To wonder if cats (including outdoor ones) really need annual vaccinations every year?

[lookingforshoes]

Please note: I vaccinate my cat, and I am very happy to continue to vaccinate my cat. She is doted upon and I take far better care of her than I do myself tbh! So please don’t come after me.

That said, I am wondering, hypothetically, how necessary annual vaccinations really are for cats? Would they not build up a good level of immunity after the first few jabs and thereafter need a booster every few years?

I always do as my vet advises, but just thinking about it, it would be in the interests of veterinary pharmaceutical companies to recommend regular vaccination wouldn’t it, so long as it didn’t actually do any harm. But is there really any benefit?

My cats go outdoors. A long time ago my vet told me that there is no point vaccinating after they are about 8 years old as they will have built up immunity. So I stop the leukaemia vaccination when they are about 9 or 10, but I have in the past used a cattery when we go on holiday and they insist on cat flu/enteritis vaccination so I stick with that for life.

A condition of my pet insurance is that the vet sees the cat once a year so they would have to go for a check up anyway. If the cat is not vaccinated they will not cover for any illness which could have been prevented by vaccination.

My mother had an indoor cat and didn’t bother with vaccinations after the first two years. This caused problems when mum became ill and a cattery would not accept the cat.

We don’t do annual vaccines for everyone though do we? Only the vulnerable get the regular flu vaccine. We only vaccinate ourselves the minimum necessary. It’s in the NHS’s interests to keep costs down, plus people don’t exactly enjoy unnecessary vaccinations.

Different situation with veterinary medicine.

I actually don’t give these to my cat monthly, more like quarterly. The worming pills give her diarrhoea and I check her very regularly for fleas etc.

That’s a good point.

I’ve never vaccinated my cats and they’ve lived to be 19, 20, and current ones are 14 and 15. Outdoor cats.

My outdoor cat is 16 next month and never had annual vaccinations either. 🤷‍♂️

apart from puppy and kitten vaccinations I have never vaccinated my pets.
It has never been an issue with my pet insurance.

I've just changed my pet insurance for one of mine and all of the ones I looked at on moneysavingsupermarket said this " like most pet insurance policies, typically does not cover routine vaccinations. These are considered preventative measures and are usually not covered by pet insurance. However, keeping your pet's vaccinations up to date can be beneficial, as it may qualify you for lower premiums, and failing to do so could impact your ability to make claims for related illnesses"

Wow, this is an eye opener. I've always vaccinated mine, never occurred to me not to! We pay a monthly fee that includes a yearly check up and boosters and flea treatment.

Same, I am also surprised how common it is to forego the vaccinations. Food for thought indeed.

The dog gets vaccinated as necessary because she travels with us and it's a requirement, says on her passport when she had her last vaccinations.

The cats had their kitten jabs and then nothing since. All outdoor cats (although the boys barely set foot out the front door). I only do tick treatment during tick season, and check them all every single day. We've only had fleas once, I treated them (and all the bedding etc) and haven't done anything since. I should give the girlcat worming pills as she regularly catches and eats mice while she's out..

Great example of tautology in title!

It's never occurred to me not to vaccinate my cats, but one goes absolutely nuts the minute the needle touches her - we ended up with blood pouring from the vets hand last time 😳 - so I may have a rethink about keeping it up, as she'll be 8 this year.

Only kitten jabs. Most cats have lived to 18ish.

I have had 2 cats never had jabs lived to 17 and 18 My lovely cat I have at the moment is 17 and in very good health has never had jabs since adopted at 6 months. My vet has never suggested that he should have them. Outdoor cats.

My 2 cats are 18 and 20 and have never had annual vaccinations. They are outdoor cats. It's a scam.

I’ve never been asked for proof of vaccination and my cat insurance pays out at least twice year for ongoing medication. I would assume if he were to come down with something a vaccine could have prevented then I’d have to cough up but it makes no odds to anything else.
Also a vet demanding vaccine to allow flea/worm treatment is taking the piss. Although this thread has reminded me I should likely start the summer flea treatment, he doesn’t go outside much at all but better safe than sorry.

I usually vaccinate annually for the first few years, then every 3-4 years after that until they get really old, then I stop. My cats are indoor only and my vet agrees that annual vaccinations aren’t critical.

if they spent any time outdoors I would probably do it more often.

My dog was vaccinated every year as she was outdoors and she went to doggy daycare (it was required with proof and I would have done it regardless because of the close proximity to other dogs)

All of my 5 are annually vaccinated and flea/worm treated as directed- they are out door cats and we have a lot of stays round here. Cat flu is a horrible thing and it would spread like wild fire in the house

Yes it's absolutely essential. One of my cats from 30 years ago caught a disease which she wouldn't have caught if she' had a vaccine and died. I was devastated. I have had every single cat since then vaccinated and you can bring this stuff home from outside.

I've had cats for over 30 years and don't vaccinate after the first few years. All have lived to 19/20 except a feral cat I took in. Current puss is 18 and healthy. I've read that annual vaccinations are unnecessary. Can't remember the source.

And I suppose covid was a scam too and childhood vaccinations. You've just been lucky so far.

Luckily ours is covered under the old Vets 4 Pets lifetime policy which was £99 and covers all vaccinations for life . They no longer do this for new pets and I saw today they charge £67.50 for a vaccine booster. Our insurance also wouldn’t cover any illness that is caused by not vaccinating ( also by not worming ) . We need the cover for the Cattery too.

Never had any of my cats vaccinated annually, they've all had long healthy lives.

I’ve had cats for nearly 50 years, at least 3 & up to 5 at a time.
They’ve all been outdoor cats, living rurally & I’ve never vaccinated any cat nor have I ever had a cat suffering from any illnesses that the vaccine is for.
They all lived long, healthy lives.
I do use flea & tick treatment monthly in the summer & worming every 3 months but I’m growing concerned after reading more & more that these treatments may actually be harmful to our pets & even the ecosystem.
I’m seeing on a lot of cat & dog forums that people are not using them anymore except when parasites are actually present.