Vaccinations

[ArcticBells]

My two cats are confined to a netted small garden so never come into contact with other cats. They've always had their annual vaccinations. I don't want to be neglectful as I adore my cats but am wondering if they are really necessary?

Do you vaccinate?

I haven't had mine vaccinated as they are indoors. I talked to my vet about it and she was kind of on the fence, so I am none the wiser!

I definitely would if they went out and I still wonder if I should have them vacccinated anyway?

Following with interest as I don't normally do annual boosters after the 9 and 12 week ones.

Forgot to mention indoor only no access to outdoors what so ever.

In 25 years of cats I've never had any of them vaccinated bar the ones they had from the rescue centre. Would do if I needed them to go into kennels.

Yes, first my cat goes outdoors, the diseases vaccinated against are nasty, I would not want him to get any of them.

I get mine vaccinated mainly because her insurance is invalidated if I don't do it (or maybe it's if I don't do an annual vet check-up - and if I'm going to the bother of that I may as well get the vaccinations as well).

I do, so they can go to the cattery.

Following with interest, my cat is mainly indoors and when he goes outdoors it's just in our garden - he never comes into contact with other cats. He was rescued off the street at 9 months old and vaccinated then, and I adopted him at 1 year old. Do you think he needs any boosters?

Mine don't go to catteries or leave my courtyard garden. When I once mentioned it to the vet I was made to feel like the worst most neglectful owner!

Yes, it's an annual thing.

They check teeth too though and I think it’s best to at least do a health check yearly.

My cat is indoors with access to catio. He also occasionally goes in garden on a harness. I vaccinated and microchipped (before was law) as I worried if he ever got out and caught something. I also now use cattery but planned to vaccinated before this.

Mine aren't vaccinated beyond their first annual boosters. They go outside in a cat-proofed garden and we have someone come to the house to look after them if we go away, so no need to worry about catteries etc.

Re. Insurance - it's only invalid if you try and claim for a condition that's covered by vaccines. It doesn't invalidate your whole policy.

Two of the three diseases/ disease complexes we vaccinate for can be carried by us on clothes cat flu and panleuocooaenia so I recommend vaccinating at least for these in indoor cats.
Whether not vaccinating invalidates your insurance depends on your policy and you need to read the detail of your individual policy to make sure.

Ours are vaccinated now because they've had to go into a cattery a couple of times. However several vets I know have all told me that every 3 years is enough and there's no need for yearly boosters if they're not staying in a cattery. We did that for decades with no problems.