I give him some dry food because a friend said it would be good for his teeth - though his mouth smells fine.

But now I'm a bit worried about what the biscuits might be doing to his kidneys. He loves them though.

And you're right about the eye problems - Nobby seems okay but his mum is blind. She gets around if you don't move the furniture.

I'm so glad Seniorboy is 20. Fantastic.

[limitedperiodonly]

And even though I called him a runt, he's my lovely little runt .

[RubbishMantra]

Sorry no help, just had to tell you what a beautifully handsome cat you have!

[limitedperiodonly]

Thanks. He's not just beautiful. He has a wonderful personality and nature.

[limitedperiodonly]

Update: Nobby had vaccines for cat flu and feline enteritis. The vet said FIV was unnecessary as he doesn't come into direct contact with other cats.

He's having a second lot in three weeks.

She said he was in very good nick for nearly 13 but his back teeth are awful. They look it, but because his breath doesn't smell - I can easily cope with him breathing right in my face - I didn't realise they were that bad.

Cleaning and possible extraction will require a general anaesthetic. Eek! He's old. I'm going to think about it but any advice would be welcome.

He eats and drinks normally. Is very perky - too perky the other day when the wind farting loudly under the front door spooked him and he rushed about like a mad thing and pulled the net curtain down. He doesn't appear to be in any pain but shakes his head sometimes, which the vet said may be a sign of pain.

She said that before GA she'd test for kidney/liver/whatever function to see if he could cope.

He was very brave and he doesn't hate me - which is what I was worried about.

Thanks everyone for all your help.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

13 is classed as an older cat, but geriatric is not till 15. So your vets will be regularly anaesthetising cats of this age. We did an 18 year old today.

[gohaze]

Good for you, he's beautiful, but not that old. Mine is heading for 18 and she still gets yearly jabs. She's pretty much a house cat now though as she's lost her nerve somewhat, but still healthy.

[Rollypoly100]

My rescue tabby was just 14 when he had to have most of his teeth out. We were very worried about anaesthetic but he was absolutely fine. Our vet was brilliant and very reassuring. Now he can eat anything, including biscuits.

What a handsome devil Nobby is. Beautiful markings.

[cozietoesie]

When Seniorboy was 16, his mouth was so horrible and he'd started being sick so much that I didn't have much option. His vet was also pretty confident that she and her team could get him through it OK although he would need more support during the op eg extra fluids.

He had all but 5 teeth out and he's been largely fine ever since. (The occasional mild gingivitis but that's not uncommon.)

Nobby's teeth aren't going to improve with age, limited, so I'd personally get the bloods etc done - no bad thing in any case - and give him the procedure if the vet thinks you have a green light. Cats are such masters at covering up discomfort that he coud be in pain right now and if you've ever had toothache you wouldn't wish it on anyone.

The risks associated with a GA will go up with age as well - Seniorboy's vet has said she wouldn't give him any more GA procedures - so now is a good chance to have him largely sorted out when he's only 12.

In my book, that's pretty young I have to say!

[NormHonal]

My 15yo girl had to have some teeth out a few years back and came through it all fine, FWIW.

[cozietoesie]

Nobby actually looks very like Seniorboy. Slightly different colouring and a slightly bigger nose is all.

[limitedperiodonly]

Thanks everyone for all your help.

I am a novice so I'm very grateful.

He's not insured but I have the money. The tooth thing is going to come to between £300-£400 I think. Upper end.

It's not the money. I don't want him to be in pain and I don't to lose him and am thinking that maybe tooth or gum problems might provoke other infections which will carry him off.

I was just a bit scared about the GA because of his age. But seeing as no-one thinks he's ancient, I'll go ahead.

cozietoesie I do remember someone telling me that dogs let you know but cats just soldier on.

The vet said he might feel a bit under the weather tonight and he's sitting on my shoulders draped like a fox stole. He is a bit warm but I think he's okay.

He doesn't know what he's in for. Poor little pest

[limitedperiodonly]

cozietoesie One of my nicknames for him is Big Nose.

[cozietoesie]

It might just be heading towards the upper end of your range but that would likely include the full external blood workup which is ......not inexpensive....... but is a good idea to have done for a cat of his age regardless of any op. See what the vet says and let us know how things go.

By the way, I had to start Seniorboy off from scratch again on vaccinations when he came to live with me (after many many years of never seeing the vet) and he was a little warm and sleepy but came through just fine.