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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Unvaxed cat

32 replies

yankeecandle4 · 28/12/2015 15:56

Our beloved cat is 3 (nearly) We have had him since he was 12 weeks and he is healthy, wormed and flea treated regularly.

For reasons of circumstances we didn't get him his first set of vaccinations. Kept intending to and never got around to it. He has never been to the vet either. I'm really mortified about this and want to rectify it. Will the vet give me an earful? I'm worried that they will consider me an unfit owner and call RSPCA on the basis of this. Could this happen?

OP posts:
Lonecatwithkitten · 28/12/2015 15:59

I would advise you to get him vaccinated and has he been neutered. You can choose to accept or decline my advice. If he looks healthy that is as far as it will go.

mudandmayhem01 · 28/12/2015 16:05

Vets are businesses so aren't going to be rude to you, just give you advice. I don't vaccinate my dog on an annual basis, the vet has never commented on it at all.

thecatneuterer · 28/12/2015 16:07

No they won't call anyone. They may judge a bit inwardly, but are unlikely to say something and will no doubt be pleased that you brought him to them eventually - better late than never.

It is very important to have the initial vaccinations, even if you don't keep it up. The initial vaccs protect against one very nasty, fatal and very infectious disease for life, so it's worth doing it if just for that.

And yes, is he neutered?

MajesticSeaFlapFlap · 28/12/2015 16:09

My indoor girl never had her jabs, cant rember why.. We got her spayed a few months after getting her so no idea why jabs didnt get doneConfused

Shes four now and went to the vets for a checkup recently and the vet noticed her records (or lack of)had some jabs, no judgement or shaming stares

Catzpyjamas · 28/12/2015 16:11

No vet should give you a row for doing the right thing for your cat. If they do, take your cat and your business elsewhere 😸

Original poster
yankeecandle4 · 28/12/2015 16:18

No he isn't neutered.

I want to get the initial set but don't want a yearly booster. I have been reading up that the boosters may do more harm than good. Reassuring to hear that some do this.

Thanks for the replies.

OP posts:
mudandmayhem01 · 28/12/2015 16:20

Is he an indoor cat?

Wolfiefan · 28/12/2015 16:20

Why on earth wouldn't you do yearly vacs? Does your cat go out?

mudandmayhem01 · 28/12/2015 16:24

The evidence for annual boosters for cats and dogs is sketchy, humans don't have annual boosters for our jabs

bodenbiscuit · 28/12/2015 16:28

Our cat has had her vaccinations. She is an indoor cat. Apart from the cat's well being you could find that not having vaccinations invalidates your insurance if you have it.

Original poster
yankeecandle4 · 28/12/2015 16:30

Cat does go outdoor.

Regarding boosters I was reading that there is a school of thought that annual boosters can be detrimental, even cancer causing.

www.prevention.com/health/healthy-living/are-annual-pet-vaccines-necessary

OP posts:
mudandmayhem01 · 28/12/2015 16:34

More concerned about an unneutered cat going outside to be honest. He could be a father to hundreds of kittens and is also at greater risk of getting run over (whilst out and about looking females) and hurt in fights.

thecatneuterer · 28/12/2015 16:36

Exactly. Being unneutered is much more a cause for concern. He is much more likely to get lost and be run over and to have fight injuries and to get FIV. Why on earth isn't he neutered?

thecatneuterer · 28/12/2015 16:38

And as I said before the initial vaccine is very important. After that it is desirable but not such a big deal if you don't do it. Without the initial vaccine though he is at serious risk, and being unneutered he is at huge risk of all sorts of harm.

Tiptops · 28/12/2015 16:55

Not having him neutered and at least the initial vaccinations is really irresponsible and needs to be addressed asap.

I am not necessarily an advocate for annual vaccinations in every case, especially after my cat did actually get cancer in his vaccination site. But, as your cat is outdoors the responsible thing to do is have him titre tested to see if he really needs the vaccines, not just leave him high and dry. He has likely been exposed to disease and will have been even more likely to catch something as unneutered males will obviously mate and fight more. Although you take your cat to be vaccinated yearly, most vets operate a vaccination cycle and will only cover certain diseases every 1-3 years. Also, a health check is also done at vaccination times where other conditions could be picked up that you wouldn't necessarily notice just by looking at him.

You seem to be taking the alternative route but not properly researching it. You may also want to consider having him vaccinated into the paw rather than the scruff of the neck, as that optimises the chance of complete excision of any vaccination related cancers.

You won't be reported but you have been negligent, so please act on it now.

Fluffycloudland77 · 28/12/2015 16:59

Biggest risk for cancer is old age.

Lonecatwithkitten · 28/12/2015 17:00

An unneutered cat going outside is at much greater risk of contracting FeLV and FIV through fighting than of developing a vaccination side effect.
Actually the vaccination intervals in cats are increasing depending on which diseases you vaccinate against. The aim of vaccination laid out by WSAVA guidelines is to vaccinate more animals less.

YeOldeTrout · 28/12/2015 17:20

He goes outdoors & isn't neutered???

Sorry, if you want to ensure good health and long life, the vax are trivial compared to still having his goolies taken off. assuming that info is for real

YeOldeTrout · 28/12/2015 17:24

How much does it cost to get a cat abscess treated nowadays, anyway?
CPL or PDSA will help pay for neutering around here if money is a problem.

ilovesprouts · 28/12/2015 17:26

My cat not had jabs or dog she's 13 she's been ok both been done ,I go to pets at home for flee/worm stuff .

thecatneuterer · 28/12/2015 17:35

ilovesprouts just because you've got away with it doesn't mean it isn't advisable. In the same way that some people smoke 60 a day and live to be 100. That doesn't mean that, generally speaking, smoking isn't harmful.

Original poster
yankeecandle4 · 28/12/2015 17:37

I know I have been negligent. I have had circs that have involved me being in hospital repeatedly with dc with major surgeries etc. The cat has been at the bottom of my medical appointments list. I really have not intended that, which is why I feel crap about it (as stated in my OP) Things have settled a bit which is why I am researching things. The booster issue came up as a result of searches, I am not trying to get out of vaccinating.

Regarding neutering, it will be next after the vaccinations/microchipping. All the other cats in the area have been vaxed/spayed/neutered and the cat doesn't venture out of our (large) garden much.

Thanks again for the replies. I will make an appointment ASAP. I am reassured that I (hopefully) won't receive any disciplinary action from the vet.

OP posts:
mudandmayhem01 · 28/12/2015 17:41

Sounds like you have had a hard time and I am glad you are doing the right thing by your cat now,the vet will probably have actually the same attitude. You will not be reported just given helpful advice. If you feel the vet isn't been supportive either explain your circumstances or find another vet!

gamerchick · 28/12/2015 17:46

Isn't it a mile in any direction a Tom can smell a female in season? That's how they can get lost or hit by a car.

The vet won't give you grief but please put him in as soon as you can.

thecatneuterer · 28/12/2015 17:52

Yes that's about right gamer. And that's why the majority of stray cats are unneutered toms. They just went chasing females and never found their way back.

It's best to do the neuter, chip and vaccs at the same time if you can. If cost is a problem you can get help with the cost of neutering from various charities.